Colts Notebook: Richardson again delivers in clutchUNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Jackie Johnson III led Fordham with 29 points and Joshua Rivera hit the game-winning 3-pointer with eight seconds left as the Rams knocked off Bryant 86-84 on Saturday. Johnson added four steals for the Rams (7-5). Rivera scored 17 points and added five rebounds. Japhet Medor shot 5 for 12 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 17 points. The Bulldogs (6-7) were led in scoring by Kvonn Cramer, who finished with 23 points. Bryant also got 21 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and two steals from Earl Timberlake. Barry Evans had 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Medor scored 12 second-half points for Fordham. Up next for Fordham is a matchup Saturday with Albany (NY) at home. Bryant visits Towson on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday he had an “excellent conversation” with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after the president-elect’s threat to impose significant tariffs on two of America’s leading trade partners raised alarms in Ottawa and Mexico City . It was unclear, as Trudeau headed back to Canada from Florida, whether the conversation had alleviated Trump’s concerns. A person familiar with the details of the leaders’ hastily arranged meeting Friday night said it was a “positive wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.” The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said topics included trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, Ukraine , NATO, China, the Mideast and pipelines, as well as the Group of 7 meeting in Canada next year. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. As he was leaving his West Palm Beach hotel, Trudeau stopped briefly to answer a reporter’s question about the dinner meeting, saying it was “an excellent conversation.” Trump’s transition team did not respond to questions about what the leaders had discussed. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G-7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. “Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Among those at the dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for Commerce secretary; North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, tabbed to lead the Interior Department ; and Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security advisor. Accompanying Trudeau were Canada’s public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff. Trudeau had said earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs issue by talking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said a day earlier after speaking with Trump that she is confident a tariff war with the United States will be averted . Trudeau said Trump got elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now he’s talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said before his leaving for Florida. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. To Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, Trump “doesn’t need convincing that new tariffs on Canadian products would not be in U.S. interests. He knows that, but cannot say it because it would detract from what he has said publicly. His goal is to project the image that he gets action when he talks.” Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. Trump made the tariff threat Monday while citing an influx of migrants entering the country illegally, even though the numbers at the Canadian border pale in comparison to those at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump also spoke about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border are few in comparison to the Mexican border. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are ready to make new investments in border security. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada was examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on his threats, a senior Canadian official told the Associated Press in the days before Trudeau’s visit. The person spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak publicly. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $2.7 billion worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, as are 85% of U.S. electricity imports. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of its exports go to the U.S. Associated Press writer Gillies reported from Toronto, Hussein from West Palm Beach, Fla.DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Kinkead Dent threw for 246 yards and ran for another 56 yards and a touchdown as UT Martin rolled to a 41-10 win over New Hampshire in an FCS first-round game on Saturday. The Skyhawks (9-4) advance to face unbeaten and top-seeded Montana State (12-0) in the second round. UT Martin's rushing game amassed 236 yards on 52 carries and five different backs reached the end zone. Meanwhile, the Skyhawks limited New Hampshire to 124 yards of total offense and held the Wildcats' run game to just 53 yards on 16 carries. Rashad Raymond scored from 4-yards out midway through the first quarter to put UT Martin on the board first and All-Big South/OVC first-team running back Patrick Smith added a 3-yard scoring run in the second to take a 17-7 lead. Dent capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive by nosing in from the 2 and Jaren Van Winkle kicked field goals from 30- and 36-yards to make it 24-7 at intermission. Trevonte Rucker scored from the 4 to start the fourth quarter and Glover Cook III punched in from the 1 to complete the scoring. Dent Completed 17 of 26 passes without an interception. Rucker caught nine passes for 98 yards and DeVonte Tanksley caught four for 81, including a 56-yard reception. Smith carried 15 times for 71 yards. Glover had 12 carries for 56. Seth Morgan was held to 14 of 35 passing with an interception for New Hampshire (8-5). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballA hypersonic underwater tunnel connecting the UK to the United States could see trains travelling at speeds of 3,000mph. But the dream of a trans-Atlantic train connecting London and New York would come at a price - almost £16billion ($20tn). The idea of a "Transatlantic Tunnel" has existed for a while. But developments in technology mean it may one day be possible. The world's richest man, Elon Musk, is one of those who has championed vacuum tube technology. He once proposed sending capsules through a vacuum environment to reduce air resistance. Currently a flight between the two cities takes around eight hours. Trains powered by conventional technology running underneath the ocean would not be able to make the journey fast enough to justify the cost of construction. The distance between the two global cities is more than 3,000 miles, and it would take years to build. The cost could be anything up to £15.5tn. But Musk and others say vacuum tube technology could hold the key and make the concept viable. The multi-billionaire introduced the concept in a white paper in 2013, and has also been a proponent of the field, organising student competitions and founding The Boring Company, focused on tunnelling technology. It would work by creating a vacuum within the tunnel and using pressurised vehicles. Trains would not face any air resistance within the tunnel. In theory, they could reach far higher speeds than conventional trains. Capsules darting along the structure could theoretically reach speeds of more than 3,000 mph. If that was to happen then a journey between the two great cities would barely take a hour. This design is sometimes called a "hyperloop". It might seem like the stuff of fantasy sci-fi but the age of hyperloop technology might be closer than we think, reports Newsweek . Trials of the technology are underway in India and China , with plans to integrate it into their high-speed rail systems nationwide. A Transatlantic Tunnel would be much more efficient and environmentally friendly than flying. Proposals for a tunnel are still unclear. While some have suggested a route underneath the ocean floor, others have favoured stilts or a floating tube, held in place by cables attached to the ocean floor. And judging by how long it took to build the Channel Tunnel linking France to the UK it won't be something we see in our lifetime. The link between Britain and France took more then six years to build. If the trans-Atlantic tunnel were built at the same speed, it would take 782 years.
Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday seasonAbortions are up in the US. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travelPope 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 an 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 vendor technology in 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.
WASHINGTON , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Nicola Fox , associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, will travel to Mexico City on Sunday, Nov. 24 , for a multi-day trip to build on previous engagements and advance scientific and technological collaboration between the United States and Mexico . This visit will focus on fostering partnerships in astronomy and astrophysics research, as well as highlighting opportunities for economic, educational, and science, technology, engineering, and math collaborations between the two nations. Melroy's trip will include high-level meetings with senior Mexican government officials, including the secretariat-designate for Science, Technology, Humanities, and Innovation. Melroy and Fox also will meet with leaders from academia, industry, and scientific institutions. These discussions will emphasize expanding cooperation in space science, with particular focus on Mexico's growing astronomy programs. This visit builds on Melroy's trip to Mexico City earlier this year and reflects NASA's commitment to advancing international cooperation in space and science for the benefit of all. For more information about NASA's international partnerships, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-leadership-to-visit-strengthen-cooperation-with-mexico-302314627.html SOURCE NASA
Islamabad, Nov 22 (PTI) Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi said her husband's troubles began following a trip to Saudi Arabia, triggering a row on Friday for apparently criticising a friendly country. Khan, 72, who is incarcerated in the Adiala Jail since August last year, has, however, defended his wife and said Bibi "did not mention Saudi Arabia at all". Khan's statement on X comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa flayed Bushra Bibi over her video clip posted on X. In a video statement on Thursday, Bibi said Khan's problems began when he visited Medina and was seen coming out of his plane without shoes. She claimed then army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa received calls after the incident. “Soon after Khan's return, Bajwa started getting calls ‘Ye tum kya utha key laa aaye ho (whom have you brought)? We are ending the Sharia system in this country and you have brought promoters of Sharia',” she said referring to Khan's September 2018 visit. The video was meant to motivate supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to join the protest on Sunday in Islamabad but instead kicked up controversy due to the indirect reference towards Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in his ouster from power. Saudi Arabia and China have been two of Pakistan's biggest supporters helping it tide over the economic crisis. However, in the 9:27-minute video, which is also available on PTI's official X handle, Bushra Biwi did not name any country. Khan, 72, has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. Khan in a statement on X clarified that Bibi “didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all” and insisted that Saudi Arabia had been a steadfast ally. He recalled that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reached out to him after he was wounded in an assassination attempt last November. Khan reiterated that his wife was not involved in politics and her message to the nation