WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. government believes missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian capital, is alive and that Washington is committed to bringing him home after Bashar Assad’s ouster from power in Damascus . “We think we can get him back," Biden told reporters at the White House, while acknowledging that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. "Assad should be held accountable.” Biden said officials must still identify exactly where Tice is after his disappearance in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus. “We've remained committed to returning him to his family,” he said. Tice, who is from Houston and whose work had been published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets. A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” He has not been heard from since. Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him. The United States has no new evidence that Tice is alive, but continues to operate under the assumption he is alive, according to a U.S. official. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. will continue to work to identify where he is and to try to bring him home. His mother, Debra, said at a news conference Friday in Washington that the family had information from a “significant source,” whom she did not identify, establishing that her son was alive. “He is being cared for and he is well — we do know that,” she said. The Tice family met this past week with officials at the State Department and the White House. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Debra Tice said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media Sunday. “We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!”Digital ID for age verification in alcohol sales gets varied guises in Delhi, Istanbul, UK
Israel Launches New Airstrikes on Lebanon as Leaders Draw Closer to Ceasefire With HezbollahPower planners have found nuclear energy does not stack up for Australia even after considering new parameters, with large-scale solar and big batteries still the lowest-cost option. Login or signup to continue reading In the draft generation cost update released on Monday, scientists and energy officials warn taxpayers will need deep pockets and a lead time of at least 15 years to develop nuclear energy generation. For the seventh straight year, renewables were the lowest-cost of any new-build electricity-generating technology. After a global energy crisis and equipment supply crunch several years ago, large-scale solar and lithium battery storage have weathered the inflationary period the best of all technologies. The cost of batteries recorded the largest annual reduction, with capital costs down by one-fifth. Rooftop solar costs are also coming down. The draft GenCost 2024-25 Report comes as the coalition pushes for an end to Australia's nuclear ban and promises to have reactors online in as soon as 10 years if elected in 2025. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, eyeing sites in seven regional centres, has pledged to release the coalition's nuclear costings "this week". But nuclear energy generation would be 1.5 to two times more expensive than large-scale solar, according to the analysis released by the national science agency CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator. A one-gigawatt nuclear plant has a price tag of roughly $9 billion, but the bill would double to $18 billion as the first of its kind. Operators would also need to establish new connection points to safely supply the national electricity grid, experts warn. Advocates have demanded greater recognition of the potential cost advantages of nuclear's long operating life compared to solar panels and wind turbines, but CSIRO chief energy economist and GenCost lead author Paul Graham said he found none. "Similar cost savings can be achieved with shorter-lived technologies including renewables, even when accounting for the need to build them twice," Mr Graham said. Nuclear's capacity factor - referring to how much of a year a reactor could operate at full tilt - remains unaltered at 53-89 per cent based on verifiable data and consideration of Australia's unique electricity generation needs. Nor would the often-touted United Arab Emirates example of a relatively quick 12-year nuclear construction time-frame be achievable here, the report found, because Australians require consultation. An increase in gas generation costs in the update included a premium for hydrogen readiness that was not included in previous data. All new gas turbine projects, including Kurri Kurri in NSW, are expected to include the capability for hydrogen blending and eventual conversion to hydrogen firing when supply becomes more readily available. The draft report is open for feedback until February 11, with a final version due in the second quarter of 2025. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. It couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t keep teams out of the end zone, couldn’t get off the field. Now the script has flipped. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s group is playing stouter, holding teams — even the high-scoring Detroit Lions — largely in check long enough to give Indy a chance to win, and it’s the Colts offense that has struggled. “They are playing their tails off. You don’t want them on the field a bunch and as an offense you want to be able to play complementary football,” running back Jonathan Taylor said after Sunday’s 24-6 loss. “I would say specifically on offense, it sucks when you can’t help your defense out when they are fighting their tails off all game.” Indy’s defense held up its end of the bargain by limiting the Lions (10-1) to 14 first-half points and allowing just 24, matching Detroit’s lowest output since Week 3. The problem: Even when the Colts (5-7) did get Detroit off the field, they couldn’t sustain drives or score touchdowns. Again. Anthony Richardson provided the bulk of the ground game by rushing 10 times for 61 yards, mostly early. Taylor