Pep Guardiola spoke of his relief after Manchester City finally got back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. The champions had descended into crisis after a run of seven games without a win – six of which were defeats and the other an embarrassing 3-3 draw after leading 3-0. Four of those losses had come in the Premier League, heavily damaging their chances of claiming a fifth successive title, but they appeared to turn the corner by sweeping Forest aside at the Etihad Stadium. “We needed it,” said City manager Guardiola. “The club, the players, everyone needed to win. A good night's work 🫡 Thank you for backing us all the way, City fans 🩵 pic.twitter.com/UOcKm0Y6Ry — Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2024 “But it is just one game and in three days we are at Selhurst Park, where it has always been difficult. “We played good. We still conceded some transitions and missed some easy things and lost some passes that you have to avoid, but in general, the most important thing was to break this routine of not winning games and we won it.” Kevin De Bruyne, making his first start since September after overcoming a pelvic injury, made a huge difference to a side that appeared rejuvenated. His powerful header was turned in by Bernardo Silva for the opening goal and the Belgian followed up with a powerful strike to make it 2-0. The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season but it was a strong riposte to recent suggestions of a rift with Guardiola. A sweet strike 💥 ⚡️ #HighSpeedMoments | @eAndGroup pic.twitter.com/WJOkfKo2zr — Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2024 “I’m so happy for him,” said Guardiola of De Bruyne’s telling contribution. “Last season he was many months injured and this season as well. “I’m so happy he’s back. He fought a lot, he’s worked and he’s back with his physicality. The minutes he played in Anfield were really good and today he played 75 fantastic minutes.” Jeremy Doku wrapped up a pleasing win when he finished a rapid counter-attack just before the hour but there was still a downside for City with injuries to defenders Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji. Guardiola said: “For Nathan it doesn’t look good and Manu has struggled a lot over the last two months. We will see. “Phil (Foden) has bronchitis but when he doesn’t have fever he will be ready.” Despite City’s dominance, Forest did have some bright moments and manager Nuno Espirito Santo was not downbeat. He said: “When you lose 3-0 and you say it was a good performance maybe people don’t understand, but I will not say that was a bad performance. “There are positive things for us in the game. Of course there are a lot of bad things, mistakes, but we had chances. “We didn’t achieve but I think we come out proud of ourselves because we tried. For sure, this game will allow us to grow.”Members of the Carson City Schools Foundation are all about making it possible to fund what teachers need in a classroom that the school district otherwise could not. Should a teacher ask for noise-canceling headphones to help a student focus on their work and they apply for $300, the CCSF could approve it. If Eagle Valley Middle School requests $2,000 to support its greenhouse to grow plants for food production, that would fall within the foundation’s purview. CCSF Board President Jon Hager says there are opportunities to approach the community about its mission. Hager is new to the role since former President Steve Reynolds stepped down in June this year. He said the central “I think the big message I want to try to get out is that we’re trying to raise funds for the students,” Hager said. The Carson City School District announced Hager’s election as president in June to govern the nonprofit’s activities, programs and projects that typically do not fall within the scope of the CCSD’s education budget. Directors of the foundation consist of community volunteers highly invested in the needs of youth attending school and supporting the teachers and employees assisting them. The foundation also has three advisers represented by the district’s Board of Trustees or staff who can provide direct input from the district. Hager is a licensed health broker and co-owner of Asset Solutions Group and was the first executive director of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. He served as a U.S. Navy combat pilot and instructor pilot for nine years. He and his wife, who grew up in Carson, raised a daughter and son who attended Fritsch Elementary School. Hager would work as the chief financial officer of the state’s Public Employees’ Benefits Program and gain skills working with the Nevada Legislature and governing boards. He has been involved as Carson High School’s cross country team’s assistant coach, commissioner of Carson City Region 140 American Youth Soccer Organization and director of the Comstock Shootout Soccer Tournament. Now Hager is happy to help the Carson City School District staff with their fundraising needs. On Nov. 12, he presented to the Board of Trustees the foundation’s annual report. “Learning about health insurance and politics has been really fascinating to me, learning about how laws, how bills become law at the federal level and then create regulations that create to interpret them ... it gives you a pretty good solid understanding of how that applies to the school district of the kind of things that'll take place for them,” Hager said. CCSF received approximately $83,000 in donations in calendar year 2023, including $8,500 from staff payroll deductions and a $60,000 contribution from the Viragh Family Trust. In all, CCSF has provided more than $164,000 to staff and students since 2017. “We’ve allocated $67,000 toward various programs, including $20,000 for department and mini-grants, $19,000 for the JumpStart program and $20,000 for the AP (Advanced Placement) program (this year),” Hager said. CCSF is allocating $9,700 of its mini-grants for teachers for the spring and half of its designated $8,000 for the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, a system that uses best practices to improve student behavior, academic success and social and emotional health. Hager said the CCSF wants to help teachers because they’re so passionate about helping the students. He said board members hope to set up a sponsorship program in collaboration with the district’s Community Partner of the Month recognition program in which companies can support specific school sites and receive a spotlight from the district for a month. The program would help form important partnerships. For example, a local business would be encouraged to renovate Carson High School’s auditorium or provide a new sound system for one of the middle schools. Projects or items that are considered needs for the schools would fall within the scope of the sponsorship program. The board itself also continues to invite new board members who are willing to volunteer, he said. “Obviously, you've got these incredibly dedicated, talented people,” he said. “I think they're excited. ... Everybody knows (former Superintendent) Richard Stokes. But we would love to have a few some younger board members.” Hager reminded staff members who would have requests for classroom needs are encouraged to apply for a spring semester department or mini-grant between Dec. 16 and Jan. 17. For information, go to ccschoolsfoundation.org.
