Batties scores 16, Harvard takes down Iona 67-61NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) — Thomas Batties II had 16 points in Harvard's 67-61 victory against Iona on Sunday. Batties also contributed eight rebounds and six blocks for the Crimson (4-8). Austin Hunt scored 16 points, shooting 5 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. Tey Barbour had 14 points and shot 4 for 6 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. The Gaels (4-9) were led in scoring by Dejour Reaves, who finished with 22 points and four steals. Adam Njie added 12 points and four steals for Iona. Yaphet Moundi also put up eight points and four blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Malta Mustangs overcome Manhattan Tigers, snow, on way to state championship
ORLANDO, Fla. — Next time Iowa State plays football, it will be in Dublin, Ireland. Saturday’s 42-41 Pop-Tarts Bowl win against Miami signaled the end of Iowa State’s first 11-win season. And at the rate modern college football moves with the transfer portal and NIL, the smart teams have already been thinking about the 2025 season. Here are the three biggest questions facing Iowa State ahead of that Aug. 3, 2025 game against Kansas State in Ireland. 5 takeaways from Iowa State vs Miami: Carson Hansen positions himself to be lead back in 2025 Iowa State woke up Sunday with a massive hole in its production. Senior receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins combined for 2,377 receiving yards this season. The other 17 players who caught a pass this season combined for 1,203. Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs after a reception before he is tackled by Miami defensive back Zaquan Patterson (20) during the the Pop Tarts Bowl Saturday in Orlando. We know how the Cyclones will try to replace the duo. On Dec. 14, ISU landed a commitment from sophomore Eastern Carolina receiver Chase Sowell and three days later one from former UCF receiver Xavier Townsend. A funny coincidence is Sowell stands 6-foot-4, the same height as Higgins, while Townsend is listed at 5-foot-11, identical to Noel. Next season, Iowa State should also look to the tight end position to fill some lost production. Ben Brahmer’s sophomore season essentially ended in November after he suffered a leg injury against UCF. He caught 10 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. How Iowa State orchestrated a comeback against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl Sophomore tight end Gabe Burkle saw a leap in his production after Brahmer got hurt. Burkle finished the season with five catches against Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship and four against Miami, including a leaping touchdown catch in the first quarter. Burkle and Brahmer finished as the third and fourth leading receivers behind Noel and Higgins. Although the winter transfer portal window for underclassmen closed Saturday, there could still be Cyclones who enter. Every player on a team in the postseason has an additional five days after the season ends to enter the portal. No Iowa State opt-outs were reported leading up to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but NFL Draft prospects Higgins and defensive back Darien Porter both chose not to play. Don’t be surprised if there are some Cyclones who enter the portal between now and the Thursday deadline. That’s not particularly an indictment on ISU’s program or culture, just the reality of modern college football. Derek Hoodjer is ISU’s assistant AD for player personnel. He is in charge of building ISU’s roster and navigating the portal. After the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Hoodjer celebrated with players on the field and made sure Noel got to lift the bowl trophy after his postgame press conference. Hoodjer is going to be the busiest person in Ames for the next couple weeks. Beau Freyler's Iowa State teammates made sure he celebrated last game from the Pop-Tarts Bowl stage Iowa State rode its defense until wheels fell off. The tires might still be discarded in a corner of AT&T Stadium after Arizona State ran all over the Cyclones in a 45-19 win. Iowa State defensive lineman J.R. Singleton (58) and wide receiver Jaylin Noel hold up the championship trophy after winning the Pop Tarts Bowl on Saturday against Miami in Orlando. Miami quarterback Cam Ward threw for three touchdowns in the first half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl before sitting out the second half to preserve his NFL Draft stock. Credit to the ISU defense, it forced a punt and interception on Miami’s final two possessions to lead to a win. Rampant injuries made every defensive effort this season a patchwork attempt. Through the first 10 games, ISU averaged 6.4 key defensive players sidelined . The Cyclones injury luck can't be worse next season, right? That’s probably true, but graduation is still going to cost ISU several key pieces. Safety Beau Freyler is the “nucleus” of Iowa State’s team and played his last game Saturday. Darien Porter is a veteran in ISU’s secondary and top special teams contributor who opted out of the Miami game with NFL Draft hopes. redshirt senior J.R. Singleton led the team with four sacks and finished his career Saturday. Ben Hutchens is an Iowa State University beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at Ben.Hutchens@lee.net . Get local news delivered to your inbox!‘Good start’: Jan Suraaj got 10% vote share, says Prashant Kishor
