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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ten yards into a scramble, Patrick Mahomes could have easily slid for a first down or simply ducked out of bounds and moved on to the next play. Instead, the three-time Super Bowl MVP cut back inside and raced another 23 yards up the field, helping to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired as the Chiefs held on to beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. “At that point, yards are more important than getting out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “With three timeouts, I just tried to just cut through and Justin Watson had a great block and was able to get down the field and get out of bounds.” The game-winning drive was the 21st of Mahomes' career, and the Chiefs won a game decided in the final seconds for the fifth time this season. Eight of the Chiefs' wins have come by one-score margins. People are also reading... “You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I've always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment,” Mahomes said. Then he smiled and said: “But I would say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.” Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in his first game at Bank of America Stadium and ran for 60 yards — including 33 on that last-minute play — as the Chiefs (10-1) scored on six of their eight possessions. Noah Gray caught four passes for 66 yards and scored two touchdowns for the second straight week, and DeAndre Hopkins also found the end zone for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. Kareem Hunt ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards. Bryce Young played well for Carolina (3-8), finishing 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown while leading the Panthers back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game on Chuba Hubbard's 1-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion with 1:46 remaining. Panthers coach Dave Canales, who benched Young earlier this season for veteran Andy Dalton, said last year's No. 1 overall draft pick “absolutely” will remain the team's starting QB next week. That's a break from Canales' recent pattern of waiting a few days to name a starter. “Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities,” Canales said. “And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today.” Said Young: “For me, I just want to focus on what I can control. Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence.” Still, there is room for improvement. The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, resulting in field goals of 30, 32, 29 and 33 yards for Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history. The Chiefs wasted no time setting the tone as Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards and Mahomes found Gray for a 35-yard touchdown strike on the third play of scrimmage for a 7-0 lead. Gray went nine games without a TD catch before hauling in two last week against Buffalo. His 11-yard score late in the second quarter gave him two more against the Panthers . Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised Mahomes' poise but said he was concerned about his team's nine penalties for 90 yards. Kansas City's Travis Kelce had six catches for 62 yards and moved into third place in career yards receiving by a tight end. He ranks behind only Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. However, Kelce failed to find the end zone for the ninth time in 11 games this season. Running back Jonathan Brooks made his NFL debut for Carolina, but the second-round pick was limited to 7 yards on two carries. Panthers: Rookie TE Ja'Tavion Sanders was taken to a hospital, where he was evaluated for a neck injury and released . He landed awkwardly on his head after making a catch near the end of the second quarter. Chiefs: Host Las Vegas on Friday. Panthers: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Welcome to 538's politics chat. The transcript below has been lightly edited. tia.yang ( Tia Yang , senior editor): It's been a couple of weeks since the election, and the political world is gearing up for a second Trump term, with all the potential uncertainty and controversy that we know come along with it. President-elect Donald Trump has been steadily rolling out Cabinet picks — at record pace , no less. He's chosen several nominees so far who have more traditional backgrounds, like Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state, House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.N. ambassador, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department and former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. But some of his other picks have raised eyebrows — and concerns among the senators who would have to confirm them. Just today, scandal-plagued former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the attorney general post, citing his desire to avoid a " needlessly protracted Washington scuffle " over his nomination. We chatted today about what that withdrawal means, whether any of Trump's other nominees could be in trouble in the Senate, and what these confirmation battles tell us about the new Congress and Trump's relationship with it. To start off, what do you make of Trump's nominations so far? What do they tell us about how he's approaching his second term? geoffrey.skelley ( Geoffrey Skelley , senior elections analyst): His nominations seem to suggest a desire to 1) choose loyalists who'll do his bidding, 2) pick some controversial outsiders as part of his efforts to bend Washington to his will and shake things up and 3) test Republican senators' commitment to his program by forcing them to digest some tough picks that they wouldn't like to confirm. nrakich ( Nathaniel Rakich , senior editor and senior elections analyst): They tell us that Trump is going to govern exactly how he campaigned: without regard for norms or the way things are usually done. Gaetz for attorney general, anti-vaccine activist and former Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services, Fox News host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense — these are not picks that a normal Republican administration would make. geoffrey.skelley: Of course, Trump is largely the new normal for the GOP. But that's a larger conversation beyond administration appointees! nrakich: We were also reminded that Trump loves a TV star! Three of his appointees to major positions — Hegseth, former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon (his pick for secretary of education) and physician Mehmet Oz (his pick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) — are television personalities with no experience in elected office. (McMahon does have some government experience, leading the Small Business Administration during part of Trump's first term.) A fourth, secretary of transportation nominee Sean Duffy, is a former reality TV star turned congressman. tia.yang: Yeah, these picks mostly have in common that Trump likes them and thinks they'll be loyal to him, as opposed to having the usual qualifications for their posts or any ideological consistency. But that's nothing new for him. And as Geoffrey alluded to, in a not particularly surprising move, these picks also present a loyalty test of sorts, especially as Trump has amped up the pressure on the new GOP majority (and its new leadership) to quickly confirm his nominees. geoffrey.skelley: LOL, yeah, if you were truly surprised by any of this, you've been asleep for eight years. tia.yang: Let's dig into some of those controversial nominees. Are any likely to suffer the same fate as Gaetz and fail to make it through the Senate confirmation process? nrakich: Yeah, it's a really fascinating question. Republicans will have at least 52 seats in the next Senate, and probably 53, if Republican Dave McCormick wins the still-unresolved