25 Festive Things From Walmart That'll Make Your Home Merry And BrightPolice hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC streetStock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pause Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. Alex Veiga, The Associated Press Dec 26, 2024 1:14 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FIL:E - People photograph the New York Stock Exchange in New York's Financial District on Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File) Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains by retailers and health care stocks helped temper the losses. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks wavered on Wall Street in afternoon trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped temper losses elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was up less than 0.1% after drifting between small gains and losses. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 10 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 3:20 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.5%, Micron Technology was up 1.3% and Adobe gained 0.8%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.1%. Meta Platforms fell 0.5%, Amazon was down 0.4%, and Netflix gave up 0.7%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, down 1.4%. Health care stocks helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.4% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.9% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3.1%, Ross Stores added 1.8%, Best Buy was up 2.5% and Dollar Tree gained 3.6%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.2% and 15.9%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields turned mostly lower in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.58% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. ___ AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed. Alex Veiga, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Business Boxing Day shoppers take advantage of tax holiday amid cost of living crisis Dec 26, 2024 12:08 PM Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away Dec 26, 2024 10:25 AM Canada’s women’s pro sports landscape transformed with arrival of PWHL, NSL and WNBA Dec 26, 2024 8:50 AM Featured Flyer
Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter: A look back at how transgenderism in women's sports impacted the electionBack in time
Student arrested after allegedly bringing gun into Wisconsin high school
JERUSALEM — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday after multiple Israeli strikes inside Lebanon since a ceasefire took hold last week. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli violations. Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate and within hours, Israel’s military carried out a string of strikes in southern Lebanon, including five hits in the al-Tuffah region, Lebanese state media reported. There was no immediate word on casualties or what was struck. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days, with strikes, demolition of homes near the border and overflight of drones. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying on social media that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Fans of I'm a Celeb declared that "Wagatha Christie was back" as Coleen Rooney once again demonstrated her knack for uncovering deceit. The spouse of footballer Wayne Rooney voiced her doubts about Love Island's Maura and Reverand Richard. The show began with teasers of what was to unfold in tonight's episode (November 22). Maura informed GK Barry that she and the Reverand had been "sleeping on the floor", before returning to the main camp to inform the others that it was a "junk yard". Discussing the supposed hardships that Maura and Richard were enduring, Grace stated: "I don't know if Maura is going to last there." The preview then switched to a shot of Maura sporting a huge smile, seemingly having a blast. In another snippet, Richard exclaimed: "It's not exactly tea and sandwiches, is it? " continuing the pretence. He further added: "We've got no food, we've got no comfort", while other clips showed them both snug in plush-looking beds with fruit in the fridge, reports . However, it appeared that Coleen was quick to catch on as she shared with her campmates: "I got this look and it was like they're not telling us the truth. I think there's something not right." Coleen's remarks sparked a frenzy on social media. One user took to X/ and posted: "Course it's Wagatha Christie Coleen that's able to rumble them #ImACelebGet this woman in the police force, she can solve anything." Another quipped, "Coleen really is Wagatha Christie isn't she #ImACeleb," as audiences were amused by her detective skills in the jungle. Meanwhile, a third fan chimed in: "Ooh, Wagatha Christie is on the case! You can't get anything past Colleen. #ImACeleb." Someone else humorously commented: "Hahah looks like Wagatha Christie does it again and susses out what's going on in the other camp [laughing face emojis] #imaceleb." The moniker "Wagatha Christie" was bestowed upon Coleen, 38, following her public accusation against fellow WAG Rebekah Vardy for allegedly leaking private stories to the pressan event that spiralled into a court case which "gripped the nation and became a daily spectacle" in 2022. Despite Vardy's libel action against Rooney, on July 29, the High Court ruled in Rooney's favour, determining that her accusatory posts were 'substantially true'.CU Anschutz researchers launch “moonshot” to cure blindness through eye transplants
