
Where to watch Ravens vs. Chargers game tonight: Free live streamAnalysis: If Jets don't want Rodgers, others willEVANSVILLE 66, CAMPBELL 53
Joe Douglas is gone. Robert Saleh already was fired. Aaron Rodgers could be next to leave the New York Jets. Douglas lost his job as the general manager on Tuesday, six weeks after the head coach was replaced following a 2-3 start. The Jets have gone 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich so owner Woody Johnson sent Douglas packing. Rodgers has played more like a 40-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles tendon injury than a four-time NFL MVP. He's expressed a desire to play another season. The big question is whether the Jets will want him back. Maybe they'll decide to take one more shot at a playoff run with Rodgers while having him mentor a rookie quarterback. Or, they could start fresh. There are significant contract ramifications either way. Rodgers is slated to make a non-guaranteed $37.5 million in 2025 with a dead cap hit of $49 million as his salary cap total goes from $17.1 million to $23.5 million. The Jets could spread the dead money over two years by releasing Rodgers with the use of post-June 1 designation. He has a no-trade clause in his contract so they would need his permission to make a deal. If Rodgers doesn't retire and New York's new regime wants a clean slate, here are potential destinations for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: This could only happen if Brock Purdy's shoulder injury is more significant than is known. Rodgers is a native of northern California and grew up a Niners fan. Returning home to help San Francisco win its sixth Super Bowl has to be attractive. Playing for coach Kyle Shanahan surrounded by playmakers Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle would be a quarterback's dream. Again, Purdy is the team's present and future. And, he's resilient. Purdy rebounded from elbow surgery following his rookie season to start Week 1 last year and ended up finishing fourth in MVP voting, leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Purdy also is due for a contract extension and a major raise so the salary cap makes this even more of a longshot. But never say never in the NFL. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Sam Darnold has been more than a stopgap, helping the Vikings (8-2) to an impressive start. J.J. McCarthy is the future, however, and Darnold will be a free agent after the season. If the Vikings fall short of a Super Bowl and Rodgers shows over the final six weeks that he can play championship football, this could be a fit. The Vikings could let McCarthy sit and learn for another year, especially coming off a knee injury that required a second surgery earlier this month. NEW YORK GIANTS: Rodgers wouldn't have to move. The Giants will need a quarterback after benching Daniel Jones and eventually releasing him. They could draft a quarterback in the first round and have him learn behind Rodgers for a season. That'll depend on which pick New York ends up with because it's a thin draft class. Unlike the Jets, the Giants (2-8) haven't made any coaching or GM changes yet. If it's status quo with GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll, one year with Rodgers isn't unrealistic. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: They also need a quarterback. Brock Bowers could set an NFL record for most catches by a tight end if he had Rodgers next season. The Raiders (2-8) are aiming for a high pick to get a shot at a quarterback of their choice. New minority owner Tom Brady believes rookie quarterbacks need time to develop and learn. The seven-time Super Bowl champion would have to be in favor of having Rodgers start and tutor a youngster. TENNESSEE TITANS: If Will Levis doesn't prove over the final seven games that he can be a No. 1 quarterback, the Titans (2-8) will be in the QB market and likely have a high draft pick. It's another scenario where Rodgers would fit as a one-year bridge. Get local news delivered to your inbox!ST. PAUL, Minn. — Five weeks after losing a national election, Gov. Tim Walz is keeping his options open both in Minnesota and nationally, gearing up for the 2025 legislative session and trying to understand why the ticket he joined with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t win over enough voters. “Somehow we decided that electing a billionaire who screwed the middle class his entire life was better for the middle class,” Walz said in an interview, referring to the Harris-Walz ticket’s loss to President-elect Donald Trump. “Who knew making housing affordable was not as strong a message as: ‘They’re eating dogs and they’re eating cats.’ ” On the prospect of another national run, Walz said, “It would be too early to say that. I do want to be part of the conversation, because I think we are delivering, I think we are making a difference in people’s lives.” Walz is still trying to figure out how the party failed to better connect with working-class voters, whether it was a policy or messaging failure. “I would argue, if you ask people, ‘Would you like to see better education and more money in the pockets of the middle class, or would you like to see Elon Musk get richer?’ I think that election would probably swing heavily to, ‘We’d like to help the middle class.’” Walz acknowledged that Democrats have to figure it out. “I think the Democratic Party lost that message to the middle class,” Walz said. “I don’t think we focused on that, that bread-and-butter piece.” In every speech during his vice presidential run, Walz said he touched on how labor unions created safe working conditions, fair wages, a 40-hour work week and the ability to afford a home. “For whatever reason, that doesn’t seem to be what people identify as a core of the party,” Walz said. “I’d like to spend the time, you know, being that voice and continuing to fight for” the message that the party wants to make life easier for the middle class. He sounded exasperated when he talked about Trump backtracking on campaign promises, as the Republican is now acknowledging the tariffs on imports he promised could lead to price increases and that the United States may have to go to war with Iran. “For whatever reason, people were going to vote for Trump,” Walz said. “They didn’t believe us. They thought we were elite. (Republicans) were masterful at dragging us down on some of those things.” Walz said the goals of the middle class remain the same: Safety, earning more, having health care and good public schools. “Obviously, Donald Trump probably knows that they want that, too,” he said. “He didn’t message a damn thing about that, and I don’t believe he’s going to deliver on it.” The governor said he’s focused on the upcoming legislative session and he’s holding open the prospect of a run for an unprecedented third four-year term as governor in 2026. In coping with an incoming Trump administration, Walz said it will be a combination of fighting back and working with the president provided it doesn’t “compromise our values.” He noted that the GOP makes the case that states’ rights matter, and “we’re going to protect our states’ rights as much as we can,” he said. Walz said he worked with the Trump administration during COVID-19, but he recognized that Trump has expressed a desire to be vindictive. “I think we can expect that certain states will get hit harder than others,” Walz said. “My job will be here to make sure that none of that impacts negatively to people in Minnesota.” In other ways, he said Minnesota will be sheltered. “I’m not going to put women’s lives at risk when they need basic health care,” Walz said. “We’ll make the case that no matter what he thinks, he’s not a dictator. He needs to follow the law, and he needs to work with states.” His team already is looking into the possibility of dealing with selective federal funding cuts targeting Minnesota. He also openly wondered how voters will react as Trump’s policies play out. People “voted for it and they want mass deportations. I think now that’s going to become a little more realistic when federal agents come into your church during Mass, stop Mass and arrest the person sitting next to you worshiping, or they’re there when the child’s being dropped off at school, and they arrest the parents, and then we’ll have to figure out where the kids go after school.” After the legislative session, Walz said he expects to start thinking about 2026. Asked if he might step aside because other DFLers could be eager to run, Walz responded, “you could always have a primary.” He argued that life has improved in Minnesota under his tenure while Trump rescinded a basic American trait to not be cruel and voters endorsed that. “So I think for us as being a voice of more reason, maybe a little more kindness, a little more trying to find real solutions,” he said. ©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins scored a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in his most recent home game and tossed the ball to a child in the stands pleading for it. On Thursday, Collins told reporters the NFL did not approve and assessed him a fine of about $5,000. "It's for the kids," Collins said. "I seen he was screaming and was thinking, ‘Here you go, big dog. Here's the ball.'" Collins said he was not penalized last season on the handful of occasions he threw a ball into the stands, so he wasn't expecting a fine. But making a child's day was "definitely worth it." The 25-year-old said he plans to appeal the fine, but if it isn't overturned, he'll pay up. "The only thing that matters was making that kid happy," he said. "He ain't never going to forget that moment. So that's all that matters to me." Collins followed up a 92-yard, one-touchdown performance that day against Tennessee with eight receptions for 119 yards last week at Jacksonville. The fourth-year wideout is Houston's leading receiver despite missing five games due to a hamstring injury. He has caught 49 passes for 832 yards and four touchdowns in just eight appearances. --Field Level MediaBEIJING , Dec. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baijiayun Group Ltd ("Baijiayun" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: RTC), a one-stop AI video solution provider, today announced it was honored with the title of "Exclusive Member Unit". In recent days, the First Council of the Artificial Intelligence Education Professional Committee of the Beijing Educational Informationization Industry Alliance and the 2024 Symposium on Artificial Intelligence Empowering the Innovative Development of Primary and Secondary Schools were successfully held at the Affiliated Experimental School of Beijing Institute of Technology. Nearly 200 renowned experts, leaders of education bureaus, principals of primary and secondary schools, front-line educators, and representatives of artificial intelligence technical support units from Beijing , Tianjin , Hebei , Liaoning and other places attended the conference. This conference was hosted by the Beijing Educational Informationization Industry Alliance, Baijiayun was also invited to participate in the conference and , together with many well-known enterprises in the industry, and won the honor of "Exclusive Member Unit" of the Beijing Educational Informationization Industry Alliance. In the future, Baijiayun will work with the Beijing Educational Informationization Industry Alliance to continue to carry out research and promotion on educational informationization industry technologies across China , promote in-depth cooperation across disciplines, departments, and industries, jointly build an educational informationization development platform, create an industrial resource integration platform, an application service platform, and a technology transformation platform, share the fruits of development, give play to the supporting and leading role of educational informationization in educational modernization, and further promote the innovative development of the national education cause. About Baijiayun Group Ltd Baijiayun is a one-stop AI video solution provider with core expertise in SaaS/PaaS solutions. Baijiayun is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality video experiences across devices and localities and has grown rapidly since its inception in 2017. Premised on its industry-leading video-centric technologies, Baijiayun offers a wealth of video-centric technology solutions, including Video SaaS/PaaS, Video Cloud and Software, and Video AI and System Solutions. Baijiayun caters to the evolving communications and collaboration needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries. For more information, please visit ir.baijiayun.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the parties' perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," and "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and shareholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are hard to predict or control, that may cause the actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the documents the Company has filed or furnished or may file or furnish with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. For investor and media enquiries, please contact: Company Contact: Ms. Fangfei Liu Chief Financial Officer, Baijiayun Group Ltd Phone: +86 25 8222 1596 Email: ir@baijiayun.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baijiayun-was-honored-with-the-title-of-exclusive-member-unit-by-the-beijing-educational-informationization-industry-alliance-302331799.html SOURCE Baijiayun Group Ltd
Giants face challenge in hosting Ravens, trying to end 8-game skid
Gov. Tim Walz wants to remain a force in politics, at state and national levelSaturday, November 23, 2024 “Hoteliers wanting to drive direct sales shouldn’t rely solely on rapid AI-based placements for their marketing strategy in 2025” warned Mirai’s Pablo Delgado during an executive panel at Phocuswright – taking place this week in Phoenix, Arizona – titled ‘Travel’s tech driven retail revolution’. Instead the Mirai CEO for the Americas recommeded that hotels focus on brand protection campaigns and established social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. When asked for Mirai’s view on the impact of AI on direct hotel sales, Delgado nonetheless confirmed that “incorporating AI to gain first-mover advantage should be on your 2025 agenda, but just not the sole objective for the year”. Moderated by Phocuswright’s Lorraine Sileo, the panel looked at how AI is shaking up the world of online travel sales and also included TripAdvisor’s President Kristen Dalton and Sojern’s Chief Revenue Officer Noreen Henry. During the panel Delgado outlined how Mirai – whose technology helps hoteliers maximise revenues in the direct channel – is advising clients to “learn and innovate if they have enough budget, particularly to participate in the planning stage or upper funnel and especially when it comes to the new placements (social and AI-based tools) so they have the first mover advantage when the time does finally come”. However, he pointed out too that the marketing landscape is still dominated by Google – for advertising, Google Hotels and organic search – as well as by the big OTAs. “This is likely to continue for a very long time, they have signifcant resources and inbuilt advantages such as the data they have, the great teams they have and so on. Nor should we rule out that AI developments might mean that other online players like Amazon or Meta or Microsoft could make an entry into the travel space too”.