managed just 35 yards on 11 carries and a season-high 10 penalties constantly forced the Colts to dig out from deep deficits. Part of that was by design. “We knew Jonathan Taylor was going to be the guy we needed to shut down,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We did that. The quarterback runs. It got us on a couple but overall, we did what we needed to do, and we kept them out of that game.” Part of it could be because of an injury-battered offensive line that has started three rookies each of the past two weeks and finished the previous game with the same three rookies. Whatever the fix, Indy needs a good solution. There is good news for Indy is that its schedule now gets substantially more manageable. After losing four of five, all to teams in playoff position and three to division leaders, Indy faces only one team with a winning record in its final five games. The most recent time the Colts played a team with a losing mark, Richardson rallied them past the New York Jets 28-27. But Colts coach Shane Steichen knows that’s not the answer. The Colts must get this offense righted now. “We’ve got to get that figured out. We’ve got to get him going on the ground,” Steichen said when asked about Taylor, who has 92 yards on his past 35 carries. “We’ll look at the offensive line. We’ll look at everything.” What’s working Pass rush. Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner’s presence certainly has been felt since he returned from a sprained ankle Oct. 27. In those past five games, the Colts have had 14 sacks, including three of Jared Goff on Sunday. What needs work Penalties. The Colts have had one of the cleanest operations in the league most of this season. Sunday was an anomaly, but one that can’t merely be written off. Stock up WR Michael Pittman Jr. The five-year veteran is one of the league’s toughest guys, but playing through a back injury appeared to take its toll on Pittman’s productivity. Since sitting out in Week 10, Pittman has 11 receptions for 142 yards including six for 96 yards, his second-highest total of the season, Sunday. Stock down Tight ends. Each week the Colts want their tight ends to make an impact. And each week, they seem to fail. It happened again Sunday when Drew Ogletree dropped a TD pass that would have given Indy a 10-7 lead. Instead, Indy settled for a field goal and a 7-6 deficit. Through 12 games, Indy’s tight ends have a total of 26 catches, 299 yards and two TDs. That’s just not good enough in a league where versatile, productive tight ends increasingly signal success. Injuries Pittman and WR Josh Downs both returned to the game after leaving briefly with shoulder injuries. WR Ashton Dulin did not return after hurting his foot in the second half. But the bigger questions come on the offensive line. LT Bernhard Raimann (knee) was inactive Sunday, and rookie center Tanor Bortolini entered the concussion protocol Monday. Bortolini was one of three rookie starters the past two weeks, replacing Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly who is on injured reserve. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 55.88 — Indy has scored touchdowns on 55.88% of its red zone trips this season. While it puts it near the middle of the NFL, it’s cost the Colts multiple wins. Next steps Richardson needs to rebound from this latest 11 of 28 performance and show he can lead the Colts to victories week after week. He’ll get plenty of chances over the season’s final month, starting with next week’s game at the New England Patriots. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement Advertisement
Stock market today: Wall Street gets back to climbing, and the Nasdaq tops 20,000
Michigan aims to cap lost season by beating Ohio State
Patiala: Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale , who has been recently booked for rape and murder in a 2012 case, is not new to controversies. In Aug 2020, Akal Takht , the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, had ordered his boycott, directing the Sikh community across the world not to attend his congregation, listen to him, or share his videos on social media until he apologised for his remarks. The direction had come after its five-member sub-committee formed to probe his alleged objectionable comments against Sikh Gurus and principles of Sikhism submitted its report under its then coordinator Chamkaur Singh that Dhadrianwale did not turn up for clarification despite several efforts. In Sept 2021, he faced a defamation case after Gurpreet Singh Randhawa, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee member from Fatehgarh Sahib, filed a criminal defamation case against him in the sessions court. This was in response to his alleged objectionable remarks during public speeches against him and his father Hari Singh Randhawa, terming them as “Gapaur Sankh” (gossiper) and misleading masses about Sikhism. Gurpreet had then claimed that his father was a Sikh preacher and, after 10 years of dedication, wrote the “Steek” (translation with meaning) of Guru Granth Sahib. He had alleged that Dhadrianwale had defamed him and other Sikh preachers who were students of his father. H S Dharni, Gurpreet’s counsel, said, “The criminal complaint was filed on Sept 17, 2021, and the case is in the arguments stage, with a hearing fixed this week.” Dhadrianwale, who has been advocating logical and scientific philosophy rather than preaching according to Sikh practices, has built gurdwara Parmeshar Dwar Sahib at Sheikhupur village of Patiala on the Patiala–Sirhind bypass. Earlier, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma landed in a conflict with him over the difference in ideology of narration of Sikh history and interpretation of Gurbani. On May 17, 2016, an attempt on Dhadrianwale’s life was made in which his fellow Sikh preacher Bhupinder Singh was killed. On July 5, 2021, Dhadrianwale appeared for over three hours before a SIT in Patiala in relation to the Kotkapura firing case, in which he is also one of the prime witnesses. The Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing case took place on Oct 14, 2015, when two Sikh activists died while some others were injured after police opened fire on people sitting in protest against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib that took place in Bargari on Oct 12, 2015. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