Annual Career Horoscope 2025: Best job and money prospects for each Zodiac Sign in the new yearIn October 2017, a 30-year-old woman arrived at a hospital in Monterey, California, and requested a rape kit. According to a police report, she said she had been sexually assaulted four days earlier after attending a Republican women’s conference at a Hyatt Regency hotel. The perpetrator, she told police, was Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator who had been a speaker at the convention. The encounter, which did not result in charges against Hegseth and which he has admitted occurred but claimed was consensual, is now in the spotlight due to Hegseth’s surprise nomination as president-elect Donald Trump ’s pick for Secretary of Defense. Will it affect his candidacy? It seems unlikely. It’s clear at this point that allegations of sexual misconduct are no hindrance to being considered for the upper echelons of American power. The Trump cabinet may well include multiple men who have allegations of sexual misconduct against them, and it’s not even a surprise. After all, just look at Trump himself , who was found liable by an Manhattan civil jury earlier this year of sexual abuse against author E. Jean Carroll. Trump has been accused over and over again of everything from making lewd comments to sexual assault, yet none of this disqualified him in the eyes of the millions of mostly men who chose him to fill the nation’s highest office for a second time. Still, the sexual misconduct claims floating around the members of the proposed Trump cabinet this time around seem particularly egregious. The claim against Hegseth came into clearer focus on Wednesday, when Mediaite reported the details of the redacted police report and shared it in full. According to the police report, the woman said she had gone to a bar attached to the hotel where she spotted Hegseth, who she had observed acting inappropriately with women throughout the day by doing things like “rub” their legs. In a text message, she typed that Hegseth gave off a “creeper” vibe, the report says. At the bar, she said, she approached Hegseth and “commented on how she did not appreciate how he treated women.” Though she did not recall drinking to excess, the woman said, according to the police report, that things began to get “fuzzy” at the bar, and she remembers arguing with Hegseth by the pool after leaving the bar. The next memory she had was being alone with Hegseth in a hotel room. The report states she had her phone in her hand, and she claimed Hegseth asked her who she was texting and took it from her. She then claimed she tried to leave the room, saying no repeatedly, but Hegseth blocked the door with his body. Her next memory, according to the report, was Hegseth having sex with her, his dog tags hanging over her. She said he ejaculated on her stomach and threw a towel at her, before asking if she was okay. The woman went to the hospital four days later. She had been suffering nightmares and memory loss since the alleged assault, she said according to the report. When police interviewed Hegseth, he claimed the encounter was consensual, a claim his attorney repeated to Mediaite , saying, “The incident was fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false, which is why no charges were filed.” Indeed, charges were never filed against Hegseth, and he eventually paid the woman an undisclosed sum in a nondisclosure agreement. The allegation against Hegseth was reported before the Mediaite story—although not to the level of detail. But prior to Thursday, the allegations were a bit overshadowed by the sexual misconduct allegations against another (now former) Trump cabinet pick: Matt Gaetz. Gaetz, the now-ex Florida congressman who Trump announced last week he’d be nominating for attorney general, has been under investigation since 2021 by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct (you can read the full breakdown of the allegations against him here , which he has denied). Until recently, Gaetz was also being investigated by the Justice Department for alleged sex trafficking involving underage girls, though no charges were filed and Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. The House Committee is still debating whether to release the findings of their investigation, following Gaetz’s resignation from the House after his nomination, and Democrats are pushing to have the report released to the public. On Thursday, Gaetz abruptly announced he would be withdrawing from consideration, citing not wanting to be a distraction to the incoming Trump administration. However, CNN noted that the news came on the heels of their reporting another allegation against Gaetz involving sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl. But, incredibly, it’s not just these two men. Robert Kennedy Jr., the former independent presidential candidate and Trump’s newly minted pick for the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, has also been accused of sexual misconduct. Over the summer his children’s former babysitter, Eliza Cooney, alleged to Vanity Fair the political scion had groped her while she was working for him as a 23-year-old, something Kennedy has declined to comment on. “I know that there are hardworking people who don’t have skeletons in their closet,” Cooney told USA Today in an interview published Wednesday. “And I wish we were electing people with fewer skeletons in their closet.” There certainly are, but that doesn’t mean that those with such skeletons are facing any real consequences for their alleged actions. It’s been seven years since #MeToo, spurred in part from women’s anger over Trump’s ascendance, promised a national reckoning over sexual assault. Women shared their stories, screamed their pain, and tried to make a change in the way that we talk about rape and sexual violence. Now women may soon be living under a presidential regime that includes men who have been accused of all manner of sexual misconduct and have managed to reach the highest levels of power anyway. Looking at the proposed Trump cabinet, it feels as if little has changed.
