The Carolina Panthers announced Monday that they’ve placed DE Charles Harris on waivers. Harris is tied for the team lead in sacks, so this is a bit of a surprise. Harris, 29, is a former first-round pick by the Dolphins in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Missouri. He was in the final year of his four-year, $10,843,739 rookie contract when the Dolphins traded him to the Falcons. Harris had his fifth-year option declined by the Falcons and earned a base salary of $1,943,692 in 2020. He signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Lions for the 2021 season. Detroit brought him back on a two-year deal worth $14 million in March 2022 and he became an unrestricted free agent this past offseason before eventually joining the Panthers. In 2024, Harris has appeared in nine games for the Panthers and recorded 21 tackles and three sacks. This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.None
Fine Gael won 35 seats in the 2020 election, but 18 of those TDs did not seek re-election in Friday’s poll. An exit poll puts the party’s support at 21%, a fraction of a percentage behind the main opposition party Sinn Fein. Mr Harris, the outgoing Taoiseach, was elected with 16,869 first preference votes, well above the quota. He celebrated with his wife Caoimhe, his parents Bart and Mary, his sister Gemma and his political team at the count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Ahead of his re-election, Mr Harris told reporters he was “cautiously optimistic” about the election result and said it was “clear that my party will gain seats”. “It’s also clear that Fine Gael will top the poll in at least 10 constituencies, many more than we did the last time, that we will gain seats in constituencies where we haven’t had seats in many years, like Tipperary South and Waterford, and that we will add second seats in other constituencies as well,” he said. “I think the people of Ireland have now spoken. We now have to work out exactly what they have said, and that is going to take a little bit of time.” In one of the five consecutive broadcast media rounds he did from the Greystones count centre, he said there were a lot of areas where there were “straight shoot-outs” between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for final seats. He described the Sinn Fein vote as “pretty significantly down”, the Fianna Fail vote as “marginally down” and the Fine Gael vote as “static” compared with its 2020 vote. He said it was “a very close, a very competitive election” and that “we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it”. He said: “It was predicted by many that I would become the Taoiseach for a brief period of time, take over from Leo Varadkar, and then have to rebuild my party from the opposition benches as Sinn Fein led a government. “We don’t know what’s going to happen on government formation yet, but that is now looking less likely than it was.” He acknowledged that it was “a very difficult day” for the Green Party and paid tribute to their work in the coalition government, alongside his party and Fianna Fail. “Definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented,” he said. Fine Gael minister Helen McEntee said that her party’s campaign had been “positive”. “The feeling on the doors was very much that people were relatively happy with the government,” she said on RTE Radio. “It will come down to the last seats and it will come down to transfers,” she said of the final result, adding that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were performing better than the exit poll estimated.
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world where the shipping industry is wrestling with its environmental impact, a French startup called TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport) is presenting a solution that is both novel and rooted in centuries-old technology: wind. TOWT’s wind-powered cargo ship, Anemos , completed its first transatlantic voyage last month, delivering pallets of champagne, wine, and cognac from France to New York. For the first time in over a century, a major cargo vessel crossed the Atlantic virtually exclusively powered by wind . “We know the wind is abundant, and we’ve known it for centuries,” says Guillaume Le Grand, TOWT’s cofounder and president. The organization can capture wind in methods that are both reliable and commercially viable due to recent advances in meteorological modeling, satellite communications, and routing technologies. Le Grand affirms: “The technology we have today makes wind a reliable source of propulsion.” Not your average sailing ship Humans have indeed powered their boats with wind for generations, however, Anemos is not your typical sailing ship. It is inspired by high-tech racing boats, with carbon fiber masts that are substantially lighter and taller than the wooden masts of traditional ships. This permits the sails to be twice as large and catch more wind, resulting in maximum propulsion. Anemos ‘ most notable feature is its mechanical sail deployment system. Unlike conventional ships, which need teams of sailors to manage the rigging, Anemos can control all seven sails with a single remote. “You could actually handle the whole rigging—the seven sails on board, and 3,000 square meters of sail—with just one remote control,” Le Grand