Rays will play 13 of first 16 games at home and 47 of 59, then have 69 of last 103 on roadPresident-elect Donald Trump on Monday held a wide-ranging news conference in which he said he would preserve access to the polio vaccine but equivocated on other vaccines, pledged to look at bringing down the costs of pharmaceuticals and expressed doubts that his daughter-in-law might be Florida's next senator. Trump held forth for over an hour, the first time he took questions from reporters since winning the election. The event harkens back to his long-winding news conferences from his first term and is a stark contrast from President Joe Biden , who doesn't often take questions from reporters. Here's a look at some of what he touched on: Trump defended his choice for health secretary, prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , but said he personally is a “big believer” in the polio vaccine and would preserve access to it. “You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine," he said. “That’s not going to happen.” Over the weekend, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child, spoke out in defense of the polio vaccine after a recent report disclosed that one of Kennedy's advisers filed a petition to revoke approval for the polio vaccine in 2022. Kennedy has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Trump seemed to question whether there’s a link, saying “We’re looking to find out,” and remarked on the rising cases of autism being diagnosed. “There’s something wrong, and we’re going to find out about it,” he said. There are no blood or biological tests for autism; instead, a doctor bases the diagnosis on a child’s behavior. While the autism diagnosis has been available for at least 80 years, the definition gradually expanded to include milder cases, which are more common. A study last year found that about a quarter of kids with autism — about 110,000 in the U.S. — have the most severe version of the developmental disability, which has left them unable to speak or with an IQ below 50 or both. Of Kennedy, “He’s going to be much less radical than you would think," he said. "I think he’s got a very open mind, or I wouldn’t have put him there.” Trump described a dinner he had this month with Kennedy; Dr. Mehmet Oz , a celebrity heart surgeon turned talk show host and lifestyle guru whom he's tapped to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and top pharmaceutical executives in which they discussed drug prices. Trump heaped praise on the companies — the same ones that Kennedy has routinely argued profit off of Americans unfairly — but said the high cost of health care was a focus of their dinner. “What came out of that meeting is that we’re paying far too much,” Trump said. Trump also hit pharmaceutical benefits managers, calling them “horrible middlemen” who drive up the cost of drugs. Pharmaceutical companies have been aggressively lobbying Congress to restrict the role of pharmaceutical benefit managers, which help health insurance companies’ biggest clients decide how and what prescription drugs will be covered in their insurance plans. “I don’t know who these middlemen are, but they are rich as hell," Trump said. The press conference was Trump’s most extensive public appearance since his victory six weeks ago — a rare absence from the public stage for the former reality star. But it also underscored how even while president-elect, Trump has seized the spotlight from Biden, who still has a month left on his term in office. Biden has not held a press conference in months and has had a limited public schedule. While Trump was addressing some of the top-of-mind issues of the day -- including sightings of drones flying over the Northeast -- Biden himself has been silent, leaving it to aides to try to calm the public. Trump seemed skeptical that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would appoint his daughter-in-law to be a Florida senator, taking the seat held by Marco Rubio, who has been nominated for secretary of state. Asked whether he expected DeSantis to name Lara Trump to replace Rubio, Trump said, “I probably don’t, but I don’t know.” Trump recently spoke with DeSantis at a memorial for Florida law enforcement officers. Trump's allies have been pushing DeSantis to nominate Lara Trump, who is married to Trump's son, Eric, and served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee this year. “Ron’s doing a good job with his choice," Trump said, without elaborating. He lavished praise on Lara Trump, including for her work at the RNC, where part of her duties involved focusing on “election integrity,” a priority of Trump's after he falsely claimed fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Trump indicated he would look at intervening in the potential ban of TikTok in the U.S. The popular social media platform must cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January under a federal law. He didn't offer specifics, but Trump credited the platform with helping him win the election. His campaign saw it as a bridge to reach younger, less politically engaged voters, particularly when clips circulated showing him with celebrities at UFC fights. “We’ll take a look at TikTok,” he said. “You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok." Trump tried to ban TikTok during his first term but changed his mind and pledged to “save” TikTok. Once he takes office, his Justice Department would be tasked with enforcing the new federal law against TikTok. Trump on Monday was meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club, according to two people familiar with the president-elect’s plans who were not authorized to speak publicly about them and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Trump noted the differences between the first time he was to take office eight years ago and today, saying executives now want to meet with him. He said they were “hostile” back then. “Everybody was fighting me,” he said about his first term. “This term, everybody wants to be my friend. I don’t know. My personality changed or something.” While he left office in 2021 ostracized and angry, Trump has had a stunning turnaround leading to his election win. Last week, he was honored by being named Time magazine’s Person of the Year and ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. His meeting with the TikTok executive was part of a string of meetings he's had with Silicon Valley billionaires and other technology leaders since becoming president-elect. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have all flown to Trump's club to meet with him. He revealed Monday that he had also met with Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will meet with him this week, Trump said. “We have a lot of great executives coming in — the top executives, the top bankers, they’re all calling," he said. "It’s like a complete opposite from the first one.” With multiple wars going on, Trump has sought to insert himself back on the world stage. He said he is working to get Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza to be released and had a “very good talk” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But on Monday he seemed to buffer expectations about his promise to solve the Russia-Ukraine war even before taking office, describing the conflict as a “tough one” and a “nasty one." “We are trying to get that war stopped, that horrible, horrible war” he said. “It’s a tough one. It’s a nasty one. It’s nasty. People are being killed at levels that nobody’s ever seen.” Russia's invasion of Ukraine is Europe’s biggest armed conflict since World War II and has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides. Trump declined to say whether he's spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since winning the election. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris this month when he visited for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. Trump's incoming press secretary has said that Trump invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other world leaders to his Jan. 20 inauguration, but Trump said Monday that Zelenskyy was not among them. “If he'd like to come, I'd like to have him," Trump said. Trump said Xi has not yet said whether he is coming. He described the Chinese leader as “a friend of mine” and “an amazing guy” but acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their relationship. “It was a bridge too far for me,” he said. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Amanda Seitz in Washington and Colleen Long in Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
In today's Daily Fix:Leave it to Grand Theft Auto fans to come up with the craziest theories. The popular "moon theory" was recently debunked, however, as no new GTA 6 trailer has dropped. The theory suggests that Rockstar Games has been leaving hints as to when new trailers will drop via lunar clues in screenshots. One image released last year featured the moon in a particular lunar phase, and (likely coincidentally) the GTA 6 trailer dropped the day the real life moon was in the same phase. Didn't work this time, however. In other news, Black Ops 6 was a huge seller...on PlayStation. PS5 sales made up a whopping 82% of the game's sales, but it did move the needle on Game Pass subscriptions on Xbox and PC. And finally, Black Myth: Wukong developer Game Science is teasing something for the end of the year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw (Image: AAP/Dominic Giannini) Immediately following the horrific antisemitic arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue, before perpetrators or their motives had even been revealed — and before our communities had a chance to catch our breath — politicians and interest groups started capitalising on the attack by advocating for increased policing and a law and order response. As a Jewish historian, I’m deeply concerned that this approach fundamentally misunderstands antisemitism and how to combat it. Antisemitic arson attacks on synagogues and cars are beyond the pale and an attack on our collective values of diversity. The perpetrators must be investigated and held to account for the terror they have instilled in Jewish communities. But a broad police crackdown — including targeting protests, as suggested by Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism — will not make even a small dent in antisemitism. A synagogue minutes from my home was set ablaze. This is why many Jewish Australians live in fear Read More The Australian Federal Police has set up special operation Avalite , a mobile squad of counterterrorism investigators who will have expanded powers to focus on threats, violence and hatred toward the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians. There is a real problem of antisemitism in Australia, but it can not be solved by more policing. It’s a problem of racism. At the Jewish Council of Australia, where I am executive officer, we cop antisemitic abuse daily — from the far right, from conspiracy theorists, from Zionists attacking our Jewish identity, and from a lot of people who think we are somehow responsible for Israel’s genocide. It’s well documented that antisemitic incidents increase whenever Israel is committing atrocities. Jewish identities trace back more than 3,000 years and span many cultures and traditions. Zionism is a political ideology with Jewish and non-Jewish adherents, just over 120 years old. When the media, politicians and pro-Israel lobby groups all consistently assert a fictitious, absolute alignment between Jewish identity in Australia and the actions of Israel, it’s not hard to see why a racist idea takes hold that Jews as a whole are to blame for Israel’s actions. But this form of racism does not take place