Pennsylvania Senate race, as most analysts expect. That's a decent-sized majority by modern standards, and most of those Republicans are loyal to Trump and likely to rubber-stamp all his picks. But with some of these picks, Trump is also reallllly testing the boundaries of what some of the more establishment senators will go along with. We already saw that with Gaetz, who likely decided to withdraw because he saw the writing on the wall (there were reportedly at least a dozen Republican senators opposed to his nomination). Of Trump's remaining nominees, I think Kennedy and Hegseth are also likely to be voted down or withdrawn. Those senators who aren't turned off by Kennedy's fringe, inaccurate views on vaccines will be turned off by his past support for abortion rights . And Hegseth has a scandal of his own — a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2017 . geoffrey.skelley: Agreed that Gaetz was in the toughest spot. However, even after his example, I do think people may be too quick to assume that other contenders like Kennedy and Hegseth will fail or withdraw. For instance, Vice President-elect JD Vance was on the Hill today making the rounds in support of Hegseth. tia.yang: Now that Gaetz is out of the picture, the attention will likely shift to Hegseth, Kennedy and others, and we'll get a better sense of what level of opposition is out there. Hegseth in particular could face opposition from "defense hawk" types, who may see Hegseth's inexperience, character and more extreme views as an issue when it comes to upholding national defense. A notable one is Sen. Joni Ernst — who was reportedly on the short list for the job herself. And Kennedy is a complicated figure because Republicans have a slew of reasons they might oppose him. Beyond his stances on vaccines and abortion, and his storied history of conspiracy theories and scandal, he also holds discordant and controversial stances on food, drug and health regulations , including some that align him more closely with Democrats . In fact, reports say former President Barack Obama considered Kennedy to lead the EPA back in 2008 — but may have deemed him too controversial due to his arrest for heroin possession decades prior, and because he'd face conservative opposition for being too liberal! Oh, how the tables have turned. geoffrey.skelley: With any of these controversial picks, much will depend on the Senate math . Assuming 53 Republicans, support from 50 of them plus Vance as a tiebreaker would be sufficient to confirm. So the question is, are there four Republican senators who will actually break with Trump? I do think it's going to be very hard for some Republicans to actually vote against Trump's nominees. There's the threat of primary challenges , including for a purple-state senator like Thom Tillis of North Carolina ( already viewed as a squish by some on the right). Either way, I expect almost all of Trump's nominees to get confirmed. Public snorting and private grumbling ≠ votes against nominees on the floor. Of course, it is fair to wonder: With Gaetz gone, does that leave more room to oppose some of the other particularly controversial picks, like former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Kennedy? tia.yang: Gaetz's withdrawal definitely could change the Senate calculus. Even earlier today, it didn't seem like a given. Trump and Vance were still lobbying hard for him as late as yesterday, and like you said, Geoffrey, the same is true for some of these other nominees. I think that's not just because of Trump's insistence on getting what he wants, but because even if he loses those battles, it could tire out the opposition to his nominees more broadly. There's a history in the Senate of giving presidents and nominees the chance to withdraw if it becomes clear they don't have the support needed for confirmation. Regardless of whether that level of opposition materializes for nominees beyond Gaetz, Trump could keep pressing to force senators to choose sides. There's probably only so many times GOP senators can oppose his picks before raising his ire. They might have expended that quota on Gaetz had he stayed in. nrakich: Yeah, ironically, I think the more of these outlandish nominees Trump picks, the better the odds are that his merely eyebrow-raising ones get confirmed. Gabbard, Oz, McMahon, etc. may not have the usual experience for the roles they've been nominated for, but they lack the salacious, stranger-than-fiction baggage of Gaetz, Kennedy and Hegseth. So Republican senators will feel more pressure to approve them so that Trump's entire Cabinet doesn't go down in a spectacular, Hindenburg-esque ball of flames. geoffrey.skelley: To live in a world where being a favorite of Russian state media doesn't count as heavy baggage for someone nominated for director of national intelligence (Gabbard). But here we are. nrakich: But that's the degree to which picks like Gaetz move the Overton window of outrageousness, right? geoffrey.skelley: Yep, absolutely true. Trump is in something of a win-win in terms of the intraparty politics of selecting these controversial nominees. "Well, if that one gets shot down, they'll probably confirm my other picks because they took out this guy they disliked. Or I'll get the people I want because the senators will give in." Gaetz's withdrawal takes him out of the picture, but it still affects comparative perceptions of the other nominees. tia.yang: Nathaniel, you said you think Kennedy and Hegseth are also likely to fail or be withdrawn. Geoffrey, do you disagree? You seem more skeptical that Senate Republicans will shoot down many, or any, of these nominees. geoffrey.skelley: Well, it's true that any failures among these picks are more likely to end in withdrawals than actual defeat on the Senate floor. The last time the Senate actually voted down a nominee was in 1989, when the Democratic-controlled chamber rejected John Tower , a former senator from Texas, for secretary of defense. Tower's alcohol use and accusations of sexual misconduct hurt his bid, as did his contentious relationship with his former Senate colleagues (some of this bears a rough resemblance to Gaetz's situation prior to his exit). Since then, though, 13 other nominees have now withdrawn rather than face a vote in committee or on the Senate floor. nrakich: And I think that could be the undoing of some of these nominees, Geoffrey. If the Senate had to go on the record about each of these nominees, maybe Republicans — fearful of a Trump-backed primary challenger — would indeed all fall in line. But it probably will never get to that point. Instead, it'll just be incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune in a room with Trump telling him, "We don't have the votes, you have to withdraw him." geoffrey.skelley: But see, I'm not sure Thune saying that is going to get Trump to back off. He runs the show for the GOP now, and this isn't 2017. The party is much Trumpier now, and if Thune wants to keep his job, he's gonna have to satisfy Numero Uno. tia.yang: Yeah, this is straight into the deep end for the newly minted GOP leader. While Thune has of course committed himself to helping advance Trump's agenda , he doesn't have the rosiest relationship with the president-elect and was likely not Trumpworld's preferred candidate for this role. (The Trump loyalist contender seemed to be Sen. Rick Scott.) Actually, the reaction to Thune's ascendance among Trump's supporters reminded me of the dynamic between MAGA Republicans and now-deposed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and even current Speaker Mike Johnson , who is much more cut from the hard-right cloth than establishment figures like McCarthy or Thune. Of course, the Senate is not the House — I'm not suggesting Trump-aligned GOP senators will launch a coup against Thune or have the inclination to do so, but he's certainly already facing a huge amount of pressure from Trump and his allies. Navigating the confirmation process is just the first challenge. nrakich: Fair — it will be interesting to see if Trump tries to forge ahead with votes on some of these nominees, even in the face of opposition, and kind of dare Republicans to go on the record against his picks. It could backfire and make him look weak if they do. But it could also be a big victory for him if they capitulate. geoffrey.skelley: In 2017, six Republican senators out of 52 voted against at least one Trump nominee. But no more than three voted against a given nominee at once. Three of those senators are gone: John McCain (deceased), Ben Sasse and Cory Gardner. The other three are still there: Collins, Murkowski and Rand Paul of Kentucky. Seems as if finding four no votes to stop some of these picks is really going to take some arduous math. nrakich: I dunno, it's fairly easy for me to come up with at least four Republicans who aren't afraid to buck Trump. Collins and Murkowski, the two most moderate members of the GOP caucus, are the obvious ones. But Sen. Todd Young of Indiana is also anti-Trump — he's just gotten a fraction of the attention for it. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted to impeach Trump, and he's the incoming chair of the committee that will consider Kennedy's nomination (although Cassidy actually sounds open-minded to him ). Finally, Sen. Mitch McConnell is an institutionalist through and through, and he's not going to run for reelection. What does he have to gain by voting for some of these nominees? tia.yang: I think a potentially lame-duck McConnell could be a wild card. His private, sometimes-public dislike for Trump is well known, and Trump's recess appointments demands (which we'll discuss further later) particularly raised his hackles . Now that he's stepped down as Republican leader and seems very likely to retire in two years, the pressure is off. If he breaks with Trump on a given nominee, it could give other establishment-minded senators cover to do the same — though it's true that the universe of senators who would be willing to do so in the face of electoral pressure is small. The most likely suspects are those who are planning to retire. Speaking of, the 2026 election cycle starts now! Twenty GOP-held seats will be up for reelection in two years, and those senators will have to weigh how bucking Trump affects their prospects in primary or general elections. geoffrey.skelley: We're going to find out who is really running for reelection in 2026, I guess. Collins will need to buck Trump some to shore herself up in purplish Maine, but Cassidy — who seems to be running for reelection in his reliably red state — may not want Trump opposing him even more aggressively than after he voted to impeach. Young isn't up again until 2028, so he has more room to maneuver. But I'm dubious that someone like Tillis, even though he hails from a competitive state, will actually end up offering much opposition. He's bucked Trump before, only to shift positions in the face of MAGA backlash. I will grant you McConnell, although the degree of his opposition remains to be seen — I mean, this was the guy who basically said Trump was responsible for Jan. 6 and then didn't vote for his conviction in the ensuing Senate impeachment trial. nrakich: I'm with you on Tillis, Geoffrey — I think his deepest, darkest fear about the 2026 election is a Trump-backed primary challenger, not that he'll lose the general election. (To be clear, he very well might lose the general election — but I don't think voting for or against Trump's Cabinet picks two years earlier is going to make or break that.) I'll also throw out Sen.-elect John Curtis, the mild-mannered Republican from Utah. Might he be the new Mitt Romney in more ways than one? tia.yang: I was going to say the same. In addition to his relatively moderate voting record in the House, Curtis, like Romney, is Mormon — and there's a strong history of Trump skepticism among Mormon voters and prominent Mormon GOP lawmakers , like Romney and former Sen. Jeff Flake. Needless to say, how this all shakes out could tell us a lot about Trump's standing with congressional Republicans in the coming term. And there's another somewhat unprecedented factor hanging over all their heads — Trump's calls for recess appointments, in which the president can unilaterally appoint nominees without Senate approval if the Senate recesses for at least 10 days (a time period established by a 2014 Supreme Court ruling ). It's a pretty weedy and somewhat arcane loophole, but Trump called for Senate Republicans to agree to it even before he made any of these appointments. How has that threat been playing out? nrakich: I don't think it's very likely to succeed. Multiple Republican senators — including Tillis and McConnell , not just Collins and Murkowski — have already publicly come out against the idea of recess appointments. And yes, the idea of a recess appointment is to circumvent the Senate, but the Senate still has to give its implicit consent by adjourning and not holding what are called "pro forma" sessions — basically, sessions of Congress where they just gavel in and gavel out. Now, Trumpworld is reportedly considering using a little-known clause in the Constitution to have Trump adjourn Congress himself so that he can make these recess appointments. But even conservative legal scholars have called that a " cockamamie scheme ." We know that Trump isn't afraid to break norms, so maybe he would try such a maneuver, as extreme an escalation of executive power as it would be. But even in the best-case scenario for him, it would get tied up in court. geoffrey.skelley: Yeah, basically it would require Johnson and the House GOP to go along. The House would pass a resolution calling for the Senate and House to both adjourn. If the Senate didn't agree to that resolution, Trump could attempt to adjourn both chambers under an obscure part of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution , whereby the president may adjourn Congress "in Case of Disagreement" between the two chambers. tia.yang: It’s clear 50 GOP senators aren’t on board with Trump’s initial demand. Many of them won’t vote in favor of recessing to literally abdicate the chamber’s constitutional responsibility of advice and consent. And in the case of a forcible adjournment, it's unclear procedurally how the House forcing a disagreement would work — not to mention requiring maneuvering and cooperation from the very narrow GOP majority. That would be unprecedented, and the issue would almost certainly go to the Supreme Court, as Nathaniel mentioned. nrakich: Yeah, I totally get the argument that most Republican senators are in Trump's thrall and will probably vote to give him whatever they want. But I have a hard time seeing many of them being OK with recess appointments. It really would neuter the power of the Senate, and these guys presumably got elected to the Senate because they wanted to exercise power! tia.yang: To that point, I'd add that the fact that we are even talking about this is, honestly, bonkers. Even if it's only to signal their compliance with Trump, the fact that many GOP senators are publicly entertaining or calling for recess appointments shows just how effective Trump is at using public rhetoric to apply pressures to fellow Republicans in really unprecedented ways. The threat of a messy intraparty squabble — just when they’ve secured a federal government trifecta — is a pretty effective lever. Recess appointments aren't something most Americans have heard about. That power existed in the first place to allow presidents to fill critical gaps at times that lawmakers couldn't get to D.C. fast enough by horse — not so they could bypass the Senate on wide swaths of controversial nominees. But Trump made the demand as if it was par for the course, and now it's in the public discourse.NEW YORK (AP) — As a Democrat who immersed himself in political news during