Players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. People are also reading... “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Sports Week in Photos: NBA Cup, NFL snow game and more Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!None
MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski makes bizarre social media move after defending her controversial Trump meeting Follow DailyMail.com's politics live blog for all the latest news and updates By JOE HUTCHISON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:55 GMT, 22 November 2024 | Updated: 22:02 GMT, 22 November 2024 e-mail View comments Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski has backed away from using social media platform X despite defending her meeting with president-elect Donald Trump and encouraging fans to 'speak to everyone'. Brzezinski, 57, made what appears to be her final post to the platform, owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk , opting to move to left-leaning site Bluesky . 'I’ve decided to leave X, but I’d love to keep the conversation going. Join me on BlueSky!', linking her new profile on the site. It's a far cry from the open-mindedness she has been preaching since her meeting with Trump. On Monday, Brzezinski and her husband and co-host Joe Scarborough said on their show that they had visited Trump at his Florida home after a years long feud. Things came to a boil earlier this year after Scarborough likened Trump to Adolf Hitler , with their visit sparking fury amongst their liberal viewers and show staff. Speaking about the visit for the first time with The Daily Beast podcast with hosts , Brzezinski said they met with Trump due to people being 'really scared'. 'The way I look at it is people are really scared, that's one of the reasons we went in there. People are really scared about Trump's comments about political adversaries. A lot of people are scared because of what has happened with abortion.' Speaking about the visit for the first time with The Daily Beast podcast, seen here, Brzezinski said they met with Trump due to people being 'really scared Brzezinski has now moved her social media presence to left-leaning site Bluesky instead of X ' I was trying to think through it, I think everyone is so scared. Whether they are in the media or citizens of this great country. 'I think everybody is scared, disorientated, fearful of the future, and I think just for a quick moment I might the punching bag for that. Read More Morning Joe suffers humiliating loss after they were roasted for secret meeting with Trump 'I'd like to believe we are going to get through this and I have a lot of questions too though, and I want the chance to ask them.' Her comments don't square with her leaving X, which is owned by Trump's closest ally, Elon Musk. When asked if the meeting made her more hopeful , she said: 'No, I would have no illusions about that. I am glad it happened. The fact that it happened is good.' 'I am deeply, deeply, upset and fearful for the woman of this country, and not just the women of child-bearing age. I'm going to be looking for ways to work on this issue.' Revealing the meeting on Monday, Brzezinski said they decided to reach out to Trump due to their viewers expressing fear over his election win . She added: 'My father [diplomat Zbigniew Brzezinski] often spoke with world leaders with whom he and the United States profoundly disagreed. That's a task shared by reporters and commentators alike. 'Joe and I realized it’s time to do something different and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him.' Brzezinski shared that Trump was cheerful during their meeting and seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats. Revealing the meeting on Monday, Brzezinski said they decided to reach out to Trump due to their viewers expressing fear over his election win. She is seen here with Scarborough in 2015 Brzezinski shared that Trump was cheerful during their meeting and seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats However, Scarborough concluded by telling viewers they will not stop their criticism of the president-elect. He said: 'Don’t be mistaken. We are not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump. Read More Glum Joe and Mika return to penthouse amid cuts as Rachel Maddow's shock new salary is revealed 'We are here to report on him and to hopefully provide you insights that are going to better equip all of us in understanding these deeply unsettling times.' Trump told Fox News that he took the meeting in order to 'Make America Great Again, it is very important, if not vital, to have a free, fair and open media or press.' 'I am not looking for retribution, grandstanding or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly,' he added. 'Many things were discussed, and I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication,' he said. 'In many ways, it's too bad that it wasn't done long ago.' Trump said that both of the hosts, 'congratulated me on running a 'great and flawless campaign, one for the history books.' 