
With another issue in the winds of Trenton, political forecasters predict clouds with a chance of more corruption crap.If interest exists about frequent subject matter here, specifically this opaque government overseen by Mayor Reed Gusciora, understand that past experiences during the corruption years of former Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, provided valuable insight to political impropriety [...]
When fans and analysts examined the format of the new 12-team Playoff, they identified that the No. 5 seed could have an easier path to the semifinals than the top two seeds — and that’s been the case. No. 5 Texas was the biggest favorite in the first round and is also the biggest favorite of the quarterfinals. Advertisement The rationale behind the No. 5 team’s path being easy is that the No. 12 seed would likely be a conference champion outside the top 12 teams in the rankings and get in via an automatic bid. That turned out to be true, although Clemson didn’t fit the profile of a team people envisioned. The Tigers gave Texas the most competitive game of the CFP first round, which isn’t saying much. The Longhorns still covered a 13.5-point spread. Now, the Longhorns get Arizona State, the lowest-ranked conference champion to receive a bye. The Sun Devils finished 12th in the final CFP rankings. Texas can get to the semifinals by beating No. 16 at home and No. 12 on a neutral field. If ASU is to pull off the upset, it will likely be on the back of running back Cam Skattebo. The former Sacramento State standout has become a cult hero at Arizona State, eventually gaining enough prominence to finish fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. He’s the kind of running back you want Chris Berman to call highlights for so you can hear his sound effects for Skattebo’s physical running style. Skattebo has 1,568 rushing yards and another 506 receiving yards this season. Only Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty has more total yards from scrimmage. While ASU typically pulls out all the stops to get its star the ball, Texas’ elite defense won’t make it easy for him. The Longhorns have the second-best scoring defense in the country (13.3 points allowed per game) and are 10th in rushing yards allowed per game (104.5). That said, Clemson gained more than 400 yards against Texas and could’ve made things interesting late if not for a goalline stand in the fourth quarter. The stars of the game were Texas’ running backs Jaydon Blue (146 yards, two touchdowns on 14 carries) and Quintrevion Wisner (110 yards, two touchdowns on 15 carries). Whichever team wins the running game should win. The odds just don’t look in Arizona State’s favor. Arizona State vs. Texas odds Expert picks against the spread Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. document.querySelectorAll(".in-content-module[data-module-id='the-pulse-newsletter'] .in-content-module-img img ").forEach((el) => { el.setAttribute("style", "pointer-events: none;");}) Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. College Football Playoff quarterfinals first look: Oregon-Ohio State has national title vibes Texas showed vs. Clemson why it could be poised to make deep Playoff run Mandel: Don’t blame Playoff committee for first round getting out of hand (Photo of Cam Skattebo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith missed practice for the second straight day because of a hamstring injury. The latest update indicates there's a possibility that Smith could miss the Eagles' Week 12 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. For a second straight day, Eagles WR DeVonta Smith did not practice today due to a hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/P2SaEEuW8D More News: 49ers' Brock Purdy Exits Practice Early Due to Significant Injury Smith, 26, was spotted limping back to the locker room after Thursday night's win. Since then, Smith has been trending to miss this upcoming week but nothing has been confirmed. Smith has missed just two games throughout his NFL career, one being earlier this season due to a concussion. If Smith were to miss Sunday's game, it would mark the first time in his four-year career that he would miss more than one game in a single season. Smith's near-perfect attendance is a testament to his durability. The hamstring injury Smith is dealing with has plagued the wide receiver for several weeks now. A.J. Brown also missed time this season due to a hamstring injury. Smith took much of the receiving load in Brown's absence as he was sidelined for three games. The Eagles could choose to keep Smith out as the team prepares for a deep playoff run. Smith has 41 catches for 516 yards and four touchdowns this season. As of late, Smith has tallied just six receptions and 43 yards on nine targets through the last two games. Smith's lack of production seems to be because of a weird combination of factors. Plays are certainly dialed up for the wide receiver but haven't been successful. Smith isn't the only offensive starter to be dealing with an injury heading into Week 12. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has also been nursing an ankle injury but was listed as a full participant in practice Thursday which is a sign he will be ready to go for Sunday's game against the Rams. "At this point of the year, I think it's not about, I think it's necessarily about me, I think it's the mentality where we are," Hurts told NBC Sports . "We're in a phase of the year where things could very easily (go bad). Well, it did (last year), it didn't end the way we wanted to. And so that's at the top of my (list) as we enter this phase and putting the emphasis on finishing strong, putting ourself in a good place." The Eagles hope to escape their playoff woes in 2024 but will need both Smith and Hurts to remain healthy in order to do so. For more on the NFL , head to Newsweek Sports .