A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul Donald Trump's health team picks include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling an agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans’ health, from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to be Trump's health secretary is anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He says his task is to “reorganize” federal health agencies. They employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans’ daily lives. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
One of the prevalent misconceptions about "Trump 2.0" is the belief that it must be a direct replica or continuation of former President Donald Trump. Professor Ouyang Hui emphasizes the importance of recognizing that political phenomena are complex and multifaceted. Rather than expecting a singular individual to embody the entirety of Trump's legacy, it is crucial to acknowledge the nuances and variations within this evolving political landscape.Moreover, playing in Europe will also help young Chinese players to adapt to different cultures and lifestyles, which is a crucial aspect of their personal growth. Living and playing in a foreign country requires a certain level of maturity, independence, and resilience, qualities that are essential for athletes to succeed in the highly competitive world of professional sports. By experiencing life in a different environment, young Chinese players can develop a broader perspective and become more well-rounded individuals, which will ultimately benefit their careers on and off the field.Auburn coach Bruce Pearl is cautioning his team not to overlook visiting Monmouth when they clash on Monday night, in what will be the Tigers' final nonconference game of the regular season. The No. 2 Tigers (11-1) have won four in a row following their lone setback against host Duke on Dec. 4. They open Southeastern Conference play on Jan. 4 against visiting Missouri. But Pearl is wary of the Hawks (2-10), who have won two of their past four games, including a victory at Seton Hall on Nov. 30. Monmouth is led by Abdi Bashir Jr., who ranks among the top 10 in the nation in scoring at 21.6 points per game. The Hawks are coming off an 88-74 win over Fairfield on Dec. 21 in what was their first home game of the season. "(Monmouth coach) King Rice's team has played a really tough schedule and played only one home game," Pearl said. "I think it says a lot and they have a great, great player in (Bashir). He's long and he can shoot it. They play an attractive style, and their record goes out the door." Auburn likely will be fine should forward Johni Broome continue his magnificent play of late. Broome, who leads the Tigers in scoring (18.5 points per game), rebounds (11.5), assists (3.3) and blocks (2.6), bounced back from a right shoulder injury scare and led his team to an 87-69 victory against then-No. 16 Purdue on Dec. 21. Broome scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Auburn to its fourth win this season over a ranked opponent. With more than a week to rest, Broome figures to be good to go against Monmouth and fit to begin the tough stretch that follows. In addition to Broome, Auburn has seen stellar guard play from Chad Baker-Mazara (12.8 points per game) as well as Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones, who each are averaging 11.3 points per game. Bashir, who is shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range and 42.0 percent overall from the field, has showcased his skills as one of the most explosive scorers in the country against a solid schedule. Monmouth has faced Michigan State, Rutgers and Temple in addition to its 63-51 triumph over Seton Hall on the road. In addition to Bashir Jr., Madison Durr has provided offense with 10.3 points per game and the Hawks have been solid on the boards thanks to Jaret Valencia (6.0 rebounds per game) and Jack Collins (5.3). Valencia and Collins also have been effective scorers, helping take some of the defensive pressure off Bashir at times. But Rice would like to see more consistency from his team, especially on the defensive end. The victory over Seton Hall was the only time Monmouth has held a team below 70 points this season. "We have kids who can score the ball," Rice told reporters following a loss to Lehigh Dec 4. "Abdi can score, Jaret can score, Jack can score, everybody can score. But right now our defense is one of the worst in the country because we're not committed to guarding for each other." --Field Level Media
Quebec Premier François Legault believes it is “urgent” that his federal counterpart Justin Trudeau present his plan to strengthen security at the Canada-U.S. border, in the context where the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, is threatening to impose customs duties on Canadian imports. A few hours before a meeting of the premiers, which is to focus on relations with the United States, Legault wanted to publicly send a message to Trudeau Wednesday morning in Quebec City. “I will repeat to him that it is urgent that he submit a plan to secure the borders, to avoid having tariffs,” maintained the Quebec premier upon his arrival at the meeting. “This plan must be quantified: how much money it puts in, how many people it adds. It is urgent if we do not want to have tariffs.” Trump is threatening to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports if the Trudeau government doesn’t do more to secure the border. In his view, the Canada-U.S. border is allowing too much fentanyl and illegal immigrants to enter the United States. Legault also recalled that he had the opportunity to speak with Trump last weekend, on the sidelines of the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. In