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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the Minnesota Vikings was to bring in Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold's performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. “He’s a baller," Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. "He can make stuff happen when he needs to. I know with the outside narrative on him and his path and everything, you might not think that, but ever since he got here, it felt like that was going to happen.” Having led the Vikings (10-2) to their fifth consecutive victory with the go-ahead touchdown pass against Arizona last week, one game after a stellar overtime drive to beat Chicago , Darnold has become one of the darlings of this NFL this season with his success in coach Kevin O'Connell's system after the third overall pick in the 2018 draft started his career in rather bleak fashion. His first year in Minnesota sure has been smoother than what Cousins has gone through in his debut with the Atlanta Falcons . Last week in a loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cousins matched his career high with four interceptions. “I don’t think anybody can put any more pressure on Kirk than he has for himself. He’s carried us through this season when we were figuring out a lot of things on defense,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’s just having a hard time right now. There’s nothing to say he can’t catch fire and light it up like he’s been doing.” The Falcons (6-6) take their three-game losing streak on the road to face the Vikings, with division races for both teams in full swing. The quarterback contrasts have made this matchup all the more intriguing, with Cousins coming back to the place where he spent the previous six seasons. Cousins has a $25 million salary cap hit this season, the 11th-highest among quarterbacks in the league. Even if the Falcons were to move on in 2026 and swallow the dead money for two more years with eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, Cousins will carry a $40 million charge in 2025. Darnold’s cap charge is $5 million this season, just 31st on the list. Though he will become a free agent in March, the Vikings structured his contract with void years to spread his cap hit into next season for another $5 million. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, won't be ready until next year after having surgery to repair the meniscus he tore in his right knee in his first preseason game. Though Darnold has had a couple of clunkers this year, the Vikings still won those games and he's bounced back strong without letting interceptions linger into future decisions. "He’s kind of found a little balance, at least the last few weeks, of ‘When is it too risky?’ and ‘When can I take my shot at something?’” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. The Falcons have seen as much on tape. “I think he’s playing free,” Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s not a lot of complicated throws or anything that he’s doing. I just think that he’s finally able to feel comfortable in himself.” Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to address the significance of Cousins’ homecoming with the team, bracing for the type of crowd reaction that will only intensify the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium that's already daunting for opponents. Minnesota's defense has thrived this season at home, using the fans to enhance the effectiveness of a disguise-based, aggressive scheme that leads the league with 18 interceptions and has also been adept at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. “The environment they create up in Minnesota is absolutely outstanding,” Morris said. Cousins isn't the only key figure from the Falcons who's well-known to Vikings coaches. Morris was the defensive coordinator in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when O'Connell was the offensive coordinator and Phillips was the tight ends coach on that Super Bowl champion team. Vikings running back Aaron Jones has fumbled three times in the last two games, losing two of them, but he hasn't lost the confidence of coaches or teammates as evidenced by the pass called for his go-ahead touchdown catch against the Cardinals. Family is a strong support system for him, too, but sometimes that means tough love. His mother, Vurgess Jones, let him have it after the game when they talked about the turnovers. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to learn from it,'” Jones said. “She was like, ‘You didn’t learn last week?'” He has matched his career high in 2024 with five fumbles and three lost, a fact not lost on a Falcons defense that's aggressive with dislodging techniques despite only four recovered fumbles in 12 games. “You can see it all over the tape: Those guys are coaching it," Phillips said. Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after racking up eight tackles for loss in November, carried his pass-rushing mojo into December with a couple of clutch plays in the final minute to preserve the victory over Arizona. Greenard has 10 of the team's 39 sacks. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked like last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays?” O'Connell said. “He’s done it time and time again.” Falcons running back Bijan Robinson set a career high last week with 26 carries. He had 102 yards rushing and was again a significant part of the passing attack with six catches against the Chargers. “I just do whatever I can to help us as a team,” said Robinson, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,277 combined yards from scrimmage. “I just trust whatever they have in the plan.