Domestic and family violence can 'spike' over Christmas. Here's where to get help
No New Year 2025 Celebrations at Mysuru Palace, Know Why
Jimmy Carter was a president whose reputation in foreign policy only grew after he left officeNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Iowa football team will be without a few key contributors when it faces No. 19 Missouri in the Music City Bowl on Monday. According to head coach Kirk Ferentz, starting center Logan Jones, wide receiver Seth Anderson and defensive back Koen Entringer will be out for the Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) in their matchup against the Tigers (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern) due to injury. Senior offensive lineman Tyler Elsbury will start at center in the place of Jones. “Last year, Tyler stood in there for four games when Logan missed,” Ferentz said. “Els did a great job, really good job. That is a real benefit. It is a luxury item, quite frankly, to have him available. “It is hard to replace a guy like Logan. Logan is not only a really good football player, team leader, he will be on the sideline tomorrow and cannot go, unfortunately. Tyler will do a good job. Great opportunity for him. I know he is excited about it.” Senior linebacker Kyler Fisher will also miss the bowl game due to an “unmet eligibility requirement.” “He is not going to be able to compete,” Ferentz said. “He has been with us. ... He missed something, an assignment, whatever it may have been. He has chosen to stay with the team. He is a senior and practiced each and every day, been on the look squad. That was not beneath him. He has been doing a great job working against our defense.” Ferentz added the team became aware of the issue with Fisher’s eligibility a few weeks ago. “He made every effort to make it to the finish line, but just was not able to,” Ferentz said. “It is unfortunate. ... It is a tough break. Nothing malicious, anything like that. He is the one that is hurting more than anybody, but we will be fine. “It is unfortunate that he won’t play, but he has been here doing a great job and he will be on the sidelines with us tomorrow.” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz celebrates with quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) during the first half against Wisconsin Nov. 2 in Iowa City. During his press conference on Sunday, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz praised the Iowa program and its head coach. “Our football team is excited,” Drinkwitz said. “One of the things you look forward to is obviously the host city, but also the competition that you get to play against and the opportunity to play against a traditional powerhouse in Iowa. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Kirk Ferentz and what he has done with the Hawkeye football team over the course of his 26-year career. “He is the gold standard of college football and what it takes to build and sustain a program of success and excellence, player development. So it's a real honor to be on the same football field with him and his program.” Drinkwitz followed up his praise for the Hawkeyes with his expectations for his team and their performance. “We are going to have to play a clean football game,” Drinkwitz said. “You watch these bowl games. It's going to come down to turnovers and takeaways, tackling, and penalties. We've got to be clean in those areas to give ourselves a chance. One of the hallmarks of Coach Ferentz' football teams is they just don't beat themselves. They force the other team into mistakes, and we're going to have to do a nice job of playing sound football.” Specifically in regards to Iowa’s defense, the fifth-year head coach added he sees no weak links on the formidable unit. “It is a real challenge,” Drinkwitz said. “You have to beat the whole team. You can't just beat one person. You can't just beat one matchup. You have to beat the whole team in order to have a chance to win.” FILE - Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz watches his team during an NCAA college football intra-squad spring game Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz welcomed 19 transfers among 50 newcomers to the Tigers this season, and 14 of them arrived from Division I schools. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) During his press conference, Drinkwitz also made a point to highlight one similarity between Missouri and Iowa, which he said he shared with Ferentz earlier in the week. “Our two programs have done a really good job,” Drinkwitz said. “We have only had two opt-outs on both sides because of potential NFL futures, and careers and we totally understand that, but the rest of the senior classes are wanting to play and they want to play together for the brotherhood. “We have a lot of seniors that this is going to be their final football game for the Missouri Tigers and what a wonderful legacy that they leave to have an opportunity to finish out their careers the right way. ... All of those guys hold a special place in Mizzou football history.” Speaking specifically on his program, Ferentz attributed the low number of opt-outs to the Hawkeyes playing for “the right reason.” “The good of the game is just a chance to be together and go out and compete together and go through the work leading up to the competition,” Ferentz said. “...If you do not like that part in football, you are probably in the wrong sport. “That is kid of the nature of football and the nature of being part of a team. ... That is what you miss when you are done playing. We have been very fortunate. We have had a lot of really good young guys in this program — a bunch of them on this team too.” According to Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester, the senior class provided valuable leadership in his first year with the program. “They have meant a lot to this program, meant a lot to me especially coming in and putting a lot of new stuff in,” Lester said. “I am excited for them and excited for their opportunity tomorrow.” Ferentz offered his thoughts on the Tigers after praising Drinkwitz two weeks ago. “They have got an outstanding football team,” Ferentz said. “... You look at them on film. They are really good offensively — very balanced. They have two outstanding running backs, guys we have a lot of respect for (and) a good offensive line. “They have a good receiver corps. ... The whole key to their offense is a quarterback. He has done a wonderful job with his career. Really good football