the presidential campaign, Ziad Aunallah has much in common with many Americans since the election. He’s tuned out. “People are mentally exhausted,” said Aunallah, 45, of San Diego. “Everyone knows what is coming and we are just taking some time off.” Television ratings — and now a new poll — clearly illustrate the phenomenon. About two-thirds of American adults say they have recently felt the need to limit media consumption about politics and government because of overload, according to the survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Smaller percentages of Americans are limiting their intake of news about overseas conflicts, the economy or climate change, the poll says. Politics stand out. Election news on CNN and MSNBC was taking up too much of Sam Gude’s time before the election, said the 47-year-old electrician from Lincoln, Nebraska. “The last thing I want to watch right now is the interregnum,” said Gude, a Democrat and no fan of President-elect Donald Trump . The poll, conducted in early December, found that about 7 in 10 Democrats say they are stepping back from political news. The percentage isn’t as high for Republicans , who have reason to celebrate Trump’s victory. Still, about 6 in 10 Republicans say they’ve felt the need to take some time off too, and the share for independents is similar. The differences are far starker for the TV networks that have been consumed by political news. After election night through Dec. 13, the prime-time viewership of MSNBC was an average of 620,000, down 54% from the pre-election audience this year, the Nielsen company said. For the same time comparison, CNN’s average of 405,000 viewers was down 45%. At Fox News Channel, a favorite news network for Trump fans, the post-election average of 2.68 million viewers is up 13%, Nielsen said. Since the election, 72% of the people watching one of those three cable networks in the evening were watching Fox News, compared to 53% prior to election day. A post-election slump for fans of the losing candidate is not a new trend for networks that have become heavily identified for a partisan audience. MSNBC had similar issues after Trump was elected in 2016. Same for Fox in 2020, although that was complicated by anger : many of its viewers were outraged then by the network’s crucial election night call of Arizona for the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden , and sought alternatives. MSNBC had its own anger issues after several “Morning Joe” viewers became upset that hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski visited Trump shortly after his victory last month. Yet while the show’s ratings are down 35% since Election Day, that’s a smaller drop than the network’s prime-time ratings. CNN points out that while it has been suffering in the television ratings, its streaming and digital ratings have been consistent. MSNBC can take some solace in history. In previous years, network ratings bounce back when the depression after an election loss lifts. When a new administration takes office, people who oppose it are frequently looking for a gathering place. “I’ll be tuning back in once the clown show starts,” Aunallah said. “You have no choice. Whether or not you want to hear it, it’s happening. If you care about your country, you have no choice but to pay attention.” But the ride may not be smooth. MSNBC’s slide is steeper than it was in 2016; and there’s some question about whether Trump opponents will want to be as engaged as they were during his first term. People are also unplugging from cable television in rates that are only getting more rapid, although MSNBC believes it has bucked this trend eating away at audiences before. The poll indicates that Americans want less talk about politics from public figures in general. After an election season where endorsements from celebrities like Taylor Swift made headlines, the survey found that Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of celebrities, large companies and professional athletes speaking out about politics. Still, Gude is among those discovering other ways to get news to which he does want to pay attention, including on YouTube. MSNBC is also in the middle of some corporate upheaval that raises questions about potential changes. Parent company Comcast announced last month that the cable network is among some properties that will spin off into a new company, which will give MSNBC new corporate leadership and cut its ties to NBC News. Some of the Americans who have turned away from political news lately also had some advice for getting them engaged again. Gude said, for example, that MSNBC will always have a hard-core audience of Trump haters. But if the network wants to expand its audience, “then you have to talk about issues, and you have to stop talking about Trump.” Kathleen Kendrick, a 36-year-old sales rep from Grand Junction, Colorado, who’s a registered independent voter, said she hears plenty of people loudly spouting off about their political opinions on the job. She wants more depth when she watches the news. Much of what she sees is one-sided and shallow, she said. “You get a story but only part of a story,” Kendrick said. “It would be nice if you could get both sides, and more research.” Aunallah, similarly, is looking for more depth and variety. He’s not interested “in watching the angry man on the corner yelling at me anymore,” he said. “It’s kind of their own fault that I’m not watching,” he said. “I felt they spent all this time talking about the election. They made it so much of their focus that when the main event ends, why would people want to keep watching?” Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. —- The poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Related From Our Partner
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The party’s all-but-official nominee for governor in 2025, Spanberger is viewed as overlooking the Democratic legislative majority that — since it was fully restored in 2023 — has been a check on Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, denying him such high-profile proposals as further tax cuts and a publicly financed professional sports-and-entertainment complex in deep-blue Northern Virginia. Spanberger, readying to quit the U.S. House of Representatives after three terms in battleground seats anchored in the Richmond and Washington, D.C., suburbs, has a particularly fraught relationship with the chief budget writer in the Virginia Senate, Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, who has clashed — and collaborated — with governors in both parties for more than 32 years in the General Assembly. Though she vows to support the Democratic nominee for governor, Lucas' first choice was Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond, who abandoned his candidacy, concluding that Spanberger was all-but unbeatable in next June’s primary. Lucas said her concerns with Spanberger have been building for several years. That they’re rooted in, among other things, the candidate’s opposition to Lucas’ reelection to a top post in the state Democratic Party responsible for enlisting minority voters. Spanberger backed a former Arlington County Democratic leader. “I took that personally,” Lucas said. Lucas described Spanberger as “insensitive,” citing her opposition to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and her criticism of some of the House’s younger progressive Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. In a written statement, Spanberger said she’s had “one-on-one conversations” with legislators about their priorities, including schools, mental health and transportation. Spanberger added, “These important, ongoing discussions are about building relationships over time ... and making sure that all corners of the commonwealth are heard in Richmond.” But the Lucas-Spanberger tiff is more than differences between two strong-willed individuals. One is a white woman — a 45-year-old, multilingual Gen X-er from a former white-flight Richmond suburb, who was an investigator for the U.S. Postal Service and a CIA operative before winning, as a perceived moderate, a swing House seat. The other is a Black woman — an 80-year-old former shipfitter who built successful retail and elder-care businesses and is an unapologetic liberal from a majority-minority, blue-collar city who delights in political combat. There is an institutional dimension to the friction between Spanberger and Lucas. Spanberger is a neophyte to state government, though she’s been a member of Congress. That Lucas is in the Senate, whose 40 members are elected to four-year terms decided before and after a governor takes office, means that she and her colleagues can operate with greater freedom from the executive branch than the House of Delegates. House members, serving two-year terms, are on the same ballot as candidates for governor, often requiring that they run in tandem. This may explain the prompt endorsement of Spanberger by House Speaker Don Scott of Portsmouth, who hopes Spanberger has coattails long enough to expand his caucus’ two-seat majority. But presidential balloting in Virginia, carried by Vice President Kamala Harris, could augur opportunity for House Democrats. Seven Republican-held House districts fell to Harris, including three in the Richmond area: Dave Owen’s in Henrico and those in Chesterfield County of Mark Earley Jr. and Carrie Coyner. Because Spanberger cleared the field for the gubernatorial nomination 14 months before the primary, Spanberger was widely seen as the favorite in the general election next November. And that may have spurred Spanberger, perhaps prematurely, to focus on the challenge of governing rather than forging relationships with experienced lawmakers who could shepherd her agenda through the General Assembly. “People don’t feel she’s going in the right order, in terms of prioritizing what she’ll do as governor versus building the relationships that she’ll need to do that,” said Ben Tribbett, a Democratic strategist and Lucas adviser. But two recent events could force Spanberger to be more mindful of the implications of here-and-now for there-and-later: Donald Trump’s return to the presidency and the emergence of Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears as the Republicans’ consensus nominee for governor . It will depend, in no small measure, on Earle-Sears, the first Black Republican and first Black woman elected statewide in Virginia. Because she was narrowly elected on Youngkin’s coattails three years ago, it is debatable whether Earle-Sears is fully tested as a candidate. That can’t be said about Spanberger, who prevailed in toss-up districts that Republicans contested with big bucks and big names, including Youngkin, and who ensured that Democrats — behind Eugene Vindman, a figure in the first Trump impeachment — held the 7th District. In 2018, when the district — though largely rural and red — was oriented to the Richmond suburbs, Spanberger emerged from a primary to defeat a two-term Republican incumbent, Dave Brat. In 2022, the district having been redrawn — it retained huge chunks of Republican-friendly countryside but was rooted in the Democratic outer suburbs of D.C. — it again broke to Spanberger. Hers was a regional victory that confirmed for many in Virginia’s center-left Democratic establishment, of which Lucas is a member, that Spanberger had the right stuff to run statewide. But Lucas isn’t fully convinced. That, in contrast with several other senior Senate Democrats supporting Spanberger, Lucas is coy on her candidacy contributes to speculation that another Democrat might, at the last minute, make the race. A sometimes-whispered, though unlikely prospect — given that he’s in the Democratic congressional leadership as the ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee — is U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, the dean of the Virginia delegation. Could all this be a leverage play by Lucas? Say, the senator, as head of the Finance and Appropriation Committee, demanding a pledge from Spanberger that she’d sign legislation legalizing those ubiquitous electronic gambling machines — opposed by Henrico — and giving Lucas even more millions to play with in tax dollars?
( MENAFN - media OutReach Newswire) HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 December 2024 - AS Watson Group and Al-Futtaim Group jointly announce the opening of Watsons' new flagship store at City Centre Bahrain Mall, signifying the Watsons' entry into a new market alongside the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar. This also marks the third store opening in three months in Bahrain, strengthening its presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Strategic Market, Huge Potential Bahrain is one of the six countries of the GCC, presenting a dynamic and potential market with a surging demand for health and beauty products, driven by a predominantly young population – over two-thirds of Bahrainis are under the age of 35 – who are pursuing high-quality products. Increased awareness of beauty trends, influenced by social media and lifestyle shifts, has led customers to greater spending on personal grooming. As a trusted beauty expert, Watsons is well-positioned to bring world-class brands and products that meet their needs, ensuring a seamless O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience while celebrating and enhancing Arabic beauty. With a projected market growth of USD38.8 million at a compound annual growth rate of 5% from 2024 to 2029, Bahrain presents an exciting opportunity for Watsons as part of its expansion strategy. Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group , expressed her excitement about this milestone, "The expansion of Watsons health and beauty retail experience into Bahrain is an important milestone in our commitment in the GCC region. Just as important, this new flagship store further strengthens our partnership with Al-Futtaim Group to serve customers in this vibrant region where high-quality beauty and health products are increasingly in demand." Mr. Simon Naga, V ice President of Al-Futtaim Group , emphasised the strategic importance of this expansion, "The opening of our flagship Watsons store in Bahrain is a testament to our commitment to enhancing customer experiences across the region. As we continue to expand our footprint in the GCC market, we focus on delivering innovative retail solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers." Watsons is "Where Beauty Comes to Shine" The 200-square-meter flagship store leverages Bahrain's strategic location in the Gulf, showcasing over 200 local and international brands across meticulously designed zones. Key areas include the innovative Derma Zone, which features internationally-renowned products alongside personalised skincare recommendations, and the enticing Skincare Zone, where customers can explore popular K-beauty and J-beauty brands. Additionally, the store includes a chic Makeup Zone and Sustainable Zone, each thoughtfully tailored to meet a diverse range of customer needs. As Watsons continues to expand, it remains committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and high-quality products that empower customers to Look Good, Do Good, and Feel Great. MENAFN29122024003551001712ID1109040284 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
ANOKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”, the “Company”) (NYSE: VSTO) today announced that its stockholders voted to approve the sale of The Kinetic Group to Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”) (the “CSG Transaction”) at its special meeting of stockholders held earlier today. Vista Outdoor and CSG have received all regulatory approvals required under the merger agreement for the CSG Transaction and intend to close the CSG Transaction on November 27, 2024. Under the terms of the CSG Transaction, Vista Outdoor stockholders will receive $25.75 in cash and one share of Revelyst common stock for each share of Vista Outdoor common stock they hold. “We are thrilled to have received overwhelming support from our stockholders for the compelling transaction with CSG,” said Michael Callahan, Chairman of the Vista Outdoor Board of Directors. “The CSG transaction maximizes value for our stockholders, while also providing an ideal home for our leading ammunition brands and significant opportunities for our employees.” Based on the vote count from the special meeting of stockholders, approximately 97.89% of votes cast were in favor of the CSG Transaction, representing approximately 82.57% of all outstanding shares. The final voting results will be reported in a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Following the closing of the CSG Transaction, Revelyst will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “GEAR”. Subject to the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, funds managed by Strategic Value Partners, LLC (“SVP”) will subsequently acquire Revelyst in an all-cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion (the “SVP Transaction”), subject to a net cash adjustment. At the closing of the SVP Transaction, Revelyst stockholders will receive an estimated $19.25 in cash per share of Revelyst common stock 1. The SVP Transaction is on track to close by January 2025. No separate approval of the SVP Transaction by Vista Outdoor stockholders is required. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as sole financial adviser to Vista Outdoor and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is acting as legal adviser to Vista Outdoor. Moelis & Company LLC is acting as sole financial adviser to the independent directors of Vista Outdoor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting as legal adviser to the independent directors of Vista Outdoor. About Vista Outdoor Inc. Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO) is the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products. Brands include Bushnell, CamelBak, Bushnell Golf, Foresight Sports, Fox Racing, Bell Helmets, Camp Chef, Giro, Simms Fishing, QuietKat, Stone Glacier, Federal Ammunition, Remington Ammunition and more. Our reporting segments, Outdoor Products and Sporting Products, provide consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative outdoor and sporting products. For news and information, visit our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements made and information contained in this press release, excluding historical information, are “forward-looking statements,” including those that discuss, among other things: Vista Outdoor Inc.’s (“Vista Outdoor”, “we”, “us” or “our”) plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; projections with respect to future revenues, income, earnings per share or other financial measures for Vista Outdoor; and the assumptions that underlie these matters. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “aim,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. To the extent that any such information is forward-looking, it is intended to fit within the safe harbor for forward-looking information provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations described in such forward-looking statements, including the following: risks related to the previously announced transaction among Vista Outdoor, Revelyst, Inc., CSG Elevate II Inc., CSG Elevate III Inc. and CZECHOSLOVAK GROUP a.s. (the “CSG Transaction”) and risks related to the previously announced transaction among Vista Outdoor, Revelyst, Olibre LLC and Cabin Ridge, Inc. (the “SVP Transaction”) including (i) the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals from any applicable governmental entities (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals), (ii) the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals may be made, (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement relating to the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction, including in circumstances which would require Vista Outdoor or Revelyst, as applicable, to pay a termination fee, (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction on our ability to attract, motivate or retain key executives and employees, our ability to maintain relationships with our customers, vendors, service providers and others with whom we do business, or our operating results and business generally, (v) risks related to the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction diverting management’s attention from our ongoing business operations, (vi) that the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction may not achieve some or all of any anticipated benefits with respect to either business segment and that the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction may not be completed in accordance with our expected plans or anticipated timelines, or at all, and (vii) that the consideration paid to Revelyst stockholders in connection with the SVP Transaction cannot be determined until the consummation of the SVP Transaction as it is subject to certain adjustments related to the net cash of Revelyst as of the closing of the SVP Transaction and the management team’s current estimate of the consideration may be higher or lower than the actual consideration paid to Revelyst stockholders in connection with the SVP Transaction due to the actual cash flows prior to the closing of the SVP Transaction or other factors; impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, the operations of our customers and suppliers and general economic conditions; supplier capacity constraints, production or shipping disruptions or quality or price issues affecting our operating costs; the supply, availability and costs of raw materials and components; increases in commodity, energy, and production costs; seasonality and weather conditions; our ability to complete acquisitions, realize expected benefits from acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; reductions in or unexpected changes in or our inability to accurately forecast demand for ammunition, accessories, or other outdoor sports and recreation products; disruption in the service or significant increase in the cost of our primary delivery and shipping services for our products and components or a significant disruption at shipping ports; risks associated with diversification into new international and commercial markets, including regulatory compliance; our ability to take advantage of growth opportunities in international and commercial markets; our ability to obtain and maintain licenses to third-party technology; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; disruptions caused by catastrophic events; risks associated with our sales to significant retail customers, including unexpected cancellations, delays, and other changes to purchase orders; our competitive environment; our ability to adapt our products to changes in technology, the marketplace and customer preferences, including our ability to respond to shifting preferences of the end consumer from brick and mortar retail to online retail; our ability to maintain and enhance brand recognition and reputation; our association with the firearms industry, others’ use of social media to disseminate negative commentary about us, our products, and boycotts; the outcome of contingencies, including with respect to litigation and other proceedings relating to intellectual property, product liability, warranty liability, personal injury, and environmental remediation; our ability to comply with extensive federal, state and international laws, rules and regulations; changes in laws, rules and regulations relating to our business, such as federal and state ammunition regulations; risks associated with cybersecurity and other industrial and physical security threats; interest rate risk; changes in the current tariff structures; changes in tax rules or pronouncements; capital market volatility and the availability of financing; our debt covenants may limit our ability to complete acquisitions, incur debt, make investments, sell assets, merge or complete other significant transactions; foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; general economic and business conditions in the United States and our markets outside the United States, including as a result of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions on Russia, the conflict in the Gaza strip, the COVID-19 pandemic or another pandemic, conditions affecting employment levels, consumer confidence and spending, conditions in the retail environment, and other economic conditions affecting demand for our products and the financial health of our customers. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements we make, which are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the date hereof. A more detailed description of risk factors that may affect our operating results can be found in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2024, and in the filings we make with the SEC from time to time. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. 1 Based on management estimates, including an assumption the SVP Transaction closes on December 31, 2024. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125635762/en/ CONTACT: Investor: Tyler Lindwall Phone: 612-704-0147 Email:investor.relations@vistaoutdoor.comMedia: Eric Smith Phone: 720-772-0877 Email:media.relations@vistaoutdoor.com KEYWORD: MINNESOTA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL OTHER CONSUMER CONSUMER OTHER RETAIL MANUFACTURING OTHER MANUFACTURING SOURCE: Vista Outdoor Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 04:01 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 04:01 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125635762/enTOUCHING tributes for the late Jimmy Carter have started to flood in for the "extraordinary leader" who has died aged 100. Joe Biden and Donald Trump have led the heartfelt messages to the beloved former president whose death was confirmed by his family earlier today. Carter, the oldest president in history , and the only one to become a centenarian, has been survived by five other American commander-in-chiefs who have all left touching homages to the great man. President-elect Donald Trump remembered Carter for his leadership and urged Americans to keep the late president's loved ones in their " hearts and prayers". Trump wrote on Truth Social: "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Read more on jimmy carter "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time." He later posted a second statement which acknowledged the pair's political and philosophical differences but praised Carter's clear love for America. "He truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for," Trump added. "He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. Most read in The US Sun "He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office." The man Trump is set to replace in the White House in just a few weeks time in Joe Biden described Carter as an "extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian". The fellow Democrat and close friend posted the loving tribute alongside his wife Jill. They said: "Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend." "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together." Joe, 82, has now taken on the title as the oldest living president following the passing of Carter. Barack Obama - the youngest living American leader - commended the late humanitarian with his wife Michelle. They said: "Maranatha Baptist Church will be a little quieter on Sundays, but President Carter will never be far away — buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels. "Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man." Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary also praised Carter's commitment to service. They praised him for his "long and good life" and applauded his belief in faith and selflessness. The final remaining president, George W. Bush, joined his wife Laura to call Carter “a man of deeply held convictions” who “dignified the office ". International tributes Tributes to the statesman even came from overseas as the UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer lauded Carter's service. The British PM said he “redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad”. King Charles III also described the former US president as a “committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace”. Sir Tony Blair soon followed with a powerful statement. It read: "Jimmy Carter's life was a testament to public service; from his time in office, and the Camp David Accords, to his remarkable commitment to the cause of people and peace round the world over the past 40 years. "I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. "He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need." PRESIDENT CARTER Carter , the 39th president of the United States , has died after nearly two years in hospice care. His son Chip Carter confirmed the former president died at his Georgia home on Sunday around 3:45 pm ET. Carter peacefully passed away surrounded by his family who paid an emotional tribute to the former leader. His son Chip said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Public events will commemorate Carter in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. and a state funeral will be held, The Carter Center confirmed. The former president decided to live out the remainder of his days at his home in Plains, Georgia . Carter, the beloved Democrat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, had experienced several health issues in recent years including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. He became the longest-living president and the first to make it 100 years old. Carter's death came over a year after the death of his wife, Rosalynn Carter , who died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. Two days before her death, Rosalynn joined her husband in hospice care at their home in Georgia. The former first lady and fierce advocate for mental health was diagnosed with dementia in early 2023. READ MORE SUN STORIES Before his death, Jimmy Carter was the first to pay tribute to his wife of 77 years, "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me."
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KUWAIT: Zain Group, a leading provider of innovative technologies and digital lifestyle and ICT solutions operating in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, announces the end of another successful year for Zain Esports, the e-gaming arm of the Group. During 2024, Zain Esports undertook 50 tournaments and activations across Zain operations in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Iraq. Since first launching in 2021, Zain Esports has attracted around 70,000 participants and garnered over 160 million social media impressions regionally. Moreover, Zain Esports currently has 210,000 social media followers and during 2024, over 820,000 unique viewers watched Zain Esports tournaments streamed live on Twitch and YouTube. Zain has invested heavily in network upgrades in recent years, with gaming being one of the most significant business use cases for 5G and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). Zain was able to identify this opportunity early on, working to cultivate the e-gaming community across the Middle East in general, and within its markets of operation in particular. This investment in network and resources has resulted in the development of a vibrant e-gaming ecosystem across regional markets, with Zain Esports leading and involved in multiple gaming activities centered around the main esports titles, namely