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Irish civil servants compiled a list of “major leaks” they claimed originated from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and Special Branch officers in the region, records show. The confidential briefing note is part of the tranche of documents made public in the annual release of State papers from the Irish National Archives. An Irish Department of Foreign Affairs official focusing on justice and security created the list in October 2002. The document starts by referencing a 1999 interview given by George Mitchell, the chairman of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, in which he claimed the British and Irish governments, as well as Northern Ireland’s political parties, had leaked information to manipulate public opinion. However, he further accused the NIO of attempting to sabotage the process by leaking information on British Government policy to the media. Mr Mitchell, a former US senator, is said to have expressed alarm and anger over the frequency of leaks from the NIO – saying they were uniquely “designed to undermine the policy of the British Government of which they were a part”. The Irish civil servant notes Mr Mitchell himself was subjected to an attempted “smear” when he first arrived in Northern Ireland, as newspaper articles falsely claimed his chief of staff Martha Pope had had a liaison with Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly with ulterior motives. The Irish civil servant goes on to list several “leaks”, starting with the publication of a proposed deal in a newspaper while “intense negotiations” for the Downing Street Declaration were under way. Next, the Department lists two “high-profile and damaging leaks issued from the NIO”. A so-called “gameplan” document was leaked in February 1998, showing papers had been prepared weeks before the Drumcree march on July 6, 1997. In the preceding years, there had been standoffs and clashes as nationalists opposed the procession of an Orange parade down Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The gameplan document showed then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam, who was publicly expressing a desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, advocated “finding the lowest common denominator for getting some Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road”. In 1997, a large number of security forces were deployed to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident sparked heightened tension and a wave of rioting. The document further describes the release of a document submitted by the NIO’s director of communications to the secretary of state as a “second major leak”. It claims a publicity strategy was released to the DUP in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and showed how the UK Government would support a yes vote in a referendum following any talks agreement. In addition, it is claimed unionists used leaked sections of the Patten report on policing to invalidate its findings ahead of its publication in 1999. The report recommended the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the changing of symbols, and a 50-50 recruitment policy for Catholics and Protestants. At the time, UUP leader David Trimble said the recommendations would lead to a corruption of policing in Northern Ireland. Chris Patten , chairman of the independent commission on policing, said some of the assertions were a “total fabrication” and designed to “muddy the waters” to create a difficult political atmosphere. Elsewhere, the author notes it was leaked to the media there was serious disagreement between the governments of the UK and Ireland on the composition of that commission – with not a single name submitted by the Irish side being accepted by the other. The author notes this incident, still under the heading “NIO leaks”, was believed by British officials to have emanated from the Irish side. The report turns to leaks of other origin, claiming “disgruntled Special Branch officers in Northern Ireland” were blamed by the British Government for a series of releases about the IRA which were designed to damage Sinn Fein in the 2001 general election in Northern Ireland. One senior Whitehall source was quoted in the Guardian as complaining that Special Branch was “leaking like a sieve” after details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of leading Tories – described at the time as a “hit list” – was passed to the BBC in April 2002. The briefing note adds: “This was followed days later by a leak to The Sunday Telegraph which alleged that senior IRA commanders bought Russian special forces rifles in Moscow last year. “The newspaper said it was passed details by military intelligence in London.” The briefing note adds that other Special Branch leaks were associated with the Castlereagh break-in. The final incident in the document notes the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Omagh bombing was also leaked to the press in December 2001. Then Northern Ireland secretary John Reid said at the time: “Leaks are never helpful and usually malicious – I will not be commenting on this report until I have seen the final version.” The reason for creating the list of leaks, which the Irish National Archives holds in a folder alongside briefing notes for ministers ahead of meetings with officials from the UK Government and NIO, is not outlined in the document itself. – This document is based on material in 2024/130/6.