'The meeting ended in a very positive manner, and we agreed to speak in the future,' he said. Following the big reveal on Monday, their ratings have tanked 15 percent overall and a whopping 41 percent in the 25-54 year old demographic. Trump appeared on the show dozens of times before the pair fell out spectacularly during the 2016 election cycle The show went from 770,000 viewers on Monday, to 680,000 Tuesday, to 647,000 Wednesday, per Variety. Trump used to be routine contributor to Morning Joe, and Scarborough was an early cheerleader for the billionaire's maverick bid for the GOP nomination in 2016. But relations soured as Trump pulled off a surprise victory in the Republican primaries and began to look like a serious challenger to the Democrats' Hillary Clinton. Read More Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough addresses claims he 'killed' intern who died in his office The four-hour morning show became a bastion of the Democratic establishment after Trump's first term, with President Joe Biden routinely tuning in while doing his morning exercises to see his acolytes promote the party's talking points. With Trump in the White House and Scarborough engaged to co-host Brzezinski he began cementing his show's identity as an outpost of opposition to the new administration. The couple even recorded a Christmas album called 'A Very Drumpf Christmas' with children's songs portraying the president as Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It eventually attracted the attention of the president himself, who delivered a series of withering put-downs, labeling Scarborough 'Psycho Joe' and his then-fiancée as 'low IQ Crazy Mika', while mischievously claiming she had been 'bleeding badly from a face-lift' during a visit to his Mar-a-Lago estate. Brzezinski later confirmed she'd been recovering from cosmetic surgery during the trip. And the feud deepened when the president revived long-debunked claims that Scarborough had been involved in the death of his former congressional staffer who was found dead on his office floor in 2001. An autopsy found that Lori Bolterstein Klausutis, 28, had hit her head on a desk after collapsing from an undiagnosed heart-valve irregularity but Trump called for a fresh investigation into the case. The allegations earned Trump his first rebuke from Twitter, which would eventually kick him off the platform altogether in January 2021. Florida Donald Trump Elon Musk Share or comment on this article: MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski makes bizarre social media move after defending her controversial Trump meeting e-mail Add comment
Fantasy Basketball Dynasty Weekly: Rob Dillingham gives us glimpse into futureIndustrial Networking Solutions Market: Trends, Size, Share, Growth, and Demand by 2030
Prince Harry: Meghan and I Are Staying in the U.S.
Knicks flip-flop, get flattened in loss to Mavericks
ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Batcho's 19 points helped Louisiana Tech defeat Eastern Kentucky 78-69 on Wednesday. Batcho added eight rebounds for the Bulldogs (7-0). Amaree Abram added 14 points while going 5 of 11 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 3 for 3 from the line and also had eight rebounds. Al Green had 12 points and shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line. The Bulldogs extended their winning streak to seven games. George Kimble III finished with 21 points for the Colonels (4-3). Devontae Blanton added 17 points and five assists for Eastern Kentucky. Jordan Crawford also had nine points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Data Skrive.Converting strong start into NDCA finals return now the challenge for CBs
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Gratifying as it was for Sean McDermott to catch up with his family and get some rest during Buffalo’s bye week, the Bills coach on Wednesday found comfort returning to his weekly routine and familiar wardrobe — a gray T-shirt and sweatpants. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Gratifying as it was for Sean McDermott to catch up with his family and get some rest during Buffalo’s bye week, the Bills coach on Wednesday found comfort returning to his weekly routine and familiar wardrobe — a gray T-shirt and sweatpants. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Gratifying as it was for Sean McDermott to catch up with his family and get some rest during Buffalo’s bye week, the Bills coach on Wednesday found comfort returning to his weekly routine and familiar wardrobe — a gray T-shirt and sweatpants. “When I’m not wearing those, I go to my closet and I don’t know what to wear. I’m kind of like not myself,” he said before pulling up his hoodie for emphasis to reveal the gray shirt he had on underneath. “So I was telling some of the guys this morning, ‘It’s good to be back.’” Though there remain challenges ahead, these are upbeat times in Buffalo. The Bills (9-2) are off to their best start since 1992. They remain in contention for the AFC’s top seed by entering their break following a 30-21 win over Kansas City (10-1). And Buffalo is in position to clinch its fifth straight AFC East title as early as Sunday. To do so, the Bills would need Miami to lose to Green Bay on Thursday night, and Buffalo to win its game over San Francisco (5-6) on Sunday night. Buffalo has won six straight since back-to-back losses at Baltimore and Houston, and scored 30 or more points in each of its past five outings. Refreshed as McDermott sounded and appeared, it didn’t take long for him to revert to his game-at-a-time script when assessing what’s on the line this weekend. “We’re mostly focused on our level of play this week against a good football team,” he said. McDermott shed little light on the status of Buffalo’s lengthy list of injured players. There’s no timetable yet on Matt Milano being activated off injured reserve, even though the starting linebacker practiced fully for the first time since tearing his left biceps during a training camp practice in mid-August. Milano has actually missed nearly 14 months since sustaining a season-ending injury to his right leg in Week 5 last season. Milano revealed little during a brief interview following practice. “I feel all right. Getting back into it with the team,” said Milano, who no longer wore a red non-contact jersey in practice. Meantime, rookie receiver Keon Coleman, who has missed two games with a right wrist injury, and starting right tackle Spencer Brown, who missed one game with an ankle injury, were limited in practice. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) was Buffalo’s only player not practicing. 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. The Bills also opened the three-week window for backup rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) and backup offensive lineman Tylan Grable (groin) to return. McDermott has another positive going for him revolving around the bye week. The Bills are 8-0 coming out of their break since McDermott took over as coach in 2017. “I don’t really have the, hey, this is exactly what we do formula,” McDermott said on whether he’s changed his bye week approach. “It’s more of us really just getting back to what we do, getting back to basics.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement Advertisement
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans' starting job last month. Moss made his announcement on social media Monday. Moss started the Trojans ' bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” Moss wrote. “Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.” Moss, who was born in Los Angeles and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed with the Trojans after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 64.4% of his passes this season for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After a spectacular 378-yard performance to beat LSU in the Trojans' season opener, Moss didn't play poorly as a starter, but he also wasn't a difference-maker while USC stumbled to a 4-5 record. Moss threw seven interceptions in his final five starts before losing the job to Maiava. The Trojans went 1-4 in that stretch under Moss, who plays as a more traditional pocket passer while Maiava has the mobility usually favored for quarterbacks in Riley's spread offense. “Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level,” Moss wrote. Moss has already graduated from USC, putting him in the portal as a graduate student. USC (6-6) is headed to a lower-tier bowl game again to finish this season, its third under Riley. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballBoxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.
When it comes to science, there’s something to be said for longevity. Consider the Lamprey River. The Lamprey, which flows 212 miles from Northwood through Durham to Newmarket, isn’t exactly a huge river but it is the largest contributor of fresh water to the Great Bay. That means it is also the largest source of the nutrients which are vital to the bay but also the largest source of excess nutrients that can overwhelm the bay from runoff. Keeping track of what is happening over the years would help understand how to cope with similar situations throughout the state. Fortunately, that’s what we’re doing. “It’s a watershed going through the process of suburbanization, like many places in New Hampshire,” said Adam Wymore, an associate professor at UNH who recently became the new director of the New Hampshire Water Resources Center. “The landscape is slowly changing as society is changing and it’s a great place to track those changes and the implications for our water resources.” Since 1999 the center has been observing the Lamprey River in a project started under its former director, recently retired Bill McDowell. For two and a half decades, researchers and students have collected data about the changing water flow, levels of nitrogen and greenhouse gases and dissolved organic matter, calibrating the effect of development throughout the watershed as well as the changing climate. That latter point is significant. “You can only track something like climate change with long-term records. ... A 3-year project is great in many ways but you can’t track that kind of change with it,” said Wymore. The data is specific to the Lamprey but can be generalized to similar watersheds in the state and region. And our towns and cities are going to need all the information they can get in coming years if we want to keep our streams and rivers from getting overwhelmed. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess This research isn’t actually the main job of the UNH-based New Hampshire Water Resources Center. Its founding principle is to distribute grants for research related to water quality and quantity in New Hampshire. The center, one of 54 set up in every state and territory, runs a competitive grants program using money from Congress passed through the U.S. Geological Center. The program was established in the 1960s because we realized that only government money can ensure long-term projects like this. A decade ago I wouldn’t have cared too much about it, to be honest. New England has always been in a pretty good spot hydrology-wise – not too wet, not too dry – so what’s the big deal? But the climate emergency, with its biblical floods followed by flash droughts, has shaken my complacency. “We’re bouncing between extremes. 