DELE Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine, recently expressed deep regret over spending ₦50 million to purchase the presidential nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2022. Speaking in a recent interview on Eden Oasis, Momodu criticised the highly monetised nature of Nigeria’s political primaries, revealing that an aspirant distributed $30,000 to each of the 774 delegates who participated in the election. The journalist-turned-politician stated that he would no longer seek any party’s presidential ticket unless he is adopted as a consensus candidate. He remarked: “Experience is the best teacher. I’ve realised that principalities control Nigeria. Unless a major political party adopts me as a consensus candidate, one where everyone agrees I’m the best fit to lead and change the nation, I won’t contest.” Momodu expressed deep concern over the pervasive monetisation of political party primaries, emphasising that it not only excludes honest and visionary candidates from participating in the democratic process but also erects formidable barriers to the emergence of competent leaders capable of tackling Nigeria’s pressing challenges. He described this systemic issue where financial resources often overshadow merit, vision, and integrity in determining electoral outcomes as a significant hindrance to the country’s democratic development. He highlighted the glaring impact of this problem during recent elections in Edo and Ondo states, where the practice of vote-buying was alarmingly blatant, further eroding public trust in the electoral process. Politicians, driven by desperation to secure party tickets or win elections, spend exorbitant sums to influence delegates and voters. This financial arms race creates a vicious cycle: once elected, these politicians focus on recouping their investments, often through corrupt practices such as embezzlement, awarding inflated contracts, and mismanaging public resources. This entrenched culture of monetised politics, as Momodu warned, perpetuates systemic corruption and deprives Nigerians of the transparent and effective governance they urgently need. By prioritising personal gain over public service, this approach undermines the core values of democracy, leaving citizens disillusioned and eroding faith in the nation’s political system. To address this critical challenge, he called for a collective effort to reform the electoral process and promote leadership based on merit, vision, and accountability rather than financial influence. It is difficult to dispute Momodu’s claim that the monetisation of elections fundamentally undermines democracy by turning contests into bidding wars. The process denies voters the opportunity to make informed decisions and rewards those with the deepest pockets, rather than candidates with the best ideas or the most credible track record. Instead of fostering inclusivity and allowing fresh voices to emerge, the system discourages capable individuals who lack financial resources from participating, leaving the political arena dominated by wealthy power brokers. Despite Nigeria having laws to regulate campaign financing and enforce ethical conduct during elections, these laws are largely ignored. Agencies such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security bodies are either unable or unwilling to enforce these regulations effectively. As a result, vote-buying, financial inducements and other electoral malpractices continue unabated, undermining trust in the democratic process. This failure to enforce rules has created an uneven playing field where honest and financially disadvantaged candidates are sidelined, while those with questionable wealth and influence dominate. Momodu described this situation as a betrayal of the country’s democratic ideals and a hindrance to meaningful progress. Momodu’s reflections underscore the urgent need for systemic reform to restore integrity to Nigeria’s political process. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms, implementing stricter campaign finance laws, and increasing accountability for political actors are critical steps to reversing the trend. Certainly, stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and the judiciary must work together to create a transparent and equitable electoral system. This is essential not only for the emergence of competent leaders but also for rebuilding public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy. We agree with Momodu’s perspective and strongly urge Nigerian politicians to critically re-examine the character of the country’s politics, particularly the entrenched and unsustainable culture of money-driven and predatory practices. The dominance of money politics has not only fuelled systemic corruption but has also emerged as one of the most significant barriers to Nigeria’s democratic advancement. This destructive trend undermines the principles of accountability, transparency and public service, eroding the very foundations of good governance. The current trajectory is unsustainable and demands urgent change. The corrosive influence of financial power in politics has resulted in arrested development, with leaders often prioritising self-interest and financial recovery over public purpose. Governance, which should serve as a platform for addressing societal challenges and advancing collective well-being, has instead been reduced to a tool for personal enrichment. This lack of focus on public purpose perpetuates inequality, stifles innovation, and prevents the formulation of policies that could drive meaningful development. Nigeria cannot achieve genuine growth or sustainable progress without a fundamental shift away from this toxic culture. To build a robust and thriving democracy, the country must embrace a new political ethos rooted in merit, vision, and service to the people. This transformation requires collective action, including stringent electoral reforms, civic education to discourage vote-buying, and the promotion of accountability at all levels of leadership. Only by breaking free from the shackles of money politics can Nigeria realize its full potential and secure a prosperous future for all its citizens. Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
Mutual of America Capital Management LLC Cuts Stock Position in Blueprint Medicines Co. (NASDAQ:BPMC)Oklahoma Democrats mourn Fred Harris, former US senator and presidential candidate
The Miami Dolphins won 34-15 and advanced to 5-6 on the season. This is another huge victory in the Dolphins’ march to the playoffs. Miami’s offense was nearly perfect, and the defense only gave up 7 points. There were many bright spots and still many downsides, but the Dolphins handled business and will look to Thanksgiving. But first, let’s talk about today’s win. Chop Robinson Continues to Improve I said it in the offseason that Chop Robinson reminds me of Dolphins legend Cameron Wake . The speed, the power, and the ability to win off the edge. Chop added another 1.5 sacks, two passes defended, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. Chop has been winning his pass rushes all season and is now finally getting home. He has ultimately been a difference-maker for a defense that has struggled to create pressure. Chop has 3.5 sacks in his last four games and looks to continue his improvement down the stretch of the Dolphins’ march to the playoffs. It is also great to see the whole defense doing the “Chop”. Tua Continues to Dominate Since Returning from his Concussion Tua since his return: 130/170 1,277 yards 11 TD 1 INT 116.2 passer rating 29-of-40 for 317 yards and 4 passing touchdowns. He has a 128.9 passer rating. Tua has been perfect since returning from injury and there isn’t much else to say. The Dolphins put themselves in a deep hole without Tua and are slowly digging their way out of it. The Dolphins are so much better with Tua yet it still begs the question, why didn’t the Dolphins upgrade their backup quarterback before the season? Waddle’s Best Preformance Jaylen Waddle had his best game of the season with 8 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. Waddle has been very quiet this season but dominated against the Patriots. Waddle made numerous tough catches and made much more happen after the catch. This game was much needed for Waddle’s confidence down the stretch. Jonnu Continues to Impress Jonnu Smith has emerged as the Dolphins third receiving option. Jonnu Smith has been on fire and added to that today with 9 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Jonnu has been involved in the middle of the field, on screens, in third and short oppurtunities and has made the most of his time so far in Miami. The addition of Jonnu Smith has added another element to the Dolphins offense that has elevated them to the next level. Some other Thoughts Still, too many big/extended plays let up on defense. Julian Hill continues to make mistakes and be on the field. The run game has struggled the past two weeks, and the Dolphins have to get back to it down the stretch. Penalties have decreased. Jordan Poyer is still a liability. OBJ had two big drops on perfect throws by Tua (time for Cracraft and Washington). Ultimately, the Dolphins control their playoff destiny. They must continue to play complimentary football and improve on some minor mistakes. They have handled business up to this point but have a tough task in Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night. The Dolphins will have to win a game on the road late in the season in the cold with the whole country watching. If they can win that game, they will start to turn some heads and have a real opportunity to talk playoffs. The Dolphins got another win and kept their playoff hopes alive, putting Tua to 7-0 all-time vs the Patriots. The Dolphins have a short week before traveling to Green Bay looking to get back to .500.Fans of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novels have long, long, long, awaited the planned sixth entry in the series, The Winds of Winter. But after more than a decade of delays, even Martin is acknowledging the possibility that it may never come to be. “Unfortunately, I am 13 years late,” he told the outlet. “Every time I say that, I’m [like], ‘How could I be 13 years late?’ I don’t know, it happens a day at a time.” “But that’s still a priority," he continued. "A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They’re saying] ‘Oh, he’ll never be finished.’ Maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital!” It's only the latest in what's been an increasingly bleak wait for The Winds of Winter, with the most recent entry in the series, A Dance With Dragons, publishing in 2011. That's the same year that HBO premiered the insanely popular TV series Game of Thrones, which is based on the A Song of Ice and Fire series and drew a lot more eyes to the world of Westeros. Martin made the reveal in November 2023 that he's written 1,100 pages of The Winds of Winter, which wouldn't be so disappointing if it weren't the same number of pages he had written a year prior. Before that, in 2022 , he said he was "about three-quarters of the way done," and that the book would likely be more than 1,500 pages. "A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They're saying] 'Oh, he'll never be finished.' Maybe they're right." Most recently, this past September, Martin admitted that he hadn't made as much progress as he would've liked to, as his various TV shows "ate up" much of his time. It's also worth mentioning that The Winds of Winter isn't even set to be the final book in A Song of Ice and Fire. A seventh novel, A Dream of Spring, was set to close out the series, although many fans have all but given up hope for that . ( Note : The THR article calls The Winds of Winter the "sixth and final book" in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, but we're assuming that's just a mistake; Martin's never formally canceled A Dream of Spring publicly). Still, in a glimmer of hope, Martin did note in the interview that he could never retire, as he's "not a golfer." So hey, there's that! Even if we never get The Winds of Winter, there's plenty happening in Westeros on the TV side. House of the Dragon is still on track for four seasons , with the third expected to start production early next year. Another spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is set to arrive sometime in late 2025 , and there's even been early talk of a Game of Thrones movie . Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.