Kitchens will lead Tar Heels in Fenway Bowl against UConn. Another ex-Browns coach is standing by
The Eagle’s 2024 Top 10 News Stories, No. 4: A&M Chancellor Sharp announces retirementThe series of incidents at the bathhouse has raised questions about the health and safety standards in such establishments. Reports from several customers who experienced symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and fainting have prompted authorities to take action and ensure the well-being of the public. While the exact cause of these health issues is still under investigation, the bathhouse has taken a responsible step by closing its doors until the situation is resolved.Moreover, the incident has underscored the need for a review of the information required on graduation forms to ensure that it is relevant, appropriate, and in line with privacy regulations. Collecting unnecessary or excessive personal information not only raises concerns about privacy and data security but also creates unnecessary burden and stress for students and their families. The Education Bureau should work with relevant stakeholders to streamline and simplify the graduation process, making it more efficient and student-friendly.
Even more Canadian passports are in limbo almost one month into the Canada Post strike. In early November, Service Canada put a temporary hold on mailing out passport packages after November 8, 2024. “By holding residential mail several days in advance of a work stoppage, Service Canada has reduced the risk of having any passports held in Canada Post distribution centres,” Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) spokesperson Maja Stefanovska told Daily Hive. Just days after 55,000 employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) , the agency said were already being held. In an update on Wednesday, Stefanovska told Daily Hive that as of December 1, approximately 185,000 passports that were printed and ready to be mailed are being held by Service Canada. In a release on Wednesday, Canada Post said it reviewed the latest offer from the CUPW and “determined that the union’s demands are unaffordable and unsustainable – adding billions of dollars in long-term fixed costs.” “Added up, all the demands in CUPW’s latest offers would cost more than $3 billion over four years, at a time when the postal service is already recording large financial losses,” stated the postal service. “Some of the big-ticket items include wage increases and staffing changes.” The union’s latest from Tuesday said it just wants its members to “have good collective agreements, with their rights protected.” ESDC said the hundreds of thousands of passports on hold will be mailed out once the labour disruption is over and regular mail service resumes. According to Canada Post, once operations resume, all mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible on a first-in, first-out basis. However, services may take time to fully return to normal, no matter the length of the disruption. ESDC advises Canadians who have already submitted an application and are in urgent need of a passport to request to pick it up at a Service Canada location. You can do so by contacting the at 1-800-567-6868 or visiting a Service Canada Centre. “Passport offices may not be able to respond to requests on a first-come, first-served basis due to a high volume of requests and are therefore contacting clients based on the date of travel or need,” explained Stefanovska. For anyone requesting a transfer, the pickup date is arranged based on their travel date or need. ESDC says the pickup could even be arranged for the same day for urgent situations. “If the processing time for the application is now outside service standard, Canadians can request a file transfer at no additional fee,” said Stefanovska. “If the application is still within service standard, Canadians will need to pay the fees for a file transfer ($45) and standard pick up service ($20).” According to the agency, as of December 1, there have been requests for about 6,500 passports to be transferred for pick-up at a Service Canada office. This includes requests for passports being held due to the Canada Post strike and for other reasons. Canadians travelling in more than six weeks can visit a Service Canada Centre that offers 20-business-day service, or a scheduled outreach site to submit their application.Lastly, the government has expressed a willingness to use fiscal measures to support economic growth, signaling a departure from its previous emphasis on fiscal discipline. This indicates a readiness to increase government spending and stimulate demand in order to bolster economic activity and counter external headwinds.
