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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reyne Smith scored 20 points, J'Vonne Hadley had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Louisville beat Winthrop 76-61 on Friday night for coach Pat Kelsey's first win over his former team. James Scott also scored 12 points and Chucky Hepburn added 10 points for Louisville (3-1). Louisville guard Koren Johnson did not play due to an injured shoulder. Scott's dunk with 6:41 remaining before intermission gave the Cardinals a 14-13 lead and they never trailed again. Smith's 3-pointer with 3:57 left marked the Cardinals' first double-digit lead at 26-16. Smith's 3-pointer midway through the second half gave Louisville a 57-45 lead and they led by double digits the rest of the way. Kelton Talford scored 15 points, K.J. Doucet had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Paul Jones III scored 12 and Kasen Harrison added 10 for Winthrop (4-3). Kelsey served as Winthrop's head coach from 2012 to 2021. The matchup marked the first time the two teams had faced each other. Louisville travels to the Bahamas to play No. 16 Indiana on Wednesday in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Winthrop returns home to play Long Island University on Monday.TORONTO, ON — Canada’s most populous province may bar American-made alcohol in addition to restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump i mposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products, a senior official said Thursday. The official in Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government said that it's contemplating restricting Ontario's liquor control board from buying American-made alcohol. Ontario is also considering restricting exports of critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries and preventing U.S.-based companies from the government's procurement process, the official said on condition on anonymity because the functionary wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the potential measures. Ford confirmed on Wednesday evening that Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York State and Minnesota. He reiterated that on Thursday and said it would make electricity unaffordable for Americans. “It’s a last resort,” Ford said. “I don’t think President-elect Trump wants that to happen. We're sending a message to the U.S. If you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let's hope it never comes to that." Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. Ontario powered 1.5 million homes in the U.S. in 2023 and is a major exporter of electricity to Michigan, Minnesota and New York. "That's OK if he that does that. That's fine,” Trump told CNBC when asked about Ford's remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. “The United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldn't have to do that," Trump said. "And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn't have to subsidize a country. We're subsidizing more than a $100 billion a year. We shouldn't have to be doing that." The CNBC reporter said off camera that Trump told him that they hope they can work something out with Canada. The premier of the oil rich Canadian province of Alberta ruled out cutting off oil exports. “Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said. “Instead, we’re taking a diplomatic approach and we’re meeting with our allies in the U.S. We’re making the case for Alberta oil and gas to be part of the solution to energy affordability and energy security.” Canada supplies more oil to the U.S. than any other country, nearly 4.5 million barrels a day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada and a fifth of the crude refined in the U.S. comes from Canada. “If you put a 25% tariff on oil from Alberta that increases every gallon of gasoline by one dollar,” Ford said. About 85% of U.S. electricity imports come from Canada as well. Canada also has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for. Nearly 3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Canada has promised more border security spending to address Trump’s border concerns. Ford said that will include more border and police officers, as well as drones and sniffer dogs. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently had dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida, said they plan to share details of those border plans with the incoming Trump administration in the coming days. Alberta's government is creating a new sheriff patrol unit to shore up security at the border. It will be supported by about 50 sheriffs, 10 cold weather surveillance drones and four drug detection dogs. Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said a two-kilometer (1.2-mile) deep zone along the border with Montana will be deemed critical infrastructure, so sheriffs can arrest without a warrant anyone found attempting to cross illegally or trafficking illegal drugs or weapons. At the Mar-a-Lago dinner, Kristen Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., said that Washington's trade deficit with Canada was also raised. Hillman said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year but noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. is energy exports and prices have been high. Trudeau said this week that U.S.-imposed tariffs would be “absolutely devastating” for the Canadian economy, but it would also mean real hardship for Americans. Canada imposed duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canadian officials have said that it's unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. LeBlanc said that illegal migration from Canada to the U.S. is only 0.6% of the total, and fentanyl from Canada is 0.2% of the total of U.S. seizures. Quebec Premier Françoise Legault said that Trump told him in Paris last week that he doesn't want to see anymore illegal immigration coming from Canada. Quebec is a major supplier of electricity to the U.S. Legault noted Trudeau's plan to strengthen border security. “I prefer that than starting a war and stopping sending energy to the United States,” Legault said. Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey said he had a call with New England governors this week and said there is a significant degree of concern on both sides of the border. “We hope it is just bluster,” Furey said. “We are preparing as if it is not. There will be no winner in a trade war."
Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Middle East latest: Israeli raid and airstrikes in West Bank kill at least 8 Palestinians The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank. The ministry said three of the dead were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The attacks took place around the city of Tulkarem and nearby refugee camps. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza. Most festivities were cancelled and crowds of tourists were absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning.
BJP slams Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for resuming Savarkar attack after Maharashtra pollOn Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here . ___ Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There’s no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley’s historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He’s not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP’s first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren’t QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn’t. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP’s new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It’s not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. “I don’t think that’s crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left,” Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven’t reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team’s struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflFort Worth ISD trustees OK’d $14M in purchases in November. Here’s what they bought
Clayton scores 34 as Ohio knocks off Portland 85-73
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — There's more than just school pride and bragging rights to all that bellyaching over who might be in and who might be out of 's first 12-team playoff. Try the more than $115 million that will be spread across the conferences at the end of the season, all depending on who gets in and which teams go the farthest. According to the , the 12 teams simply making the bracket earn their conferences $4 million each. Another $4 million goes to conferences whose teams get into the quarterfinals. Then, there's $6 million more for teams that make the semifinals and another $6 million for those who play for the title. Most of this bonanza comes courtesy of ESPN, which is forking over $1.3 billion a year to televise the new postseason. A lot of that money is already earmarked — more goes to the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference than the Big 12 or Atlantic Coast — but a lot is up for grabs in the 11 games that will play out between the opening round on Dec. 20 and the final on Jan. 20. In all, the teams that make the title game will bring $20 million to their conferences, all of which distribute that money, along with billions in TV revenue and other sources, in different ways. In fiscal 2022-23, the Big Ten, for instance, reported revenue of nearly $880 million and distributed about $60.5 million to most of its members. The massive stakes might help explain the coming from some corners of the football world, as the tension grows in advance of Sunday's final rankings, which will set the bracket. Earlier this week, Big 12 commissioner which doesn't have a single team higher than 15 in the rankings. That does two things: It positions the Big 12 as a one-bid league, and also threatens to makes its champion — either Arizona State or Iowa State — the fifth-best among conference titlists that get automatic bids. Only the top four of those get byes, which could cost the Big 12 a spot in the quarterfinals — or $4 million. “The committee continues to show time and time again that they are paying attention to logos versus resumes,” Yormark said this week, while slamming the idea of teams with two losses in his conference being ranked worse than teams with three in the SEC. The ACC is also staring at a one-bid season with only No. 8 SMU inside the cut line of this week's projected bracket. Miami's loss last week of the playoffs, a snub that ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said left him “incredibly shocked and disappointed." “As we look ahead to the final rankings, we hope the committee will reconsider and put a deserving Miami in the field," Phillips said in a statement. The lobbying and bickering filters down to the campuses that feel the impact. And, of course, to social media. One of the most entertaining episodes came earlier this week when went back and forth about whose team was more deserving. There are a few stray millions that the selection committee cannot really influence, including a $3 million payment to conferences that make the playoff. In a reminder that all these kids are going to school, after all, the conferences get $300,000 per football team that meets academic requirements to participate in the postseason. (That's basically everyone). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: andROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- Edison International (NYSE: EIX) today declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.8275 per share, payable on Jan. 31, 2025, to shareholders of record on Jan. 7, 2025. This action increases the annual dividend rate by $0.19 per share for the quarter ending Jan. 31, 2025. The 2025 annual dividend rate will be $3.31 per share, an increase of 6.1% from the current annual dividend rate of $3.12 per share. “The dividend increase reflects the confidence of our board and management in our company’s financial future in tandem with our commitment to achieving our long-term EPS growth target of 5% to 7%,” said Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International. “It’s also our 21 st consecutive year of increasing our dividend, which continues to provide an attractive yield. Today’s announcement reinforces our dedication to delivering strong returns for our shareholders.” About Edison International Edison International (NYSE: EIX) is one of the nation’s largest electric utility holding companies, focused on providing clean and reliable energy and energy services through its independent companies. Headquartered in Rosemead, California, Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison Company, a utility delivering electricity to 15 million people across Southern, Central and Coastal California. Edison International is also the parent company of Trio (formerly Edison Energy), a portfolio of nonregulated competitive businesses providing integrated sustainability and energy advisory services to large commercial, industrial and institutional organizations in North America and Europe. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212241547/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations: Sam Ramraj, (626) 302-2540 Media Relations: (626) 302-2255 News@sce.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: UTILITIES ENERGY SOURCE: Edison International Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 04:36 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 04:35 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212241547/en
Commentary: Carbon-capture promises require an unrealistic land grab
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” – Luke 2:11 (KJV). The above account of the Holy Bible justifies the celebration of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, which is commemorated by billions of Christians across the world, Nigerians inclusive, on December 25 each year. Although some scholars have argued that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25, the essence of the celebration is hinged on the fact that a Messiah to save the world from sin and reunite mankind with his Creator, the Almighty God, had been born. Thus, emphasis should be on the birth rather than the date Jesus Christ was born. In Nigeria, the federal government has traditionally declared Wednesday, December 25 and Thursday, 26 as well as January 1, 2025, as public holidays to enable Nigerians celebrate Christmas and New Year. Interestingly, Christmas transcends a mere day’s merriment. It is, in fact, a season, generally referred to as the yuletide, which runs from December through to the New Year. The yuletide is usually marked by a series of preparations towards the celebration of Christmas and New Year. Many Christians, and even non-Christians, embark on the decorations of their homes, offices and other business outlets to herald the coming of Jesus Christ, who his followers believe is the saviour of mankind. The season also witnesses mass purchase of clothing, foodstuff, and other items which causes a spiraling inflation in the prices of commodities. There is also the mass movement of people who travel to various locations across the country to join their loved ones to celebrate Christmas. This high commuting accounts for the high rate of fatality from road traffic accidents during the yuletide season. The rate of crime and insecurity is also high during the Christmas period. While these preparations in themselves are good, the snag here is that they tend to overshadow the love, humility, and simplicity which Christmas symbolises and exemplifies. The birth of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, in a manger in Bethlehem signifies his humility and simplicity; the gift of gold, frankincense and mar to Jesus by the three wise men from the East demonstrates Jesus’ kingship and love for humanity. Blueprint therefore enjoins Christians and, indeed, Nigerians of all faith to imbibe the message of Christmas, which is love, humility, and submission to the will of God. Nigerians should seize the opportunity offered by Christmas to turn to God in prayers as the panacea to solving the country’s multi-dimensional challenges – banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, high cost of living, among others. Nigeria’s leaders at all levels, particularly those of the Christian faith, must strive to emulate the virtues as well as adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ humbled himself by shedding off his divinity in order to be offered as a sacrificial lamb for the redemption of mankind. This is instructive for Nigeria’s leaders who rule like emperors and loot the country dry thereby causing hardship for the generality of the people. The recent tragic incidents in Abuja, Anambra and Ibadan during a stampede for rice that was being shared are, indeed, deplorable. The incidents, which claimed dozens of lives, should serve as a clarion call on the nation’s leaders to repent and govern with the fear of God; the birth of Jesus Christ today offers the opportunity for true repentance and reconciliation with God. The president urged the citizens to pray for the nation’s leaders at all levels. “On this joyous Christmas Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to Christians across Nigeria and worldwide as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, as narrated in the Holy Scriptures. Nigeria is on a promising path of restoration and progress, with every indication pointing towards a bright future. In the spirit of this season, let us renew our hope and belief in a prosperous Nigeria,” he said. To Tinubu, Christmas embodies the fulfilment of divine prophecy and symbolises the triumph of love, peace, and unity. He said the event is a poignant reminder that light can emerge even in the darkest times, bringing solace and hope, adding that this belief resonates with people of all faiths. Indeed, God is with us. We join President Tinubu and the sub-national and religious leaders in urging Nigerians to foster love, unity, peace and tolerance for the accelerated socio-economic and political development of the country. Notwithstanding the harsh economic situation which has plunged millions into multi-dimensional poverty and the attendant low key celebrations, Nigerians should take solace in the fact that Jesus Christ has come to give life, and to give life abundantly. We wish our Christian compatriots Merry Christmas.Review: The Anker Solix C300 rewrites the compact portable power station rule bookOnline auction of confiscated booze features hard-to-find bottles of Kentucky bourbons