2023-24 was an extraordinarily wet year, and all of a sudden the faucet turned off,” said Wymore, referencing our current drought. “This has brought uncertainty into our daily management of life.” Wymore, a Massachusetts native who came to UNH as a post-doc 11 years ago, has been assistant director of the center since 2020. He says the main change he sees happening is that it has become “very centered on the effects of climate change.” “Climate change introduces a level of uncertainty which we are still grappling with. ... That is really the new urgent priority: how that interacts with changes in land use, with population growth. It’s the interaction of those factors that we need to understand,” he said. Which brings us back to long-term studies: “Continuity is really important for the questions that we’re asking.” At this point I’m afraid I can’t avoid politics. The Trump Administration’s blueprint for action, Project 2525, would gut the USGS with the idea that private companies will take over the useful bits and somehow do it better. But there is absolutely, positively no way that private interests would fund 25 years of measuring chemistry and hydrology on an unexciting river when they can’t monetize the result. If we destroy accumulated expertise and experience in the name of simplistic “market good, government bad” thinking, then the measurement will stop and we will be more ignorant. Ignorance isn’t good, folks. Let’s not do that. David Brooks can be reached at dbrooks@cmonitor.comAP News Summary at 3:15 p.m. ESTWest Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude Oil prices rallied on Wednesday, jumping around 2.75% and clipping into $70 per barrel after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a steeper drawdown in US Crude Oil reserves than energy traders anticipated. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has lowered its forecasts for global Crude Oil demand growth, however barrel traders are still banking on growing energy demand from China to sop up the extra. According to the EIA, US Crude Oil Stocks Change for the week ended December 6 fell by 1.425 million barrels, below the forecast -1.1 million and declining further from the previous week’s decline of over 5 million barrels. With US Crude Oil reserve drying up in the pipe, barrel traders found the buy button on the expectation that US processors will be forced to increase the pace of their market buying. reduced its forecasts for global Crude Oil demand growth in the coming year, dragging the Crude Oil consortium’s lofty expectations closer in-line with the more demure forecasts posted by the EIA. OPEC now anticipates that global oil demand will increase by 1.61 million barrels per day in 2024, a reduction from last month's forecast of 1.82 million barrels. Additionally, for 2025, they have revised their growth estimate down to 1.45 million barrels per day from the previous 1.54 million barrels. Crude Oil price forecast Crude Oil prices have been traveling in a rough downside wedge since dipping below $66 per barrel in September. bids, despite finding a technical floor below $68 per barrel, have been unable to decisively pierce above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), and intraday price action is poised to continue battling the moving average in the near term. Despite barrel prices seemingly held aloft of further downside pressure from a bidding zone just north of the $66 key handle, topside momentum remains limited, and Crude Oil bulls will continue to find themselves short-changed as swing highs continue to grind lower below the 200-day EMA near $73.80. WTI daily chart WTI Oil FAQs WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media. Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa. The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency. OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
Aston Villa had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 0-0 with Juventus in the Champions League. Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home at the death, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. Emiliano Martinez had earlier displayed why he was named the best goalkeeper in the world as his wonder save kept his side level in the second half. The Argentina international paraded his two Yashin Trophies on the pitch before kick-off at Villa Park and then showed why he won back-to-back FIFA awards when he denied Francisco Conceicao. Before Rogers’ moment of drama in the fourth minute of added time, the closest Villa came to scoring was in the first half when Lucas Digne’s free-kick hit the crossbar. But a draw was a fair result which leaves Villa out of the top eight on goal difference and Juventus down in 19th. Diego Carlos was adjudged to have fouled the Juventus goalkeeper (David Davies/PA) Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. The opening 30 minutes were forgettable before the game opened up. Ollie Watkins, still chasing his first Champions League goal, had Villa’s first presentable chance as he lashed an effort straight at Di Gregorio. Ollie Watkins could not find the net (Nick Potts/PA) Matty Cash then had a vicious effort from the resulting corner which was blocked by Federico Gatti and started a counter-attack which ended in Juventus striker Timothy Weah. Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half when Digne’s 20-yard free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Martinez then produced his brilliant save just after the hour. A corner made its way through to the far post where Conceicao was primed to head in at the far post, but Martinez sprawled himself across goal to scoop the ball away. Replays showed most of the ball went over the line, but the Argentinian got there with millimetres to spare. At the other end another fine goal-line block denied John McGinn as Manuel Locatelli got his foot in the way with Di Gregorio beaten. The game looked to be petering out until a last-gasp free-kick saw Rogers slam home, but whistle-happy official Gil Manzano halted the celebrations by ruling the goal out.Patriots turn their attention to the future after being eliminated from playoff contention