FMC Corporation announces election of Anthony DiSilvestro to Board of DirectorsSeattle Seahawks receiver is DK Metcalf is just fine when he doesn't have the the ball because it means he gets to showcase his blocking skills. “I just look at it as a sign of respect that I’ve gained from other defensive coordinators and just continue to do my job with it as blocking or being a decoy,” the two-time Pro Bowler said. While opposing defenses have keyed in on Metcalf, other aspects of Seattle's offense have surfaced during its four-game winning streak. The run has the Seahawks (8-5) sitting atop the NFC West heading into Sunday night's game against the visiting Green Bay Packers (9-4). Geno Smith's new top target is second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who needs 89 receiving yards for his first career 1,000-yard season. Smith-Njigba has 75 catches for 911 yards and five touchdowns, while Metcalf, often dealing with double coverage, has 54 catches for 812 yards and two scores. Metcalf says he feels the pride of a “proud parent or a big brother” when it comes to Smith-Njigba's success. Seattle's offense also got a boost from the ground game in a 30-18 victory over the Arizona Cardinals last weekend . Zach Charbonnet, filling in for the injured Kenneth Walker III, ran for a career-best 134 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks face another hot team in the Packers (9-4), who have won seven of nine. Green Bay's two losses over that stretch have come against NFC-best Detroit (12-1), including a 34-31 victory by the Lions on Dec. 5, which means the NFC North title is likely out of reach for the Packers. The Packers are well-positioned for a playoff berth, but that almost certainly won't come this weekend. They would need a win, a loss or tie by the Atlanta Falcons and a tie between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Metcalf, who learned to block from his father, former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf, says he tries to take blocking seriously to set himself apart from other receivers. His priorities are simple when he's getting double-teamed and the ball goes elsewhere. “Trying to block my (butt) off and trying to get pancakes on defensive backs,” he said. When the Packers surged their way into the playoffs last season, quarterback Jordan Love was a major reason why. He had 18 touchdown passes and one interception during Green Bay's final eight games. During the last four games of this season, Love ranks third in the NFL with a 118.9 passer rating with six touchdowns, one interception and a league-best 10.3 yards per attempt. “I always feel like I can put the ball where I want to — and that’s part of it, too, having that confidence to be able to throw those passes,” Love said. “There’s always like I said a handful of plays that might not come off or be in the exact spot that you wanted it to or the throw might be a little bit off. So, that’s where you’ve just got to try to be at your best every play, be consistent and accurate as possible.” Green Bay’s pass defense has been picked apart the last two weeks. First, it was torched by Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in a Packers win. Next, it allowed Jared Goff to complete his final 13 passes as the Lions rallied to victory. It won’t get any easier this week. Smith is second in the NFL in attempts, completions and passing yards and is fifth in completion percentage. “It’s been a remarkable turnaround for him in terms of just where he started,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “It’s not always where you start, but where you finish. And it tells me a lot about the person in terms of his resiliency and ability to fight through some adversity. He’s a dangerous quarterback.” The potential return of former All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) could help the Packers. Will the Packers break out their head-to-toe white uniforms? The last time Green Bay wore the winter white look was in a 24-22 win over Houston in October. The Packers asked fans to weigh in on social media . As for the Seahawks, they'll be sporting their “Action Green” uniforms. Metcalf is a fan. “I would say this about the Action Green, I love them personally in my opinion, but the big guys hate them. I don’t know why, don’t ask me," he said. “Hopefully, the Packers wear all white, so it’ll be a fun-looking game.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
NUKED BLOOD: MPs demand an end to 'culture of cover-up'
NoneAdvanced nuclear power a clean energy solution - Brent Ridge