Firstly, steady growth in key economic indicators. In November, China's GDP grew 4.9% year-on-year, maintaining a relatively stable growth momentum. Industrial output, retail sales, and fixed-asset investment also showed positive signs of recovery, indicating a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels. The resilience and adaptability of China's economy were evident in the face of global challenges.The sexual assault of two 11-year-old girls during a sleepover was solved more than 36 years later with help from forensic genetic genealogy, Washington police said. The assault in June 1988 by a then-unknown man “profoundly affected” the community, the Port Angeles Police Department wrote in a Dec. 27 post on Facebook. Kim John Cederleaf, of Quilcene, was identified as the suspect through forensic genetic genealogy, with testing of genetic material from his autopsy “conclusively solving the case,” police said. Cederleaf died in 2013, police said. Police didn’t share information about his background. The two girls were having “a sleepover in a playhouse attic” when a man forced his way in, threatened them and physically and sexually assaulted them, police said. Officers and detectives “responded promptly, conducting extensive searches, interviews, and evidence collection. This included physical evidence such as photographs, latent prints, bedding, and an article of clothing believed to belong to the suspect, as well as biological samples from sexual assault examinations,” police said. Officials canvassed, took tips from the public, created a suspect sketch, turned to FBI profiling specialists and submitted evidence for fingerprint analysis, police said. They also eventually uploaded a DNA profile to a national database and shared it with Interpol, police said, yet results still didn’t come. Then in 2023, a Port Angeles police official reached out to a forensic genealogist who “provided guidance on the potential of using forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) analysis for cold cases,” police said. FGG couples DNA analysis and genealogy research, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The analysis identified Cederleaf as the suspect, and genetic material from his eye that was saved from his autopsy confirmed that his DNA matched, according to police. “The resolution represents the culmination of bravery from the victims, meticulous police work, and advancements in forensic technology,” police said. “The victims’ courage to participate with investigators over the years, despite the trauma they endured, was pivotal in keeping the case active and eventually solving it. Their resilience and determination to seek justice have been a source of inspiration to all involved.” Port Angeles is about a 140-mile drive northwest from Seattle. Man found dead in his home in 1983, California cops say. Now, 70-year-old charged Mall manager prepping store was kidnapped in 1994, CA officials say. Now man convicted Remains found in Nevada desert identified a year later. Murder investigation underwayThe top five Japanese defense firms tallied sales of $10 billion in 2023, up 35 percent from the year before, according to an international security think tank, as the country continues its defense buildup amid Chinese and North Korean threats. Globally, the combined arms revenues of the world's 100 largest arms-producing and military services companies rose 4.2 percent to $632 billion, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in an annual report, citing increased demand for weapons worldwide. Companies in regions where wars are being waged marked the largest percentage increases, with the two Russian companies with available data and six Middle Eastern firms on the list seeing combined sales climb 40 percent and 18 percent, respectively. Asia and Oceania saw a 5.7 percent rise, with Japanese and South Korean companies leading the growth in the region. Among the five Japanese companies in the top 100, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd racked up the highest revenue of $3.89 billion in 2023, up 23.9 percent, followed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd which generated $2.06 billion, up 16.4 percent. Fujitsu Ltd, NEC Corp and Mitsubishi Electric Corp ranked third through fifth. "The respective military-related domestic orders of all five were at least two times, and in some cases more than four times, higher in value than in 2022 when Japan launched its biggest military buildup program since the end of World War II," SIPRI said, citing Japan's growing demand for new aircraft and missiles. In the National Security Strategy revised in late 2022, Japan pledged to almost double its annual defense outlays in five years and advance domestic defense production and technology bases, as it faces security challenges from China, North Korea and Russia. The aggregate turnover logged by four South Korean companies grew 39 percent to $11 billion, with Hanwha Group posting $5.71 billion in revenue, a 52.7 percent surge, supported by export contracts with Australia, Poland and Britain for artillery and armored vehicles. The sharp growth in arms revenues among South Korean companies came as they are "trying to expand their share of the global arms market, including demand in Europe related to the war in Ukraine," Xiao Liang, a researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program, said in a press release issued on Dec 2. Taiwanese weapon system provider National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology -- the only Taiwanese firm in the top 100 list -- increased revenues by 27 percent to $3.22 billion on domestic orders for missiles, drones and radars amid growing tensions with China, which sees the self-ruled island as its own territory, the report said. Chinese companies had the second-largest aggregate arms revenues after U.S. companies at $103 billion, but they recorded their lowest growth of 0.7 percent since 2019 due to the country's slowing economy, it said. The 41 companies in the top 100 based in the United States saw arms revenues total $317 billion, half the combined total of the 100 companies and 2.5 percent more than in 2022.