light of this meeting, which lasted about 10 minutes, he said he was “more convinced than ever” of the urgency of submitting a plan regarding the border. ‘ On the Ottawa side, the Minister of Procurement and political lieutenant of the Liberals for Quebec, Jean-Yves Duclos, maintained that “the plan is ready” and that Trudeau will present it to the premiers of the provinces and territories during the meeting on Wednesday. However, he did not confirm that this plan will be quantified, as Legault requested. “We’ll see how it goes. Trudeau is the master of his agenda, obviously, and I expect a positive reaction from the premiers of the provinces and territories, because we’re all part of the same Team Canada,” he said in a press scrum. “This is an important opportunity to talk with premiers about our Team Canada approach,” Trudeau said as he headed to Question Period. “Having premiers with different perspectives and different approaches reinforces the shared values that we have as Canadians and helps us be there to defend the interests of Canadians. “We need a coordinated and coherent approach to the challenge of Donald Trump. There is strength in numbers, and there is unrest in division,” added Liberal MP John McKay. Immigration Minister Marc Miller stressed that the government must strike the right tone. “Sure, there are some crazy things that happen, there are some shenanigans, but we have to be serious about this. Canadians expect their government to take the border seriously, to keep Canadians safe,” he said. “We can’t be pitted against ourselves and against conflicting objectives, I think that’s very important. Everything the United States does has a very significant impact on Canada, so this is not the time to be playing partisan politics,” he added. Wednesday’s meeting between Trudeau and his counterparts will be the second since Trump won the November presidential election in the U.S., and the first since Trudeau and some of his staff were invited to dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Florida with Trump nearly two weeks ago. Since that event, Trump’s comments — who reportedly suggested that Canada become the 51st state of the United States — have sparked a lot of reaction. The president-elect added another layer on Tuesday, when he referred to Trudeau as the governor of the “great state of Canada” in a post on his social network Truth. According to Legault ‘s official schedule , the meeting between the premiers is to take place virtually at 4 p.m.Former President Jimmy Carter Dead at 100Poni’s Big Year
AP News Summary at 6:15 p.m. ESTNew Delhi: India and the European Union ( EU ) have finalised an extensive roadmap for the green hydrogen sector that includes development of infrastructure, technology cooperation and boosting supply chains. The two sides deliberated on ways to enhance cooperation in the sector at the 10th meeting of the India-EU Energy Panel held on Thursday in Brussels. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Election Results Jharkhand Election Results Bypoll Election Results At the meeting, a "work plan" was adopted for the third phase of the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership 2025-28, which will focus on deeper cooperation in five priority areas, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The priority areas are green hydrogen, offshore wind energy , regional connectivity, electricity market integration and smart grids, energy efficiency, and energy and climate diplomacy. "The two sides have set out an extensive agenda for green hydrogen cooperation, which includes assessing infrastructure development feasibility, regulatory and technology cooperation, and strengthening of supply chains," the MEA said on Saturday. It said the energy panel focused on the energy transition priorities of the two sides and took stock of the achievements of the second phase of the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership 2021-2024. Strategy ESG and Business Sustainability Strategy By - Vipul Arora, Partner, ESG & Climate Solutions at Sattva Consulting Author I Speaker I Thought Leader View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Advanced Excel Course - Financial Calculations & Excel Made Easy By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Finance Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program The two sides undertook and completed joint initiatives involving technical cooperation in 51 activities divided into nine sectors, it added. "The two sides have also charted out the framework for green hydrogen cooperation, which includes cooperation on green hydrogen policies of India and the EU," the MEA said. The EU and EU member states participated in the international conference on green hydrogen this year in India. On its part, India joined as an exclusive country partner of European Hydrogen Week 2024. "India and the EU also entered into long-term research commitments to jointly support research in clean energy projects as part of the India-EU trade and technology council working group on clean and green technologies, which was established in January 2023," the MEA said. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024 Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is November 30, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. 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Donald Trump Jr. emerges as a political force of his own as he helps his father launch a second termFuturology A new study has unveiled a discovery beneath the Earth's surface: a vast reservoir of hydrogen that could potentially reshape the global energy landscape. Scientists estimate that approximately 6.2 trillion tons of hydrogen lie hidden in rocks and underground reservoirs, a quantity that dwarfs known oil reserves by a factor of 261. The research, led by Geoffrey Ellis, a petroleum geochemist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), has been published in the journal Science Advances. It suggests that tapping into just a fraction of this hydrogen could have far-reaching implications for the world's energy future. "Just 2% of the hydrogen stocks found in the study, equivalent to 124 billion tons of gas, would supply all the hydrogen we need to get to net-zero [carbon] for a couple hundred years," Ellis told LiveScience. This amount of hydrogen contains roughly twice the energy stored in all known natural gas reserves on Earth. Hydrogen, a clean energy carrier, has diverse applications, ranging from fueling vehicles to powering industrial processes and generating electricity. As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, hydrogen is projected to play an increasingly significant role, potentially accounting for up to 30% of future energy supply in some sectors. The study's findings challenge long-held beliefs about hydrogen's behavior underground. "The paradigm throughout my entire career was that hydrogen's out there, it occurs, but it's a very small molecule, so it easily escapes through small pores and cracks and rocks," Ellis said. However, recent discoveries of substantial hydrogen caches in West Africa and an Albanian chromium mine have shifted this perspective. To estimate the global hydrogen reserves, Ellis and his colleague Sarah Gelman developed a model accounting for various factors, including hydrogen production rates underground, the amount likely trapped in reservoirs, and losses through processes such as atmospheric leakage. The model revealed a wide range of possible hydrogen quantities, from 1 billion to 10 trillion tons, with 6.2 trillion tons being the most probable estimate. While these figures are promising, Ellis cautions that much of this hydrogen may be inaccessible due to depth or offshore locations. Additionally, some reserves might be too small for economically viable extraction. Nevertheless, the sheer scale of the estimated reserves suggests that even with these limitations, there could be ample hydrogen available for exploitation. One of the key advantages of natural hydrogen over synthetically produced "green" or "blue" hydrogen is its ready availability. "We don't have to worry about storage, which is something that with the blue hydrogen or green hydrogen you do," Ellis said. "You want to make it when electricity is cheap and then you have to store it somewhere. With natural hydrogen, you could just open a valve and close it whenever you needed it." However, the exact locations of these hydrogen reserves remain unknown, presenting the next challenge for researchers. Ellis and his team are working on narrowing down the geological criteria necessary for underground hydrogen accumulation, with results for the U.S. expected early next year. While the potential of this discovery is enormous, some experts urge caution. Professor Bill McGuire from University College London told the BBC that extracting hydrogen on a scale large enough to impact emissions significantly would require "an enormous global initiative for which we simply don't have time." He also emphasized the need for extensive supporting infrastructure. McGuire questioned whether exploiting another finite resource is necessary, given the availability of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
Washington Commanders win in overtime to clinch play-off berthDrillship for East Sea gas exploration project arrives in Busan
The record will show that tight end Trey McBride had a great season, Marvin Harrison Jr. has a promising future, the Cardinals' defense played over its head for much of the year and Arizona was almost a good football team in 2024. Key word — almost. A frustrating stretch continued on Saturday when the Cardinals (7-9) lost 13-9 to the host Los Angeles Rams. Arizona was pushing for a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute, but Kyler Murray's pass took an unlucky bounce off McBride's helmet and LA's Ahkello Witherspoon made a spectacular grab for the interception, snagging the ball just before it hit the turf. “I think we can compete with anybody, but again, that doesn’t count,” second-year coach Jonathan Gannon said. “It’s about winning and losing, you what I mean? I just got to do a better job, but I know they’re doing the right things.” The Cardinals did a lot of things right against the Rams. Despite being eliminated from the postseason, Arizona competed hard. Murray completed 33 of 48 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown — but also had two interceptions. McBride caught 12 passes for 123 yards, including his first TD catch of the year. Harrison had one of his best games with six catches for 96 yards. “I’m going to choose to be positive about it,” Murray said. “I see a light at the end of that tunnel. I think we’re a couple plays away, a couple of plays away from being a 10-win team or right where we want to be, going to the playoffs or winning the division.” Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray loses his helmet on a play in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Credit: AP/Alex Gallardo The Cardinals' defense played well for most of the game, limiting the Rams to 257 yards. But in the end, it was another loss. The Cardinals have dropped five of six after starting 6-4. “I know we’re close, man, and I know it’s hard to see that,” Gannon said. “For me, that’s hard to take on the chin but we’ll get better from it. We’ll get better.” What’s working The Murray-to-Harrison connection was much better on Saturday, producing several big plays. Gannon challenged Harrison to be more physical against opposing defensive backs last week, and the receiver responded, looking much more like the player the Cardinals expected when they selected him with the No. 4 overall pick. Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon answers question after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Credit: AP/Alex Gallardo “I think the physicality of it, coming from college to the league, guys don’t realize how physical you can be when you get to the league,” Murray said. “He's going to be big time.” What needs help After doing a great job of taking care of the ball over the first 11 games, Murray has thrown seven interceptions over the past five. A few of those came in late-game situations when he had to take a chance and force a pass, but it's still not a good trend. Stock up McBride had his third 100-yard game of the season, showing sure hands and fighting through contact for extra yards. The third-year player has 1,081 yards receiving this season, becoming just the second tight end in franchise history to exceed 1,000 yards. The other was Hall of Famer Jackie Smith, who had 1,205 yards in 1967. He has 104 catches and is just the 10th tight end in NFL history to top 100 in a season. Stock down Arizona's special teams have been very good for most of the year, but Los Angeles' block of an extra point attempt by Chad Ryland in the third quarter proved costly. If the Cardinals had trailed by three points on the final drive instead of four, they would have had the option of kicking a tying field goal in the final minute. Injuries RB James Conner tried to battle through a knee injury against the Rams, but gained just 4 yards on the ground. His status for the season's final game is uncertain. LB Joey Blount (ribs) and CB Elijah Jones (ankle) were inactive. Key number 822 — Harrison's receiving yards on the season. That ranks third for a rookie in franchise history behind Anquan Boldin (1,377 in 2003) and Frank Sanders (883 in 1995). Next steps Arizona's final game will be at home on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, who are also eliminated from the playoff race.Maharashtra: Jeetendra Awhad Files FIR Against NCP Leader Rupali Thombre Over Fake WhatsApp Chat AllegationsLegal hurdles ahead for Google's forced sale of Chrome
The basketball world cannot afford to see LeBron James go out sad, and that’s exactly what will happen if he doesn’t work a trade away from the Los Angeles Lakers. On Wednesday afternoon, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that James wasn’t with the team for personal reasons. "LeBron is not with the team right now," Redick said after practice . "He's out for personal reasons, excused absence." James missed Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers with a foot injury. It was the first game he had missed all season. But now he’s away from the team for personal reasons, and with the Lakers just two games above .500, holding onto the eighth seed in the Western Conference, it could be time for a change. Remember, despite drafting his son, Bronny James, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, James was frustrated with the Lakers this offseason because of their inability to add a third superstar to pair alongside himself and Anthony Davis. He signed an extension but really only committed to the Lakers for one more season. James has played 22 years in the league. At the end of the month, he will turn 40 years old. There’s no denying that his days playing in the NBA are numbered. There’s also no denying that he understands the inner workings of the NBA unlike any player before him. He’s oftentimes criticized for popularizing the superteam when he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat. He has to know this Lakers squad is not going anywhere, especially in a Western Conference loaded with young talent. He’s been known to force a thing or two, and now it’s time for him to force his way out of Los Angeles and chase another championship before he calls it a career. When the news dropped about his absence from practice, NBA rumor mills immediately started cranking out trade rumors. Where could his fourth team be? The Golden State Warriors are a west coast destination that would allow him to stay close to his family based in Los Angeles. They’re currently the No. 5 seed in the West and could allow James to actually contend for a championship. The Cleveland Cavaliers are another option, as James has already returned home and played the role of hero once already, delivering a championship in 2016. He’s much older now, but so are the Cavs, who have the best record in the NBA. This reunion might just make all the sense in the world. Nobody knows for sure why James is away from the Lakers right now. But it would undoubtedly be in his best interest to move on from the Lakers. This is his seventh year donning the purple and gold and has just one championship to show for it with a bunch of early playoff exits, or worse, not making the postseason at all. Still averaging 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds per game, James has more to give to the game of basketball. He has accomplished everything there is to accomplish, including suiting up with his son. That's pretty damn special. It’s time to win that last championship ring and ride off into the sunset as the greatest ever.MILLIONS of Black Friday shoppers searching for bargains risk being conned by fake customer reviews. One in seven online testimonials are in fact false, according to government data. If you fall for a bogus review then you could end up wasting your money on poor or even dangerous products. Charlotte Sheridan, founder of The Small Biz Expert, which helps its clients get genuine reviews, says: “Unfortunately, there are a lot of fake reviews online, so it’s always best to delve a bit deeper, especially if you’re parting with a lot of money.” This Black Friday week, Mel Hunter reveals how to spot them. HOW DO FAKES HAPPEN? INCREASINGLY, AI -generated posts are cropping up online. Read More on Money It affects companies big and small. In 2023 alone, Amazon — which claims it has “zero tolerance” for fake reviews — blocked 250million of the posts. A new law, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, is due to come into force in April next year, banning fake reviews and making companies responsible for checking them. But in practice they can be hard to spot — and difficult to police. Most read in Money There are some tell-tale signs, though. Before you part with your money this Black Friday, sort out the real reviews from the false ones so you spend more wisely. LOOK FOR DETAIL WHEN it comes to sorting genuine experiences from those that have been made up, you need to read between the lines. Fake reviews are often vague and lacking in human detail. They might say a product is “great”, without explaining why. A review that repeats phrases from a product’s website can also be a red flag. Amy Cutmore, editor of Expert Reviews, says: “A real review is usually specific and descriptive. “For an air fryer, it might say ‘I cooked bacon in it and it came out nice and crispy’. “If a review reveals no details on the product or the use of it, be suspicious.” SPELLING MISTAKES POOR spelling should make you suspicious. It could be a sign that reviews have come from someone being paid to churn them out in bulk, and often not in their native language. Look at other review sites, too, to get a broader range of views. Charlotte says: “I would always recommend, where possible, looking at more than one platform for reviews. Whether it’s a combination of social media reviews and Google, or Trustpilot and Amazon, use more than one source.” SIZE MATTERS LOOK out for reviews that are very short, or too long. If someone has written a dubious review, they will probably keep it to just a few sentences. A bogus review, produced by AI, on the other hand, could ramble on far too long. A recommendation by a real person is more likely to fall somewhere in between. FIVE-STAR FAKES SHOPPING experts recommend skipping both five-star and one-star reviews, which is where most fakes tend to land. It may mean you miss some genuine recommendations, but you will also get a more rounded picture from three or four-star ones, where real customers weigh up the positives and negatives. Amy says: “If the review makes the product sound far too good to be true, it’s more likely to be fake feedback.” Be especially alert for five-star reviews on unbranded products. Shoppers are more than twice as likely to pick poor-quality products that have been boosted by fraudulent reviews, according to Which? RAINING REVIEWS ANOTHER sign of a dodgy write-up could be a deluge of reviews for the same product landing within just a short space of time, with long gaps between other reviews. It could happen around Black Friday or Christmas when a retailer is trying to shift stock, or around a new launch. Amy says: “This could be a sign that the seller has faked positive feedback in some way.” She recommends a tool that can help spot bogus reviews. Fakespot from Mozilla is a plug-in tool that will help single out false reviews. It can be added to a web browser for free, and it works with Amazon, eBay and Shopify , as well as other e-retail sites. POWER IN THE PROFILE DELVE a bit deeper into a reviewer’s profile. On sites including Google Reviews, Trustpilot and Amazon, you can see what other businesses or products someone has reviewed. Charlotte says: “Here there can be some obvious red flags — for example, if someone is not in the country where the business they are buying from is based. “Also, be sure to take a look at how often they review products and services. “Reviewing lots of different products within a short timeframe may also indicate a false review.” Amy says that if all the reviewer’s posts give five stars, or one, it might show they have been given an incentive to write the posts. £25? what an ice surprise! THOUSANDS of struggling households in more than a dozen postcodes are set to receive cash to help heat their homes as the cold snap takes hold. Those eligible get £25 during each seven-day period of below-zero weather in their area until March 31. The Department for Work and Pensions provides the extra cash to low-income households. To be eligible, you must receive certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support, or support for mortgage interest. Those who qualify will have the funds deposited automatically into their bank accounts within 14 days of their postcode being triggered. These postcodes, which have already experienced a period of very low temperatures, are now eligible for a single cold weather payment: CA9-12, CA16-17, DG14, TD9, LA8-10, LA21-23, NE19, NE47-NE49. If you think you could have received the payment, check your bank statement for an item with your National Insurance number followed by the code “DWP CWP”. Further cold weather could lead to additional payments in other areas, and there is no maximum limit to the amount you can receive. For example, almost 500 postcodes got up to £75 last winter . See coldweatherpayments. dwp.gov.uk to check if you will be due a cold weather payment . James Flanders Users are E.ON for payout A MAJOR energy supplier will give £144 in compensation to 250,000 customers. E.ON Next – part of the E.ON Energy Group – has been asked to pay up after it failed to give final bills and