player. To me, he is the catalyst for their offensive football team.” Missouri senior quarterback Brady Cook completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,248 yards and nine touchdowns to two interceptions in 2024. The St. Louis native added 169 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, Ferentz said Missouri presents as a typical challenge out of the Southeastern Conference. “They are big and physical up front,” Ferentz said. Ferentz concluded his thoughts on the Tigers saying they check all the boxes in terms of ball security, penalties and time of possession. “They do a great job which indicates they are very well-coached,” Ferentz said. “They pay attention to things that are important and know what to do there.” Brendan Sullivan remains consistent amid Iowa’s search for quarterback in portal Veteran college football coach expects former boss Bill Belichick to turn North Carolina around Iowa’s backfield in good hands against Missouri despite Kaleb Johnson’s exit SEC Bias? What bowl matchup against Missouri means to Iowa Ethan Petrik is a University of Iowa beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at ethan.petrik@wcfcourier.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust Un stock falls Wednesday, underperforms marketUSDA sends $44M in funding to Minnesota to increase broadband in rural areas
HONG KONG: Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented attempt to diversify from an oil economy to something more sustainable seems to be churning along nicely. The female labour participation rate has nearly doubled to 36 per cent from 2016, the year Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman laid out his Vision 2030. Unemployment is at a record low. Last year, the number of domestic and foreign tourists exceeded 100 million for the first time. Headline statistics aside, what’s Saudi Arabia really like? Curious, I did some sightseeing myself in early November, taking advantage of a new route between Hong Kong and Riyadh. The two financial centres have been strengthening economic ties, cross-investing and offering exchange-traded funds on each other’s bourses. Cathay Pacific started a direct flight late last month. Before the trip, my friend and I were fussing over our outfits, worrying that we might get stopped on the street for not dressing conservatively enough. We were also a bit nervous about our road trip – after all, women were forbidden from driving until mid-2018. VISITORS WELCOME What we saw was an open, friendly nation that welcomed visitors. We blended in as well as any foreigners would in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, and we didn’t spot the much-feared religious police. In Medina, we accidentally roamed into the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque, not knowing that it was for Muslims only. When a policeman asked us to leave, his tone was apologetic. In just a few years, entertainment options have ballooned in a nation where the median age is only 30. Perhaps because of the desert heat, nightlife there is booming. From Riyadh’s Boulevard City – a sprawling commercial development that includes an amusement park, outdoor cinemas and retail stores – to Jeddah’s Red Sea waterfront, people crowded into the streets, singing, dancing and hanging out in cafes and hookah lounges well into the night. Female drivers are now commonplace. And while most Saudi women are still wearing long, flowing abayas as well as face coverings, fashionistas have tossed off their hijab and are wearing their abaya like a cloak. No one judges or casts disapproving glances. What about men? We took plenty of Uber rides and talked to Saudi drivers. One laughingly quipped that traffic in Riyadh got a lot worse since women began driving. A 69-year-old in Jeddah said he was okay that two of his five adult children were unmarried. One 22-year-old said he was a huge fan of American rapper Eminem, who will perform in Riyadh next month. And people just assumed we were in the Kingdom for business, as if career women were a fact of life. CHANGING LIFESTYLES Anecdotes aside, there’s also statistical evidence that cultural and social reforms are profoundly changing families and how they live and consume. The share of spending on restaurants, hotels, recreation and culture has increased from about 12 per cent in 2017 to nearly 20 per cent this year, according to Capital Economics. Home ownership among Saudi citizens has increased to 64 per cent of households from 47 per cent in 2016, when the government slashed payments for mortgages and taxed land owners who left plots undeveloped. Mortgage lending now accounts for nearly a quarter of banks’ total outstanding credit. As testament to the buzzing economy, rents are growing at a brisk 11 per cent, amid inflows of expatriate workers and large redevelopment plans in Riyadh and Jeddah. As part of Vision 2030, Riyadh aims to lower the country’s unemployment rate and increase small businesses’ contribution to the economy. It’s making progress on both fronts, while a cultural opening is giving young Saudis incentives to work. FALLING SHORT ON SOME METRICS The prince is falling short on some of his metrics, and the nation’s human rights record remains a serious concern. Women who posted online about gender inequality can suffer decades-long jail sentences. The 2022 Personal Status Law requires women to obtain a male guardian’s permission to marry. This perhaps explains why Saudi Arabia is not getting as much foreign capital as Riyadh desires. In 2023, Norway’s largest pension fund KLP blacklisted some of Saudi’s telecom and real estate companies, citing “human rights abuses”. Last year, net foreign direct investment accounted for only 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product, well below Vision 2030’s 5.7 per cent target. In addition, foreigners are still mostly visiting for the pilgrimages of hajj and umrah, even though the country is building ambitious ski slopes in the desert and lavish resorts by the Red Sea that cater to non-religious tourists. The government is aiming for the sector to account for 10 per cent of non-oil GDP. Foreign fund managers have likened Saudi Arabia’s 2016 opening to China’s. I don’t think that’s quite fair, because Saudi is already a developed country in terms of infrastructure. Its roads are well-built and its malls are full of American chain stores – nothing like the 1980s China I knew. But if we look at the speed of cultural changes, the parallel is eerily accurate.