in a vacuum. Contrary to Zionist rhetoric, antisemitism is a historical and political phenomenon , not an “eternal hatred” that simply recurs in all societies for thousands of years. It is not a pathology or a problem of “antisemites”, or an issue simply of the far right or far left. Antisemitism is a form of racism that has come to the fore at various points throughout Australian society since the 1890s, shaped by broader racial ideologies. Racism against different groups in Australia has always been tied to geopolitics and Western imperialism: from invasion and colonisation, to competition with China, to the War on Terror — from the exclusion of Chinese people through to panics around asylum seekers and Muslim migrants. White Jews in Australia were mostly considered “white” until the 1930s, when potential Jewish migrants — refugees from Germany and Austria — were racialised and considered unassimilable. Throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, Australia’s immigration policies discriminated against Jews. In the late 1940s, antisemitism was exacerbated by fears of Jewish terrorism in Palestine and stereotypes portraying Jewish Holocaust survivors as clannish, communist agents, black marketeers and anti-British. These racist ideas mirrored those directed against Asians, illustrating how antisemitism in Australia has always intertwined with and reinforced other forms of racism. ‘They’ll be more upset’: Albo flags shift in Australia’s Israel-Palestine position at private Labor event Read More Understanding antisemitism requires seeing beyond an exceptionalist narrative. It demands we recognise how racism works through an interconnected racial order that continually redraws boundaries of power and belonging. The Human Rights Commission’s recently released national anti-racism framework draws these links and gives us a solid plan to tackle all forms of racism across Australian society. The spectacle of arrests in a law and order crackdown, likely including some of the favourite Muslim and Palestinian targets of pro-Israel Jewish groups and the right-wing press, will serve as national security/anti-terror theatre. The optics aim to reassure the public, and Jews in particular, but they do so by racialising and marginalising others. The Scanlon Foundation’s recent “Mapping Social Cohesion” report found that negative attitudes towards Jewish people have increased from 9% in 2023 to 13% in 2024. While this is certainly worrying, it pales in comparison to the now one in three (34%) adults that have a somewhat or very negative attitude towards Muslims (up from 27%). These figures can’t be separated from the rhetoric of “anti-terrorism” and Israel’s genocidal war, which has seen anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim racism proliferate . True safety for Jewish communities cannot be achieved through divisive crackdowns that associate Jews and the fight against antisemitism with the police and state power. The continued exceptionalisation of antisemitism, treating it as a standalone or special type of racism — put starkly by Senator Dave Sharma who recently condemned ALP ministers for talking about a “fictitious Islamophobia” in the same breath as antisemitism — is a recipe for the continued use of Jews as political footballs by both major parties and the entrenchment of anti-Jewish attitudes. Jewish communities deserve real protection — not a false sense of security purchased at the expense of other marginalised groups. We need solutions that address the roots of antisemitism in the broader problem of racism in Australian society, not law enforcement theatre that only breeds more division. Have something to say about this article? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au . Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say . We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
Colts defense picks up the pace as offense continues searching for answers to red zone woes INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. It couldn't stop the run, couldn't keep teams out of the end zone, couldn't get off the field. Now the script has flipped. Michael Marot, The Associated Press Nov 25, 2024 1:47 PM Nov 25, 2024 2:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. It couldn't stop the run, couldn't keep teams out of the end zone, couldn't get off the field. Now the script has flipped. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's group is playing stouter, holding teams — even the high-scoring Detroit Lions — largely in check long enough to give Indy a chance to win, and it's the Colts offense that has struggled. “They are playing their tails off. You don’t want them on the field a bunch and as an offense you want to be able to play complementary football,” running back Jonathan Taylor said after Sunday's 24-6 loss. “I would say specifically on offense, it sucks when you can’t help your defense out when they are fighting their tails off all game.” Indy's defense held up its end of the bargain by limiting the Lions (10-1) to 14 first-half points and allowing just 24, matching Detroit's lowest output since Week 3. The problem: Even when the Colts (5-7) did get Detroit off the field, they couldn't sustain drives or score touchdowns. Again. Anthony Richardson provided the bulk of the ground game by rushing 10 times for 61 yards, mostly early. Taylor managed just 35 yards on 11 carries and a season-high 10 penalties constantly forced the Colts to dig out from deep deficits. Part of that was by design. “We knew Jonathan Taylor was going to be the guy we needed to shut down,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We did that. The quarterback runs. It got us on a couple but overall, we did what we needed to do, and we kept them out of that game." Part of it could be because of an injury-battered offensive line that has started three rookies each of the past two weeks and finished the previous game with the same three rookies. Whatever the fix, Indy needs a good solution. There is good news for Indy is that its schedule now gets substantially more manageable. After losing four of five, all to teams in playoff position and three to division leaders, Indy faces only one team with a winning record in its final five games. The most recent time the Colts played a team with a losing mark, Richardson rallied them past the New York Jets 28-27. But Colts coach Shane Steichen knows that's not the answer. The Colts must get this offense righted now. “We’ve got to get that figured out. We’ve got to get him going on the ground,” Steichen said when asked about Taylor, who has 92 yards on his past 35 carries. “We’ll look at the offensive line. We’ll look at everything." What’s working Pass rush. Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner's presence certainly has been felt since he returned from a sprained ankle Oct. 27. In those past five games, the Colts have had 14 sacks, including three of Jared Goff on Sunday. What needs work Penalties. The Colts have had one of the cleanest operations in the league most of this season. Sunday was an anomaly, but one that can't merely be written off. Stock up WR Michael Pittman Jr. The five-year veteran is one of the league's toughest guys, but playing through a back injury appeared to take its toll on Pittman's productivity. Since sitting out in Week 10, Pittman has 11 receptions for 142 yards including six for 96 yards, his second-highest total of the season, Sunday. Stock down Tight ends. Each week the Colts want their tight ends to make an impact. And each week, they seem to fail. It happened again Sunday when Drew Ogletree dropped a TD pass that would have given Indy a 10-7 lead. Instead, Indy settled for a field goal and a 7-6 deficit. Through 12 games, Indy's tight ends have a total of 26 catches, 299 yards and two TDs. That's just not good enough in a league where versatile, productive tight ends increasingly signal success. Injuries Pittman and WR Josh Downs both returned to the game after leaving briefly with shoulder injuries. WR Ashton Dulin did not return after hurting his foot in the second half. But the bigger questions come on the offensive line. LT Bernhard Raimann (knee) was inactive Sunday, and rookie center Tanor Bortolini entered the concussion protocol Monday. Bortolini was one of three rookie starters the past two weeks, replacing Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly who is on injured reserve. Key number 55.88 — Indy has scored touchdowns on 55.88% of its red zone trips this season. While it puts it near the middle of the NFL, it's cost the Colts multiple wins. Next steps Richardson needs to rebound from this latest 11 of 28 performance and show he can lead the Colts to victories week after week. He'll get plenty of chances over the season's final month, starting with next week's game at the New England Patriots. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Michael Marot, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? 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Comcast, the parent company of NBC and its affiliated properties, recently announced plans to spin off its cable television networks, including CNBC and MSNBC, into a new company. Following this news, Elon Musk, owner of X, shared a meme online fueling speculation he might purchase MSNBC if it becomes available. A video of Rachel Maddow, one of MSNBC’s leading personalities, went viral on social media , appearing to show her reaction to Musk’s memes about buying MSNBC. The clip appears to show Maddow on air during a breaking news segment with a banner on screen reading: “BREAKING NEWS ELON MUSK POSTS DANGEROUS MEME.” Maddow becomes visibly upset, then requests a graphic to be displayed and the screen cuts to an explicit meme about Musk's buying MSNBC. The video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Google Trends data shows a spike in searches for terms including “Elon Musk meme,” “Rachel Maddow crying,” and “Rachel Maddow Elon Musk.” People in the comments on the video expressed surprise that Maddow would act like that on air. THE QUESTION Is the video of an emotional Rachel Maddow during a news segment about speculation that Elon Musk could MSNBC real? THE SOURCES Video of Maddow’s show on June 19, 2018 MSNBC network spokesperson VERIFY analysis of the video Rachel Maddow social media post from June 19, 2018 Review of recent episodes from “The Rachel Maddow Show” InVid and RevEye , video and photo forensics tools THE ANSWER No, the video is not real. It was created using a real video of Maddow from 2018 and was edited to include fake onscreen graphics and a meme about Musk. WHAT WE FOUND The viral video appearing to show Maddow upset on air in response to social media posts depicting the potential sale of MSNBC to Elon Musk is fake. It was created using a real clip from “The Rachel Maddow Show’s” June 19, 2018 episode that was then edited to include graphics and images to make it appear like she is reacting to a story about Musk. An MSNBC network spokesperson told VERIFY the video “has been manipulated and is fake.” Using InVid, a video forensics tool, VERIFY analyzed the video and conducted a reverse image search, which led us to clips of Maddow’s original 2018 news segment about immigration policy. When comparing the edited video with the original clip from 2018, it was clear Maddow was making the same gestures, wearing the same outfit and the background is identical. A thumbnail promoting MSNBC’s live coverage from the southern border also appears in the bottom corner of both versions. In the original segment, Maddow got emotional while reading an Associated Press report about children separated at the southern border and placed in “tender age” shelters. After her show aired, Maddow apologized on social media for becoming emotional during the broadcast. There have been no verified reports that Musk is considering purchasing MSNBC or that the network would be sold as part of Comcast’s restructuring. Other posts from Musk included retweets of articles from satirical websites. None of Maddow’s recent broadcasts contain this fake news segment.
Donald Trump on Friday said he would nominate Scott Bessent to be the 79th U.S. Treasury secretary and frontman for the president-elect’s aggressive economic policies, a slate that financial markets already anticipate will add to economic growth in the near term but also rekindle inflation. Here are five charts sensitive to that agenda that the incoming cabinet official may want to keep on his radar: The U.S. is already more than $35 trillion in debt, with roughly $28 trillion of that floated in the global bond market in the form of U.S. Treasury securities. Total debt grew by more than $7.8 trillion in Trump’s first term, with Treasury debt rising by $7.2 trillion. Under President Joe Biden, total debt is up by a further $8.2 trillion, including nearly $7 trillion of new Treasury market debt. Those totals, according to the latest baseline forecast from the Congressional Budget Office – which does not take into account Trump’s ambitions for additional tax cuts and tariffs – are expected to rise to about $42 trillion and $35 trillion, respectively, by the end of 2028 just before the Republican president-elect’s second term in the White House expires. Often touted as the safest asset pool on Earth, the Treasury market nonetheless has grown increasingly sensitive to the rapid growth of the federal debt, with concerns over just how much longer global investors will be willing to fund the country’s liabilities at advantageous interest rates. In light of Trump’s desire to lower taxes, which is likely to reduce tax revenues, Bessent will have to hope the cuts stimulate economic growth that outpaces growth in the federal budget deficit. Bessent has said he would like to reduce the deficit as a share of gross domestic product to 3%. For fiscal 2024, which ended on Sept. 30, it was 7.8% of real – or inflation-adjusted – GDP. It has not been 3% or below since 2015 during the Obama administration. In Trump’s first term, it ranged from 3.4% in fiscal 2017 to 15.2% in fiscal 2020, a year when COVID-19 pandemic relief spending blew out the deficit. The CBO’s projection underestimated the actual deficit-to-GDP ratio in 2024, but its baseline forecast estimates it at 6.1% next year and 5.6% just before Trump leaves office. It then starts to expand again beginning in 2030. Federal debt service costs topped $1 trillion in fiscal 2024 for the first time on a combination of more debt and higher interest rates resulting from two years of Federal Reserve rate increases to rein in inflation. Interest on the debt in the last fiscal year was exceeded only by the Social Security retirement program as a spending line item. And, even as the Fed has started cutting interest rates, Treasury yields have risen notably in the last two months in anticipation of much of Trump’s agenda taking effect – and the country’s borrowing costs have continued rising with them. So far, recent auctions of new U.S. bonds have been well bid, but that is not guaranteed should the market size continue its rapid growth. The U.S. dollar has been on a tear, climbing more than 7% since late September against a basket of major trading partners’ currencies, and is at its strongest level in about two years. A strong dollar will help mute some of the inflationary impetus of the Trump economic agenda, with currency effects making imported goods cheaper. But it will make U.S. exports less attractive, complicating any effort to put a dent in the trade deficit even with the expanded slate of tariffs Trump has in mind to slow the flow of imports. Bessent will be the chief liaison between the Fed and the administration. Fed Chair Jerome Powell meets most weeks with the Treasury secretary – now Janet Yellen and Steven Mnuchin before her – giving the new secretary ample opportunity to offer views on what is going on with Fed policy, particularly interest rates. Trump famously soured on Powell soon after elevating him from Fed governor to the U.S. central bank’s chief because Powell continued with a rate-increasing regime begun by his predecessor, who happened to be Yellen. As Trump takes office this time, the Fed is in the process of lowering rates – but perhaps not as much as central bank officials themselves had anticipated just two months ago and perhaps also not as much as Trump would like to see. That’s because inflation is again proving to be a bit slower in returning to the Fed’s 2% target, and the job market – the other focus of the dual mandate assigned it by Congress – remains pretty healthy. Powell’s term as chair expires in May 2026, and if history is a guide, Bessent could be an influential voice advising Trump on who next to pick to lead the central bank. Earlier this year Bessent floated the idea of nominating Powell’s successor as early as possible to undercut Powell’s authority – a so-called “shadow chair” appointment – but he has since backed away from the idea. Source: Reuters (Reporting By Dan Burns; Editing by Paul Simao)The Miami skyline viewed from the Rickenbacker Causeway in South Florida, a year ago. Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP MIAMI — Dozens of luxury beachfront condos and hotels in Surfside, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach and Sunny Isles are sinking into the ground at rates that were “unexpected,” with nearly 70% of the buildings in northern and central Sunny Isles affected, research by the University of Miami found. The study, published Friday night, identified a total of 35 buildings that have sunk by as much as three inches between 2016 and 2023, including the iconic Surf Club Towers and Faena Hotel, the Porsche Design Tower, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Trump Tower III and Trump International Beach Resorts. Together, the high rises accommodate tens of thousands of residents and tourists. Some have more than 300 units, including penthouses that cost millions of dollars. “Almost all the buildings at the coast itself, they’re subsiding,” Falk Amelung, a geophysicist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science and the study’s senior author, told the Miami Herald. “It’s a lot.” Preliminary data also shows signs that some buildings along the coasts of Broward and Palm Beach are sinking, too. Experts called the study a “game changer” that raises a host of questions about development on vulnerable barrier islands. For starters, experts said, this could be a sign that rising sea levels, caused by the continued emission of greenhouse gases, is accelerating the erosion of the limestone on which South Florida is built. “It’s probably a much larger problem than we know,” Paul Chinowsky, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, told the Herald. Initially, researchers looked at satellite images that can measure fractions of an inch of subsidence to determine whether the phenomenon had occurred leading up to the collapse of Champlain Towers in Surfside, the 2021 catastrophe that killed 98 people and led to laws calling for structural reviews of older condos across the state. The researchers did not see any signs of settlement before the collapse “indicating that settlement was not the cause of collapse,” according to a statement. Instead, they saw subsidence at nearby beachside buildings both north and south of it. SURPRISING FINDINGS “What was surprising is that it was there at all. So we didn’t believe it at the beginning,” Amelung said, explaining that his team checked several sources that confirmed the initial data. “And then we thought, we have to investigate it,” he said. In total, they found subsidence ranging between roughly 0.8 and just over 3 inches, mostly in Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, and at two buildings in Miami Beach – the Faena Hotel and L’atelier condo – and one in Bal Harbour. It’s unclear what the implications are or whether the slow sinking could lead to long-term damage, but several experts told the Herald that the study raises questions that require further research as well as a thorough on-site inspection. “These findings raise additional question which require further investigation,” Gregor Eberli, a geoscience professor and co-author of the study, which was published Friday in the journal Earth and Space Science, said in a statement. Lead author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani pointed to the need for “ongoing monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures.” Though the vast majority of affected buildings were constructed years or decades before the satellite images were taken, it is common for buildings to subside a handful of inches during and shortly after construction — a natural effect as the weight of the building compresses the soil underneath. And sinking doesn’t necessarily create structural issues. “As long as it’s even, everything’s fine,” Chinowsky said, placing his hands next to each other, “the problems start when you start doing this,” he said, then moving one hand down faster than the other. But such uneven sinking, known as differential subsidence, can cause significant damage to buildings, he said. “That’s where you can get structural damage,” he said. More research is needed to determine whether the buildings are sinking evenly or not. AN UNCERTAIN IMPACT “Sometimes it can be dangerous, sometimes not – it will have to be evaluated,” said Shimon Wdowinski, a geophysicist at Florida International University, told the Herald. Wdowinski worked on a different 2020 study that showed that the land surrounding the Champlain Towers – not the buildings themselves – had been subsiding back in the nineties, though that alone couldn’t have led to the collapse. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has yet to release a final report on the cause but a Herald investigation pointed to design and construction flaws as well as decades of maintenance issues. For the 35 buildings shown to be sinking in the University of Miami’s study, he said, the next step is to check the integrity and design plans. “If there is differential subsidence, it could cause structural damage, and it would need immediate attention,” he said. Cracks in walls, utilities that are breaking, or doors and windows that don’t shut as easily as they used to are all signs of differential subsidence, said Hota GangaRao, a professor of civil engineering and the director of the constructed facilities center at West Virginia University. “In some extreme scenarios, the buildings at some point sink much more dramatically with time,” he said. If that subsidence is differential, “then it is very, very serious,” GangaRao said. CITIES REACT TO STUDY Larisa Svechin, the mayor of Sunny Isles Beach, where more than 20 buildings are affected, said that “my priority is the safety of our residents.” Contacted by the Herald Saturday afternoon, she said she was not aware of any structural issues but called an immediate meeting with the city manager. Following that meeting, she said that all required building inspections are up to date and that “the law also requires inspection records to be posted online and shared with residents.” Charles Burkett, the mayor of Surfside, told the Miami Herald that he had not heard of the study nor was he aware of any subsidence of buildings. “I’d like to know if it’s unsafe,” he said on Saturday, adding that he will “review [the study] in due time.” Other officials could not be reached immediately, and several of the affected buildings contacted by the Herald said that management would not be available for comment before Monday. Some settlement appears to have started right around the time when the construction of new buildings nearby began, and when vibration might have caused layers of sand to compress further – just like shaking ground coffee in a tin will make room for more. The pumping of groundwater that seeps into construction sites could also cause sand layers to shift and rearrange. Though there appears to be a strong link to nearby construction for some buildings, it is unlikely to be the only explanation for the 35 sinking buildings, as some settlement had started before any construction began nearby, and it persisted after construction ended, the researchers found. “There’s no sign that it’s stopping,” Amelung said of the settlement. THE POSSIBLE CLIMATE CONNECTION Experts also pointed to the impact the emission of fossil fuels and the resulting warming of the climate is having on the overall stability of Miami-Dade’s barrier islands. For one, rising sea levels are now encroaching on sand and limestone underneath our feet. That could lead to the corrosion of the pillars on which high-rises stand – a serious issue, GangaRao said, though if that’s the case “there may be a way to salvage these buildings,” by fixing the foundation. Stronger waves, fresh water dumped by heavier rainfalls and more sunny-day flooding could also add to the erosion of the limestone that all of South Florida is built on, Chinowsky said. Already a soft rock that is riddled with holes and air pockets, further erosion could destabilize the base of most constructions, Chinowsky said, comparing it to “standing on sand, and someone came with a spoon and started taking the sand out.” “I would expect that they would see this all throughout the barrier islands and on into the main coastline – wherever there is limestone, basically,” he said. “That’s what makes the whole South Florida area so unique, because of that porous rock, the limestone, all that action is happening where you can’t see it, and that’s why it’s never accounted for to this level,” he said. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. 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