says. The ship is approximately 265 feet long, slightly larger than the famed Cutty Sark clipper ship, but with a considerably smaller crew—only seven sailors. Anemos uses unique routing software to optimize wind power on its journeys. It has diesel-electric engines as a backup, yet it can sail completely on wind power for roughly 95 percent of the time. During her inaugural journey, the ship experienced significant delays and had to rely on fuel before departing France, but the final ten days of the voyage were totally powered by sails. Furthermore, when the ship is traveling at a high enough speed, its propellers can spin in reverse, generating energy from the water’s wake to power onboard electronics. From the kitchen to the ventilation systems, the ship’s operations become more sustainable. A climate-conscious shipping solution While the capacity of Anemos —1,000 tons of cargo on pallets—is little in comparison to the 20,000-container capacity of current container ships, its function extends beyond sheer volume. Brands that use the ship’s service are motivated by more than just logistics; they see it as a method to achieve climate goals. According to Le Grand, buyers are willing to pay slightly higher transportation costs to reduce their carbon footprint . TOWT sweetens the bargain by providing long-term contracts with fixed prices, which eliminates the wild fluctuations associated with diesel and fuel oil costs. “We offer a predictable price without the swings of fossil fuels,” Le Grand informs me. Furthermore, the green marketing potential is enormous: manufacturers may attach a QR code to their products, which leads to data regarding CO2 savings on each voyage. This transparency is an important selling factor in a market where consumers are becoming more concerned about their environmental impact. It is not enough to just ship items; it is also necessary to ship them sustainably. Wind power versus greenwashing As companies scramble to decarbonize, many are looking at other fuels, but Le Grand feels wind power is a better option. “The shipping industry, even though they seem to be willing to decarbonize, is sort of kicking the can down the road,” he points out. Many people are waiting for what he calls the “Santa” of decarbonized fuels, hoping that a low-cost, dependable alternative will arrive soon. However, Le Grand is wary of several proposed alternatives, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has the potential to cause severe pollution through methane leakage . Wind, on the other hand, is free, abundant, and ready for use right now. TOWT’s ships provide an immediate solution rather than waiting for technological improvements in alternative fuel sources. Expanding the fleet and preparing the next generation of sailors TOWT’s ambitious aspirations do not end with Anemos . The business has already built a second ship and plans to commence monthly transatlantic journeys. After carrying wine and spirits to the United States, the ships will travel to South America to return coffee to Europe. The company has also ordered six additional vessels, which will begin operating in 2026, with the long-term intention of deploying hundreds of wind-powered ships. TOWT is not only expanding its fleet but also training a new generation of sailors. “We want to formalize and create a proper training for a modern sailing cargo captain, which doesn’t exist,” Le Grand explains. TOWT hopes that by teaching experienced sailors about this burgeoning business, it may create the groundwork for a larger shift in global shipping practices. The winds of change are here As the maritime industry faces increasing demand to decrease emissions, TOWT’s wind-powered vessels provide a realistic, modern alternative. With current technology making wind power more reliable than ever, and consumers keen to reduce their carbon footprints, the tide of change may be turning in favor of sustainable shipping. TOWT’s concept of a fleet of wind-powered ships sailing the world’s oceans might represent a dramatic transition away from fossil fuel-based shipping. And, with firms willing to pay a premium for sustainability, it’s apparent that wind power isn’t a thing of the past—it’s the future of marine transportation. Today on our “Best Of” series, we focus on the top Business solutions of 2024. These stories celebrate creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of sustainable success in an ever-evolving economic landscape.A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level Media
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Jojo Uga's 2-yard touchdown run capped a 24-point fourth quarter and Albany beat Hampton 41-34 on Saturday in a season finale. Jack Iuliano recovered a fumble by Malcom May at the Hampton 24, and though it took 10 plays, Uga went in for the touchdown and the game's final lead. Malcolm Mays scored on a 25-yard run for Hampton (5-7, 2-6 Coastal Athletic Association) but the PAT was blocked and Kevon Angry ran it back for Albany (4-8, 2-6), leaving Hampton with a 34-27 lead with 10 minutes remaining. Alex Jreige's 53-yard run then tied the game. Hampton led 28-0 before Van Weber threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Carter Moses with a couple minutes left in the first half. Albany added 10 points in the third quarter, including Jackson Parker's 38-yard touchdown catch. Nick Totten's pick-6 early in the fourth quarter got the Great Danes within 28-25. Weber threw for 184 yards with two scores and an interception. Jreige rushed for 110 yards. Robinson rushed for 80 yards and 21 carries and scored four times for Hampton, all in the first half. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25None