PIMCO Canada Announces Unitholder Approval of the Proposed Mergers of Certain Closed-end Funds
WASHINGTON – as choice for has created an opening for one of the he designated for top posts at the Justice Department – or to other firebrands the president-elect was previously considering. Trump could potentially elevate , who he had already named as deputy attorney general, the department's #2 job. Other candidates included former intelligence official Kash Patel and . “It basically comes down to whoever can demonstrate the most fealty to Trump, and be a Matt Gaetz without the baggage,” said Jeff Breinholt, a former senior lawyer and counterterrorism official at the Justice Department. Gaetz withdrew from consideration on Thursday amid continuing disclosures of damaging testimony from federal and House Ethics Committee probes into allegations of . Gaetz denied the allegations. Here is what we know about potential candidates for attorney general: Blanche and Emil Bove, who was named principal associate deputy attorney general, defended Trump in his and federal investigations over his alleged and . Their delaying strategy held off action in both federal cases until after the election. After Trump’s victory, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is under department policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. Despite Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Blanche represented him aggressively, calling his former lawyer Michael Cohen a liar. Sentencing in the Manhattan conviction has been postponed while District Attorney Alvin Bragg urged a postponement until , while Trump’s lawyers contend the charges should be dropped entirely. Blanche had previously been a federal prosecutor in New York and clerked for two federal judges. "Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long," Trump said in announcing his choice for deputy attorney general. Lee, who has served 14 years in the Senate and sits on the Judiciary Committee, was considered a top candidate for attorney general before Gaetz was chosen and could potentially face an easier path to confirmation from his fellow senators. Lee was a vocal advocate for Trump during his first term and exchanged emails with Trump’s White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, conferring over how to challenge the 2020 election results. , Lee voiced “unequivocal support for you to exhaust every legal and constitutional remedy at your disposal,” although the senator ultimately voted to certify Joe Biden's election victory. "He is clearly one of these guys that has great respect in the United States Senate,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. Patel served as a National Security Council official, a senior adviser to the Director of National Intelligence and as chief of staff to the Defense secretary during Trump’s first term. He is also under consideration as FBI director. Patel has frequently posted on social media and made public appearances to support Trump and his agenda since leaving office in 2021, especially in opposing and destroying what both have called the “deep state" of the national security bureaucracy. “We’ve got to put in all American patriots top to bottom,” in one recent post-election interview. Patel said he and Trump administration leaders “will go out and find the conspirators not just in government but in the media” deemed disloyal to Trump. Patel has shown a willingness to do whatever Trump wants of him, but he rubbed a lot of people at the department the wrong way, along with judges in counterterrorism cases, Breinholt said. “Kash was very unpopular with the Judiciary during his time at Justice, so we sent him up to the Hill,” where Patel worked for Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., on the House Intelligence Committee, Breinholt said. Paxton has been who spoke at the former president’s rally near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, and attended his election night party at Mar-a-Lago. Paxton, who was previously a state lawmaker, has served as Texas attorney general since 2015. He filed 27 lawsuits against the Obama administration during a two-year period, with six cases heard at the Supreme Court. Like Trump, Paxton has been the subject of criminal investigations and an impeachment. He settled a longstanding indictment on charges of securities fraud in March without entering a plea but agreeing to pay $271,000 and performing community service. Paxton was earlier impeached on 20 misconduct charges but the state . “Ken was made to suffer for a long period of time but it worked out very well,” Trump said after the acquittal.