Google and the US government faced off in a federal court on Monday, as each side delivered closing arguments in a case revolving around the technology giant's alleged unfair domination of online advertising. The trial in a Virginia federal court is Google's second US antitrust case now under way as the US government tries to rein in the power of big tech. In a separate trial, a Washington judge ruled that Google's search business is an illegal monopoly, and the US Justice Department is asking that Google sell its Chrome browser business to resolve the case. The latest case, also brought by the Justice Department, focuses on ad technology for the open web -- the complex system determining which online ads people see when they surf the internet. The vast majority of websites use a trio of Google ad software products that together, leave no way for publishers to escape Google's advertising technology, the plaintiffs allege. Publishers -- including News Corp and Gannett publishing -- complain that they are locked into Google's advertising technology in order to run ads on their websites. "Google is once, twice, three times a monopolist," DOJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum told the court in closing arguments. Presiding judge Leonie Brinkema has said that she would deliver her opinion swiftly, as early as next month. Whatever Brinkema's judgment, the outcome will almost certainly be appealed, prolonging a process that could go all the way to the US Supreme Court. The government alleges that Google controls the auction-style system that advertisers use to purchase advertising space online. The US lawyers argue that this approach allows Google to charge higher prices to advertisers while sending less revenue to publishers such as news websites, many of which are struggling to stay in business. The US argues that Google used its financial power to acquire potential rivals and corner the ad tech market, leaving advertisers and publishers with no choice but to use its technology. The government wants Google to divest parts of its ad tech business. More from this section Google dismissed the allegations as an attempt by the government to pick "winners and losers" in a diverse market. The company argues that the display ads at issue are just a small share of today's ad tech business. Google says the plaintiffs' definition of the market ignores ads that are also placed in search results, apps and social media platforms and where, taken as a whole, Google does not dominate. "The law simply does not support what the plaintiffs are arguing in this case," said Google's lawyer Karen Dunn. She warned that if Google were to lose the case, the winners would be rival tech giants such as Microsoft, Meta or Amazon, whose market share in online advertising is ascendant as Google's share is falling. The DOJ countered that it simply "does not matter" that Google is competing in the broader market for online ads. "That is a different question" than the market for ads on websites that is the target of the case, said Teitelbaum. Google also points to US legal precedent, saying arguments similar to the government's have been refuted in previous antitrust cases. Dunn also warned that forcing Google to work with rivals in its ad products would amount to government central planning that the court should reject. If the judge finds Google to be at fault, a new phase of the trial would decide how the company should comply with that conclusion. And all that could be moot if the incoming Trump administration decides to drop the case. The president-elect has been a critic of Google's, but he warned earlier this month that breaking it up could be "a very dangerous thing." arp/dwCubs acquire All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with the Astros
Chase Artopoeus has two TD passes, TD run as Chattanooga tops Austin Peay 24-17 in season finaleAmnesty’s ‘genocide’ game, the Obama CIA’s futile Syria scheme and other commentary
Researchers use sunlight to recycle black plasticMangaluru: KPCC general secretary Padmaraj R Poojary accused the BJP of trying to create needless confusion over BPL ration cards and waqf properties issue, only to gain people's support. Poojary told reporters here on Saturday, that even though the central govt admitted to cancellation of 5.8 crore BPL cards across the nation, the BJP leaders in Karnataka are silent on it. Stating that the state govt is committed to ensuring that no eligible family is deprived of BPL cards and its benefits, Padmaraj said that all eligible families will continue to have their BPL cards. "Even chief minister Siddaramaiah has asserted that if there was any mistake on the part of officials, then it will be rectified," he said. Accusing the BJP of trying to divide society in the name of religion, Padmaraj said that the saffron party has taken up the waqf properties issue for political mileage. He said that 226 notices in the name of waqf properties were served to farmers during the tenure of Basavaraj Bommai as the chief minister. "Further, notices were served during the tenure of DV Sadananda Gowda as the chief minister. People need not panic over the waqf properties issue as the Congress govt is committed to principles," he said. Referring to bad roads in Mangaluru city, Padmaraj blamed the BJP administration in the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). Further, he also came down heavily on the central govt for ignoring the development of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru national highway development work. "Let the Dakshina Kannada MP give priority to the development of national highways. Travel on NH-75 from Mangaluru to Bengaluru has become an adventurous task and there are no proper service roads," he added. Maharashtra Jharkhand Maharashtra Alliance View i Party View Seats: 288 L + W Majority: 145 BJP+ 229 MVA 47 OTH 12 Leads + Wins : 288 / 288 BJP+ WON Jharkhand Alliance View i Party View Seats: 81 Results Majority: 41 INDIA 56 NDA 24 OTH 1 Results : 81 / 81 INDIA WON Source: PValue ‘Lack of coordination among engineers' Congress leader and former mayor Shashidhar Hegde said roads in the city are in deplorable condition after various agencies dug them up for underground pipelines. "Lack of coordination among engineers from the MCC, various govt departments, and agencies involved in various works has been the reason for bad roads in the city," Hegde said, and urged the mayor to make all roads motorable by Dec 15. To a query, Hegde said that the state govt sanctioned Rs 160 crore to the MCC under the Mahatma Gandhi Vikas Yojana. "Action plans are being prepared to take up various development works under the scheme," he added.
Medirex Systems Inc. joins the Vector Institute's FastLane program to accelerate AI-fueled growthVehicle Leasing Market In Europe size is set to grow by USD 12.17 billion from 2024-2028, cost-effective ways of obtaining vehicle boost the market- Technavio
[Photo: Supplied] Fans will be able to watch two former World 7s Series greats at the 2025 McDonald Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s. Former Springboks 7s playmaker, Rosko Specman, and recently retired Ireland great, Harry McNulty have been named in the McDonald’s Mike Friday Select 7s team. Friday has selected Specman and McNulty and he’ll name a few more players in the coming weeks. Specman will be making his first appearance at the tournament and obviously his first visit to Fiji. Former Ireland 7s captain, McNulty, needs no introduction as fans have witnessed his passion for the game of 7s and his close affinity with the Fijian players. The 2025 McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast Sevens will be held at Lawaqa Park from the 16th to 18th of next month.Texas' abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine Texas has sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. It appears to be the first challenge in the U.S. to a state shield law that's intended to protect prescribers in Democratic-controlled states from being punished by states with abortion bans. Prescriptions like these, made online and over the phone, are a key reason that the number of abortions has increased across the U.S. even after state bans started taking effect. Most abortions in the U.S. involve pills rather than procedures. Anti-abortion groups are increasingly focusing on the rise of pills. Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fell DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad, gathering in the capital’s historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has brought an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to two U.S. officials, who said Friday that Travis Timmerman has been flown to Jordan on a U.S. military helicopter. The 29-year-old Timmerman told The Associated Press earlier Friday he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it 'absurd' NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers are again urging a judge to throw out his hush money conviction. In a court filing Friday, they balked at the prosecution’s “absurd” idea for preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies before sentencing. The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. Paula Abdul settles lawsuit alleging sexual assault by 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paula Abdul and former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show. Abdul filed a notice of settlement in a Los Angeles court Thursday. The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago had also accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after she left “American Idol” and became a judge on Lythgoe’s other show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Lythgoe said at the time that the allegations were “an appalling smear.” Both sides said in statements Friday that they were glad to put the case behind them.
French President Emmanuel Macron assembled a new government under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, on Monday evening. He appointed a cabinet to drag the second-largest EU economy out of a political crisis over budget proposals. Eric Lombard, a finance professional, was appointed finance minister. He is tasked with delivering the country's next budget after the previous government collapsed over contentious budget proposals of €60 billion ($62.9 billion) worth of tax increases and spending cuts. The country has been running without passing a formal budget since. Lombard will aim to quickly pass the 2025 budget and survive the test of a no-confidence motion by the opposition. Finding support for the new budget is expected to be difficult as Macron's party lawmakers are in the minority in the National Assembly. Former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, 63, was appointed the education minister in the new cabinet. Manuel Valls (62), also a former prime minister, returned as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin was appointed justice minister. Macron decided to retain Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot for their current assignment. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, a conservative who has promised to crack down on illegal immigration, and right-wing Culture Minister Rachida Dati also retained their ministries. Bayrou expressed confidence in delivering the budget by mid-February after consulting various groups and stakeholders. The first meeting of the cabinet will be on January 3, and the prime minister will lay out a policy agenda to the National Assembly on January 14. "I believe the path exists — maybe it’s mad optimism — but I can tell you with certainty that if we don’t succeed in this attempt, it’s the last stop before the cliff edge,” Bayrou said in an interview with France 2 television on Thursday. (With inputs from AFP)
Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say