refunds to prepayment meter customers . Almost a quarter of a million accounts were affected between February 2021 and September 2023, an investigation by energy regulator Ofgem found. This was due to an error within its billing system, which E.ON Next self-reported to Ofgem. Prepayment customers who changed suppliers or terminated their contract did not receive final bills within six weeks, which is required under Ofgem’s rules. This failure meant existing customers were not aware of cash left over in their accounts, the watchdog said. It was found that some 100,000 of the accounts were in credit, with an average of £51 left over. Impacted customers have been contacted to inform them about the payment, E.ON said. The company also agreed to voluntarily write off debt held by almost 150,000 prepayment meter customers who closed their accounts between February 2021 and September 2023. READ MORE SUN STORIES Beth Martin, director for consumer protection and competition at Ofgem, said: “It’s encouraging that [E.ON Next] self-reported the issue and have worked with us to resolve it.” Laura McGuire
Protests in Pakistan turned violent this week as one police officer was killed and dozens of other people were injured. Tear Gas Used Against Protesters Pakistani police on Monday used tear gas to disperse supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan as they attempted to enter the capital for a planned sit-in demanding his release, according to officials. The tear gas deployment followed the arrival of demonstrators who had traveled 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Pakistan's restive northwest to gather near Islamabad. The protesters defied a citywide lockdown, prior tear gas assaults, mass arrests and a ban on rallies in the capital. One Officer Killed At least one police officer was killed, while multiple officers and demonstrators were injured during the clashes, authorities reported. Despite the violence, protesters remained resolute in their efforts to enter Islamabad, where a two-day lockdown has already disrupted daily life. The Protests in Pakistan The escalation unfolded as leaders of Imran Khan's party pressed forward with the "long march" coinciding with the arrival of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for a three-day visit. Lukashenko was welcomed at an airport near Islamabad by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday evening. Government officials confirmed ongoing negotiations with Khan's party in an effort to prevent further violence. Despite spending over a year behind bars and facing more than 150 criminal charges, Khan remains a widely popular figure. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintains that the cases against him are politically driven. A convoy of vehicles carrying protesters was anticipated to reach the capital by Monday night. Security officials estimated the crowd size at 9,000 to 11,000, but leaders of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party predicted significantly higher turnout. Movement between Islamabad and other cities has come to a near standstill with ambulances and cars forced to turn back along key routes. In Punjab province, authorities used shipping containers to block sections of the Grand Trunk Road, a major highway. "We are determined, and we will reach Islamabad, though police are using tear gas to stop our march," PTI senior leader Kamran Bangash said during an interview with The Associated Press. "We will overcome all hurdles one by one, and our supporters are removing shipping containers from roads." Bangash added that Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi—recently granted bail in a corruption case—will co-lead the march alongside Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province where Khan's party still holds power. Roughly 50 kilometers (30 miles) outside Islamabad, Bushra Bibi, clad in a full-length white burqa, addressed protesters from atop a truck. She urged them to stay resolute in their efforts to secure Khan's release. After leading chants of "God is great," she departed. Khan's chief political rival, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently leads the government. On Sunday night, protesters set trees ablaze as police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. Supporters of Khan responded with slingshots and hurled rocks at security forces. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
ORONO, Maine (AP) — Michael McNair scored 16 points to lead Boston University and Malcolm Chimezie sealed the victory with a layup with 20 seconds left as the Terriers took down Maine 59-56 on Sunday. McNair also had six rebounds for the Terriers (6-7). Kyrone Alexander scored 13 points and added five rebounds. Chimezie shot 4 of 7 from the field and 0 for 3 from the line to finish with eight points. Kellen Tynes led the way for the Black Bears (8-7) with 17 points, four assists and three steals. Maine also got 12 points from Christopher Mantis. Quion Burns had eight points. McNair scored seven points in the first half and Boston University went into halftime trailing 27-19. Alexander scored a team-high 10 points for Boston University in the second half. Boston University outscored Maine by 11 points over the final half. Boston University's next game is Thursday against Lafayette on the road, and Maine visits Bryant on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .In recent news, Zhao Liying, a popular Chinese actress, has been vindicated as two of her malicious black fans have publicly apologized for spreading false rumors and defamatory posts about her. This incident sheds light on the toxic culture of online trolling and the devastating impact it can have on celebrities' lives.