Fortnite, Counter Strike, Call of Duty, PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, FC 24 (previously FIFA), Valorant, etc: Region wide: Notably during 2024, Zain Esports partnered with Riot games in more than 15 venues across eight countries to launch the League of Legend MENA servers that saw more than five-thousand gamers participate and received more than 45 million impressions. Kuwait: Zain Esports conducted multiple offline FC (football) tournaments in Kuwait throughout 2024 with hundreds of gamers competing in the 62 matches that were played. Saudi Arabia- Zain Esports local arm PLAYHERA continued to support the Saudi gaming system Bahrain - Zain Esports partnered with universities to launch the Zain University League within the Kingdom, seeing more than 300 up and coming gamers participate in various tournaments and workshops held in the recently established Zain Esports Lab within the Zain HQ offices. Jordan - Zain partnered with the First Jordan Gaming and Esports Summit, as well as being the main sponsor of the Jordanian Esports Federation- collaborating in multiple tournaments across the year. Zain Esports in Jordan holds regular activations at its new state-of-the-art venue, the Dome, in partnership with gamerg.gg, a Jordanian esports company specializing in tournament organization. Iraq - Zain Esports participated in the Esports World Cup 2024 Tekken 8 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Zain Esports in Iraq was a strategic partner of the Iraq International Information & Telecommunication Technology Expo (ITEX), supporting its monthly events of esports tournaments. Malek Hammoud, Zain Group Chief Investment and Digital Officer said, “Gamers around the world are a passionate community, and in the Middle East this is no different. Zain remains committed to supporting the growth and development of this exciting, often youth-oriented activity, and we are extremely grateful to our partners and collaborators with whom we organize events, which capture the imagination and translate into successful opportunities for Zain Esports. All our stakeholders are impressed in how Zain Esports has evolved to become an integral part of the Zain’s data services across our footprint, with its popularity and reach having a positive impact on brand recognition and customer acquisition.” Beyond the brand and financial benefits accruing from participating in online gaming for the players, Zain’s activities in this area support operating companies to connect with the gaming community and provide data and similar high-value services. Spectators are also able watch the gaming and content live over Zain Esports social media channels, predominantly Twitch and YouTube, as well as over regular posts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. With the continual investments in 5G and FTTH network upgrades across its markets, Zain Esports will be empowered to offer more appealing activities and competitions in gaming during 2025 and beyond.Retail facial recognition for crime prevention finds support in Australia, UK
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. He is now. And who knows? Maybe for a lot longer than expected. Winston entered Cleveland football folklore on Thursday night by leading the Browns to a 24-19 win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak stopped. Winston's performance at Huntington Bank Field, which transformed into the world's largest snow globe, not only made him an instantaneous hero in the eyes of Browns fans but added another wrinkle to the team's ever-changing, never-ending quarterback conundrum. In his fourth start since Deshaun Watson's season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Winston made enough big plays to help the Browns (3-8) get a victory that should quiet conjecture about coach Kevin Stefanski's job. Some wins mean more than others. In Cleveland, beating the Steelers is as big as it gets. But beyond any instant gratification, Winston has given the Browns more to consider as they move forward. Watson's future with Cleveland is highly uncertain since it will still be months before the team has a grip on whether he's even an option in 2025, his fourth year since signing a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract that has proven calamitous. It's also possible the Browns will cut ties with Watson. They signed Winston to a one-year contract to be Watson's backup. But the unexpected events of 2024 have changed plans and led to the possibility that the 30-year-old Winston could become Cleveland's full-time QB or a bridge to their next young one. So much is unclear. What's not is that Winston, who leaped into the end zone on fourth-and-2 for a TD to put the Browns ahead 18-6 in the fourth quarter, is a difference maker. With his larger-than-life personality and the joy he shows whether practicing or throwing three touchdown passes, he has lifted the Browns. A man of faith, he's made his teammates believe. Winston has done what Watson couldn't: made the Browns better. “A very, very authentic person,” Stefanski said Friday on a Zoom call. “He’s the same guy every single day. He's the same guy at 5 a.m. as he at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Winston, who is 2-2 as a starter with wins over the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has a knack for inspiring through fiery, preacher-like pregame speeches. But what has impressed the Browns is his ability to stay calm in the storm. “He doesn’t get rattled,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks against the Steelers . “He’s just tuned in and focused as anyone I’ve seen at that position. Turn the page. There was a turnover, came back to the sideline, ‘Love you. I’m sorry. We’re going to get it back.’ He was already on to the next one, ‘How can we complete the mission?’ “I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it’s a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can’t ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we’re actually brothers and that’s what we have to attain. That brotherhood.” What's working Winston has done something else Watson couldn't: move the offense. The Browns scored more than 20 points for just the second time this season, and like Joe Flacco a year ago, Winston has shown that Stefanski's system works with a quarterback patient enough to let plays develop and unafraid to take shots downfield. What needs help The conditions certainly were a factor, but the Browns were a miserable 1 of 10 on third down, a season-long trend. However, Cleveland converted all four fourth-down tries, including a fourth-and-3 pass from Winston to Jerry Jeudy with 2:36 left that helped set up Nick Chubb's go-ahead TD run. Stock up RT Jack Conklin. Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt in their rivalry within the rivalry partly because Conklin did a nice job containing Pittsburgh's edge rusher, who was held without a sack and had one tackle for loss. Conklin has made a remarkable comeback since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last year. Stock down Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. Their desire to build a dome is well intended, but an indoor game could never come close to matching the surreal setting of Thursday night, when snow swirled throughout the stadium and covered nearly all the yard lines and hash marks. “It was beautiful,” Winston said. Injuries WR Cedric Tillman is in the concussion protocol. He had two catches before taking a big hit on the final play of the third quarter. Key numbers 9 — Consecutive home wins for the Browns in Thursday night games. Three of those have come against Pittsburgh. What's next An extended break before visiting the Denver Broncos on Dec. 2. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Tom Withers, The Associated Press
Adele says it is time to ‘move on’ after completing her Las Vegas residencyState, national officials remember Jimmy Carter