Women are more likely to need walking sticks, wheelchairs and other mobility aids compared to men, but they are less likely to use them, according to a study. And single people are more likely to use mobility tools compared to those who are married, according to researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers looked at information from a group of more than 12,000 adults in England aged 50 to 89 who were tracked over a 13-year period. At the start of the study, 8,225 adults had no mobility difficulty and did not use mobility assistive products (MAPs). Some 2,480 were deemed to have “unmet need” and 1,375 were using mobility aids. During the follow-up period, there were 2,313 “transitions” where people went from having no mobility issues to needing some help with getting around. And 1,274 people started to use mobility aids. Compared with men, women were 49% more likely to transition from not needing mobility aids to needing to use them, according to the study which has been published in The Lancet Public Health. But were 21% less likely to go on to use mobility aids when they needed them. The authors said their study showed “barriers to access” for women. For both men and women, with every year that passed during the study period the need for mobility aids increased. People who were older, less educated, less wealthy or reported being disabled were more likely to “transition from no need to unmet need, and from unmet need to use”, the authors said, with this indicating a “higher prevalence of mobility limitations and MAP need overall among these groups”. They added: “Finally, marital or partnership status was not associated with transitioning to unmet need; however, single people were more likely to transition from unmet need to use compared with married or partnered people.” Jamie Danemayer, first author of the study from UCL Computer Science and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, said: “Our analysis suggests that there is a clear gender gap in access to mobility aids. “Though our data didn’t ascertain the reason why participants weren’t using mobility aids, other research tells us that women are often more likely than men to face obstacles such as cost barriers as a result of well-documented income disparities between genders. “Many mobility aids are designed for men rather than women, which we think may be a factor. “Using mobility aids can also make a disability visible, which can impact the safety and stigma experienced by women, in particular. “There’s a critical need for further research to identify and break down the barriers preventing women from accessing mobility aids that would improve their quality of life.” Professor Cathy Holloway, also from UCL, added: “Not having access to mobility aids when a person needs one can have a big impact on their independence, well-being and quality of life. “Our analysis suggests that women, in particular, regardless of other factors such as education and employment status, are not getting the support that they need.” Professor Shereen Hussein, senior author of the study and lead of the social care group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The research provides compelling evidence of gender disparities in accessing assistive technology, suggesting that cost, design bias, and social stigma are likely to disproportionally affect women. “This underscores the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in the design, production and inclusivity of assistive technologies.”THINGS TO DO
Yearslong fight over beach work in North Wildwood may soon end
PALMDALE — The Palmdale Aerospace Academy sixth-graders Valentina Puente, Paola Soto and Steve Quiroz; seventh-grader Joseph Arana; and ninth-grader Chloe Osby are among the inaugural members of the school’s FIRST Tech Challenge robotics teams. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international organization that promotes science education, has two classes of robotics competitions. The FTC program is for middle school students; the FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) is for high school students. The Aerospace Academy already has an award-winning FRC program. The Gryffingear team won the world championship in 2015 in its first season. Now the academy’s middle school hopes to add to that winning legacy. The school has three FTC teams — The Martians, Zeus Strikers and Iron Legion. The FTC and FRC robotics competitions run on different schedules. The FTC held its kickoff in September. The 2024-24 ocean-inspired season event is called Into the Deep. Teams are now in the qualifying season and state and regional championship. The FTC World Championship is in April. “We basically work on robotics, engineering, work as a team in the community to try and build a robot, go to competition, program and stuff like that,” Chloe said. “We learn a lot of leadership skills, how to work with a team and a lot of other really great things.” Chloe is the team lead for team 9777, the Iron Legion. The high school students serve as mentors to the younger robotics students. The Aerospace Academy hosted a robotics tournament last month attended by about 12 teams, including one from Ridgecrest. The other teams were from Palmdale and Lancaster. “I didn’t want to touch a robot when I was in sixth (grade), but this year, when I started going in it, I learned a lot,” said Joseph, who is on team 9098, the Zeus Strikers. He works on building the robot. Paolo was inspired to join a team after watching her eighth-grade brother do robotics. “I thought it would be fun and it is fun,” she said. “He says that we have to do a lot of programming when we get to the eighth grade.” She added: “Also, about my family, my nino is an engineer. He creates like airplanes and stuff. Also, my cousin and my brother want to do engineering.” Sixth-grader Steve joined robotics to learn how to build a robot. He is interested in engineering. “It’s good; we’re learning a lot,” he said about the math involved in the team sport. They will host their next meet in January. jdrake@avpress.comGiants face challenge in hosting Ravens, trying to end 8-game skid