HOUSTON (AP) — Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans were far from perfect Sunday. But they did just enough to outlast the mistake-prone Houston Texans and get their first AFC South win of the season. Levis threw for 278 yards and his 70-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo put Tennessee on top in the fourth quarter and the Titans held on for the 32-27 victory. “The coolest thing about this game was just the way our team fought,” coach Brian Callahan said. “It was a back-and-forth game. Our guys did a good job of not flinching and keeping the blinders on. We’ve been in games like this before, and we haven’t been able to make a play, but this week, we made a play.” Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled for the touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 91⁄2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. The Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. Callahan held both hands in the air and smiled after watching the miss that allowed his team to win on a day it had three turnovers. The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked C.J. Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. Stroud threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions as the AFC South-leading Texans lost for the third time in four games. Stroud has thrown five interceptions combined in the past three games to give him more interceptions in 12 games this season (nine) than he had in 15 games as a rookie last season (five). “It’s no secret that I haven’t been playing well... I’ve got to be harder on myself,” he said. “I’m not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I’ve got to make better plays.” Jimmie Ward had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter and the Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks. Danielle Hunter led the group with a season-high three sacks and Will Anderson Jr. added two in his return after missing two games with an ankle injury. But the offense sputtered for most of the game as Joe Mixon was held to 22 yards on 14 carries. “Just a disappointing loss for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We didn’t do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives.” It was Tennessee's first win of the season in a game that Levis both started and finished. The second-year player missed three games this year with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. “I’m really proud of Will,” Callahan said. “He’s done a lot of things to get himself back in the right place, mentally and physically. It was a really good performance.” Levis knows he can be better, but was happy to leave Houston with a victory in this difficult season. “It feels awesome,” he said. “A lot of people have been working really hard to get a win like this. I’m just happy for the organization, top down.” Tennessee extended the lead to 23-17 on a 51-yard field goal by Nick Folk with nine minutes left in the third. Stroud threw his second interception with about 90 seconds left in the third quarter but Ward’s touchdown came three plays later to put the Texans on top 24-23. The Titans fumbled a punt early in the fourth quarter and Houston recovered it. A 54-yard field goal by Fairbairn extended the lead to 27-23 with about 10 minutes to go. Dameon Pierce returned the opening kickoff 80 yards to get the Texans in the red zone. Houston cashed in on the next play when Stroud found rookie Cade Stover on a 19-yard pass for his first touchdown reception. The Titans trailed by four after a field goal by Folk when Nick Westbrook-Ikhine got in front of the defense and was wide open for a 38-yard TD catch that made it 10-7 late in the first quarter. Tennessee extended the lead to 17-7 when Tony Pollard ran 10 yards for a touchdown with about 11 minutes left in the second. Pollard finished with 119 yards and a touchdown. Nico Collins scored on a 5-yard reception with about six minutes left in the second. Levis levis lost a fumble with about 3 1/2 minutes left and the Texans added a 28-yard field goal to tie it at 17-17. Houston forced a punt after that, but rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. got his first career interception two plays later to give Tennessee the ball back. Folk’s 56-yard field goal, which tied his career long, put the Titans up 20-17 at halftime. The Titans were without cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, after he was placed on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury, and safety Amani Hooker, who was added to the injury report Sunday morning with an illness. Callahan said Hooker was vomiting “every time he stood up” Sunday. ... Houston S Jalen Pitre injured his shoulder in the second quarter and didn’t return. ... CB Ka’dar Hollman left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Titans: Visit the Commanders next Sunday. Texans: Visit Jacksonville next Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl