The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward"Some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that's underway in America, but nobody — nobody — can reverse it. Nobody. Not when so many people, regardless of party or politics, are enjoying its benefits." Still-President Joe Biden said that on a recent visit to Brazil. His administration's Inflation Reduction Act, for example, included $400 billion in subsidies for solar power, electric vehicles and other renewable energy technologies. Its goal is to slash carbon emissions, the main driver of climate change and the environmental chaos it unleashes. President-elect Donald Trump has called climate change a "hoax." And drilling remains his answer for every energy question. Never mind whether Trump or anyone else thinks climate change is real. One thing that is very real is the jobs the IRA is creating. It happens that 60% of these new jobs are in red states. If their Republican representatives don't want them, no problem. There are plenty of other takers. But they apparently do want these jobs. At least 18 House Republicans have made clear to House Speaker Mike Johnson their opposition to repealing the IRA. Meanwhile, some of the big oil companies that held fundraisers for Trump have clean energy projects funded by the IRA. They also don't want the IRA canceled, at least the parts that benefit them. Responsible world leaders regard a warming planet as a security as well as environmental threat. Melting ice glaciers and associated rising sea levels are flooding towns and cities, endangering ports, roads and other infrastructure. Higher temperatures are stoking more intense storms, heat waves, droughts and wildfires. They are wrecking ecosystems. This is a worldwide problem demanding a worldwide solution. Under Biden, the U.S. has met a pledge to increase international climate financing this year to more than $11 billion. Obviously, neither Trump's heart nor his brain is engaged in dealing with this threat to our future. And so where can Americans turn for leadership on this existential crisis? They can turn to California. If it were a country, California would be the world's fifth largest economy. It's not an easy place for Trump to push around, and the Golden State cares a whole lot about climate change. For example, Trump seems hot to end the electric vehicle tax credit. If that happens, Gov. Gavin Newsom says, California will offer its own tax rebate. And he seems to be structuring the credit so that some popular Tesla models won't qualify for it. The governor insists that he merely wants to help other carmakers "take root" in the EV market. But another motive is to stick it to Elon Musk over the Tesla founder's California bashing and his glomming onto Trump. On this matter, California has a good deal of muscle. About 1 in 3 EVs sold in the U.S. are sold in California. As other carmakers bring out new and less expensive EV models, California could help break Tesla's longtime dominance. Trump says he wants to open the environmentally fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. We'll see. "I would be surprised if any major oil company, or even any middle oil company, submits bids," Larry Persily, publisher of the Alaska-based newspaper Wrangell Sentinel, said. "It is a high-cost, highly speculative play." And for all the whining about the price of gas, it's already below $3 a gallon in many places. You know, that supply-and-demand thing. Biden's various legislative accomplishments have unlocked an estimated $1 trillion for green energy technologies and the factories needed to build them. America is going ahead with the transition. Trump can't stop it. And to those who want to pass on its economic benefits, go ahead. Others will happily take your place.
Beatles admirers have witnessed something they thought would never happen again: Sir Paul McCartney and John Lennon harmonising together on stage. Sir Paul has candidly shared that performing the recent Beatles track 'Now And Then' on his current tour evokes profound emotions, describing it as "very emotional" because it's a "John song" and it feels extraordinary to be singing in unison with him. The nostalgic 'Now and Then,' which dropped at the end of 2023, originates from a John Lennon demo dating back to the late Seventies. The recording journey concluded in 2022 with Ringo Starr and Sir Paul finalising the tune in the studio. Touted as the ultimate Beatles song, its release sent ripples of awe through fans worldwide, and it has now secured two Grammy nominations. Sir Paul McCartney has been faithfully incorporating 'Now and Then' into every set of his 'Got Back' world tour. Commenting publicly for the first time about the experience, he revealed: "It's really great. When you introduce a new song, even though it's an old song, like 'Now and Then', the first reaction is, people aren't quite sure what it is or what you're doing. ". "But during the run of the concerts, they get the idea. The word gets out on the internet, you know. So now the reaction is really strong, and for us it's great to play because it's a nice song to play, and for me, it's particularly great because it's a John song. And so it's very emotional for me. I love it. I love doing it, and the audience seem to love it too." Currently back in the UK, Sir Paul reflects on the tour after captivating audiences across South America and Europe since its commencement in October. The legendary musician and his talented band, marking a partnership of 22 years, are set to round off the year with a bang, performing four momentous gigs starting in Manchester this weekend before heading over to London for sell-out events. Excluding his monumental headline performance at Glastonbury in 2022 and an intimate pre-show in nearby Frome, these are the iconic Beatle's first UK appearances since 2018. Reflecting on returning to familiar grounds, Paul shared: "Manchester is like, you know, next to my old hometown. It's a great city, and we love it really. So that's going to be good to be there. And then London, we finish it up around Christmas time. So that's exciting. We're looking forward to London, and then that will finish this tour, and we'll all be very glad to have a nice Christmas holiday." Recounting his year, he recalls certain shows in October that stood out as particularly joyous. Sources close to him remark upon his unmistakable passion for live performances, spoiling fans with nearly three-hour long sets featuring a repertoire of over 35 tracks each night. "The audiences in South America are insanely wonderful," he enthused about the 15-show stint there that drew in crowds of more than half a million. "And they are so keen and crazy that we have a party every time we play to them. So it's been great." The storied performer most recently wowed audiences in Paris and Madrid, where fans savoured the rarer opportunities to witness the 82 year old music icon in action. Sir Paul McCartney has shared the secret to curating his set lists amidst an illustrious career that boasts 12 Beatles studio albums, 26 solo albums, and 22 UK number ones. In the tour programme, he pens: "If I see a movie and then hear one of my songs in it, I think: ‘Oh, I should do that one.’ Sometimes it will give me the impetus to actually look at that song and think of doing it. It may even just be someone saying to me, ‘Oh, I love that song of yours,’ and you go, ‘Oh...’ They love it enough for me to think, ‘Yeah, I should do that, just for you.’ There are songs that some people say, ‘Oh, I love that one,’ and it makes a difference. That’s always happened. One of my own Wings albums, I’ll be thinking, ‘Well, it didn’t do too well, so maybe it wasn’t that good,’ and then you find some kids are playing the hell out of it saying, ‘This is a great album,’ so it gets me back into it." He shared: "I'll just hear it at a random place like you say, on the radio, at a party, and decide to include it. That's always a good feeling, it's like a little light bulb moment "ding, eurika" we should definitely try that one. That is often the way I decide how to do things, or decide what to do. You work on the setlist over time, and you finally feel you get it to a place where it’s working well. That's how we all feel on the tour now - and it looks like the audiences agree! " One downside of social media is fans coming to see the tour have had a good idea of the show they are going to see and especially what it will look like. As with all music gigs these days, thousands of phones are out to record the songs, perhaps even more so when it is a Beatle on stage. But Sir Paul, who will be supported at the UK gigs by friends and family including wife Nancy McCartney, does his best to keep an element of surprise, so fans coming to the shows in the coming days won't know exactly what to expect apart from some huge singalong hits. He adds: "On the first night we can pull some surprises, but then the minute that gets on social media... It’s like the old comedians who used to complain that their jokes got told, so the next people who saw them knew the jokes." "I approach every show and every audience in a slightly different way depending on the location of the show, so I suppose that’s the way I change it up a little bit. ". In an interview about trying to keep concertgoers on their toes, Sir Paul McCartney explained: "You’ll see your set list published and we’ll go, ‘Right, we’re gonna change it! ’ We keep trying to be ahead of the guy who’s giving the game away. I would like it much better if people had no idea what they were coming to see, but the only answer to that is for us to make changes occasionally. So if he said, ‘They open up with this song,’ we’ll go, ‘Let's open up with a different song,’ just to prove them wrong." Recent performances have seen tunes such as 'Can't Buy Me Love' in Madrid and 'Hard Days Night' in Paris kick off the shows. With excitement building for McCartney's forthcoming Manchester dates, it's certain Beatles enthusiasts are set for a thrill - unpredictability is key! *Sir Paul McCartney's Got Back tour concludes its UK leg with two nights at the Manchester Co-Op Live before moving onto London's O2 Arena next week. Meanwhile, fans can indulge in Beatlemania with the new documentary 'Beatles 64' recently released on Disney+.None
Gukesh’s humble in victory. he’s a great champion: Paddy Upton
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
The New Orleans Saints have placed star tight end Taysom Hill on the injured reserve list, effectively ending the 2024 season for the player, per NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. The #Saints have placed TE Taysom Hill (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season. More News: Saints Offensive Star Feared to Have Suffered Season-Ending Injury Hill sustained a torn ACL during the Saints' Week 13 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. He was carted off the field following a hard hit from two Rams defenders, but he managed to wave to the fans as the crowd gave him an emotional send-off before heading to the locker room. A key figure in the Saints' offense, Hill's absence will be deeply felt, as his versatility makes him the heartbeat of the team's attack. Throughout his career, Hill has battled a series of injuries, leading to growing concerns about his long-term durability. This latest setback adds to a list of injuries affecting key starters on the New Orleans offense this season, further complicating the team's efforts moving forward. Hill was having a career year before injury cut his game short in the Saints' 21-14 loss to the Rams. In that contest, he had already racked up five catches for 37 yards and five carries for 10 yards before exiting. This season, Hill had been a key contributor, despite missing four games earlier with chest and rib injuries. In 2024, he registered 34 carries for 278 yards and six touchdowns, along with 23 receptions for 187 yards. Remarkably, Hill's 278 rushing yards are the third-most ever by a tight end in a single season, trailing only his own performances from 2022 and 2023. His unique skill set has been a major asset to the Saints, who have faced a string of injuries. More News: Saints WR Chris Olave Likely Out for 2024 Season: Report Quarterback Derek Carr was sidelined with an abdominal injury, and Hill himself missed time with a hip issue. The team also lost wide receiver Rashid Shaheed for the year to a meniscus injury, while Chris Olave has struggled to recover from two concussions. One of Hill's most memorable games came in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, when he became just the second player since 1950 to record 130-plus rushing yards, three or more rushing touchdowns, and eight or more receptions in a single game. Despite Hill's standout efforts, the Saints have struggled throughout the season, dropping seven straight after a promising 2-0 start, with injuries continuing to decimate their offensive depth. Now, with Hill's absence, things are just going to get even more difficult. For more on the NFL , head to Newsweek Sports .Nigeria, China to focus on commodity export, industrialisation
Lebanon said Israeli strikes Thursday on the country's east and south killed 52 people, as raids also hit south Beirut and Hezbollah claimed its deepest attack on Israel in over a year. More than 11 months of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah over the Gaza conflict escalated into all-out war in September, with Israel conducting an extensive bombing campaign, primarily targeting Hezbollah strongholds, and sending ground troops into southern Lebanon. "Israeli enemy strikes that targeted the Baalbek district" in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley left "40 dead and 52 wounded", a health ministry statement said, listing tolls for 10 different locations. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said a couple and their four children were killed in a strike on a house in the village of Maqneh, while another couple and their young daughter were among 11 people killed in a raid on nearby Nabha. The ministry also reported "seven dead and 24 wounded" in "Israeli enemy strikes" on south Lebanon's Nabatiyeh district, and "five dead and 26 wounded" in strikes elsewhere in south Lebanon. In Israel, first responders said a man was killed after rocket fire from Lebanon hit the Galilee region in the country's north. In Beirut's southern suburbs, the NNA reported at least 12 strikes throughout Thursday, after relative calm while US envoy Amos Hochstein visited earlier this week, seeking to broker an end to the Israel-Hezbollah war. Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee on social media platform X issued several rounds of evacuation warnings for Beirut's southern suburbs, as well as areas in and around the southern coastal city of Tyre, but none for east Lebanon. AFPTV footage showed columns of smoke rising from the southern suburbs, usually a densely populated residential district but now largely emptied. Adraee said on X that the Israeli military "targeted a weapons depot, a command headquarters and terrorist infrastructure" belonging to Hezbollah in south Beirut. Amid a series of attack claims, Hezbollah said its fighters targeted "the Hatzor air base" near Israel's southern city of Ashdod, around 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Lebanon's southern border, "with a missile salvo" -- its deepest target in more than a year of hostilities. In 10 separate statements, Iran-backed Hezbollah said its fighters also targeted Israeli troops in and near the south Lebanon town of Khiam, including with artillery, rockets and drones. The NNA said "the enemy army" was "blowing up homes and residential buildings during its incursion into the town". Lebanon's official news agency and Hezbollah have reported fighting and air strikes in the Khiam area ever since Israeli ground troops first entered Lebanon on September 30. Earlier Thursday, United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert visited Baalbek's UNESCO-listed archaeological area, after the UN's cultural body this week granted more than 30 heritage sites in Lebanon "provisional enhanced protection" amid the war. Lebanon's health ministry said Thursday that at least 3,583 people had been killed in the violence since October 2023. Most of the deaths have been since September this year. The Israeli military said Wednesday that three soldiers were killed in south Lebanon, bringing to 52 the number killed in Lebanon since the start of ground operations. bur-lg/giv
WASHINGTON (AP) — A person accused of accosting U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in a Capitol Office building pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor assault charge. Witnesses told police that James McIntyre, 33, of Chicago, shook Mace's hand in an “exaggerated, aggressive” manner after approaching the South Carolina Republican in the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday evening, according to a police affidavit. Mace, who is identified only by her initials in a court filing, posted a string of social media messages about the incident. She said she was “physically accosted” at the Capitol, and she thanked President-elect Donald Trump for calling her Wednesday morning to check on her condition. “I’m going to be fine just as soon as the pain and soreness subside,” Mace wrote. Mace declined to be treated by a paramedic after her encounter with McIntyre, who was arrested Tuesday by the Capitol Police, the affidavit says. Mace told police that McIntyre said, “Trans youth serve advocacy,” while shaking her hand. Last month, Mace proposed a resolution that would prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.” Mace said the bill is aimed specifically at Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride — the first transgender person to be elected to Congress. A magistrate judge ordered McIntyre’s release after an arraignment in Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Efforts to reach an attorney for McIntyre weren't immediately successful. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Chargers running back room takes a big hit for playoff push | Sporting NewsThe UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic gesture rejected by the United States and Israel. The resolution -- adopted by a vote of 158-9, with 13 abstentions -- urges "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire," and "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages" -- wording similar to a text vetoed by Washington in the Security Council last month. At that time, Washington used its veto power on the Council -- as it has before -- to protect its ally Israel, which has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attack. It has insisted on the idea of making a ceasefire conditional on the release of all hostages in Gaza, saying otherwise that Hamas has no incentive to free those in captivity. Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood repeated that position Wednesday, saying it would be "shameful and wrong" to adopt the text. Ahead of the vote, Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said: "The resolutions before the assembly today are beyond logic. (...) The vote today is not a vote for compassion. It is a vote for complicity." The General Assembly often finds itself taking up measures that cannot get through the Security Council, which has been largely paralyzed on hot-button issues such as Gaza and Ukraine due to internal politics, and this time is no different. The resolution, which is non-binding, demands "immediate access" to widespread humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gaza, especially in the besieged north of the territory. Dozens of representatives of UN member states addressed the Assembly before the vote to offer their support to the Palestinians. "Gaza doesn't exist anymore. It is destroyed," said Slovenia's UN envoy Samuel Zbogar. "History is the harshest critic of inaction." That criticism was echoed by Algeria's deputy UN ambassador Nacim Gaouaoui, who said: "The price of silence and failure in the face of the Palestinian tragedy is a very heavy price, and it will be heavier tomorrow." Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. That count includes hostages who died or were killed while being held in Gaza. Militants abducted 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,805 people, a majority of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the United Nations. "Gaza today is the bleeding heart of Palestine," Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said last week during the first day of debate in the Assembly's special session on the issue. "The images of our children burning in tents, with no food in their bellies and no hopes and no horizon for the future, and after having endured pain and loss for more than a year, should haunt the conscience of the world and prompt action to end this nightmare," he said, calling for an end to the "impunity." After Wednesday's vote, he said "we will keep knocking on the doors of the Security Council and the General Assembly until we see an immediate and unconditional ceasefire put in place." The Gaza resolution calls on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present "proposals on how the United Nations could help to advance accountability" by using existing mechanisms or creating new ones based on past experience. The Assembly, for example, created an international mechanism to gather evidence of crimes committed in Syria starting from the outbreak of civil war in 2011. A second resolution calling on Israel to respect the mandate of the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and allow it to continue its operations was passed Wednesday by a vote of 159-9 with 11 abstentions. Israel has voted to ban the organization starting January 28, after accusing some UNRWA employees of taking part in Hamas's devastating attack. abd/sst/jgc/nro/des