merely echoed his words in anticipation of the November 24 protest. He described the event as a day to “break free from slavery”, framing it as a pivotal moment for Pakistanis to choose between "the yoke of submission” or “the crown of freedom”. Khan also asserted that his government’s downfall was orchestrated by former army chief General Qamar Bajwa and accused him of preventing investigations into the alleged conspiracy. Sharif, however, said the recent statements against Saudi Arabia were deeply antagonistic and detrimental to Pakistan. Addressing a ceremony, Sharif warned the propaganda targeting Saudi Arabia was against the national interest. “I will, unfortunately, have to mention some events here because ... a statement has come out yesterday, which I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this that you spew venom against the country that has never demanded anything in return and always opened its doors for Pakistan,” he said in an apparent reference to Bibi's remarks. The premier said no one would be allowed to play with the country’s interests when it came to brotherly allies such as Saudi Arabia and urged the nation to counter it. General Bajwa swiftly refuted Bibi's statement. Talking to Express News TV, Bajwa termed Bibi's statement as a “pack of lies,” asking how a friendly country could interfere in Pakistan's internal affairs. He pointed out that the OIC Summit (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) was held in Islamabad in March 2022 and questioned if there had been any tension in the ties between both countries, would Saudi Arabia have allowed the summit to take place in Pakistan? Detailing Khan's visit to the Kingdom, Bajwa said Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman himself came to receive the former premier in Jeddah. “Shah Mehmood Qureshi and I were present at the dinner during the visit,” said Bajwa. Defence minister Asif Khawaja, addressing a press conference, condemned Bushra Biwi's statement and said that Pakistan enjoys close ties with the Kingdom. “Saudi Arabia has played a critical role in helping Pakistan in the current economic crisis,” he said. Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar remarked in response to media queries that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are “close friends and brothers. This relationship is based on mutual respect.” “We have great admiration for Saudi Arabia's journey of development and prosperity. The Pakistani nation is proud of its close relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has always stood by Pakistan through thick and thin,” he added. He said implicating Saudi Arabia for petty political point-scoring is “regrettable” and indicative of a desperate mindset, and added: “We urge all political forces to desist from compromising Pakistan's foreign policy in pursuance of their political objectives.” Also, Information Minister Atta Tarar said Saudi Arabia has always provided support to Pakistan at difficult times, adding it is condemnable to make irresponsible statements regarding friendly countries. He termed “false and unwarranted statements” for political gain a condemnable act. The information minister said the PTI had earlier levelled allegations against the US for hatching conspiracy and reminded it is against the national interest to negatively politicise Pakistan's friendly countries. Newspaper Dawn reported that the claims made by the former first lady about an alleged foreign conspiracy in the ouster of her husband’s government have taken even the PTI leaders by surprise, some of whom are questioning the “controversial statement” issued just days before the protest in Islamabad. Talking to Dawn, PTI leaders said the party’s top leadership was “committing mistakes” at crucial moments and taking the party’s months-long momentum back “to square one.” A senior party leader said Khan might have got bail in the remaining May 9 cases, but his wife’s controversial remarks might alter that scenario. A member of the PTI lawyers’ wing called the claims a “bombshell.” The advocate lamented that the party had become “leaderless and directionless” and mistakes were being committed at crucial times. None of the leaders had the courage and heart to lead the party, he said, adding that Khan and the PTI are toeing one line, while the mid-tier leadership has been rudderless. In a post on X, PTI activist and singer Salman Ahmad called Bushra Bibi “corrupt and greedy” who, along with her family and friends, was a “constant source of embarrassment” for Khan. He said it was “disgusting” to say that the former prime minister was removed because he walked barefoot in Medina. Just last week, Pakistan assured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it remained hopeful of receiving oil from Saudi Arabia on deferred payments, apart from some help from China, to fill the USD 5 billion external funding gap. The PTI gave a call last week for a long march to Islamabad to press for three demands: the release of the incarcerated party founder, against the alleged “stolen mandate” during the February 8 elections and restoration of the judiciary by revoking the recent 26th amendment to the Constitution that granted legislators more power in appointing top judges. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Sports on TV for Monday, Dec. 9
INDIANAPOLIS — It was just a 10-yard completion, easy to overlook in the wake of a record-setting rushing day and easy to dismiss as one of just 11 pass attempts throughout the Indianapolis Colts’ 38-30 victory Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. But Anthony Richardson’s third-and-8 pass to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. just after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter was pivotal to holding off the visitors’ late rally. If the Colts were forced to punt in that situation, a defense that had allowed touchdowns on three consecutive drives — of 70, 55 and 71 yards — would be back on the field with tremendous pressure to prevent the game going to overtime. Richardson was cold and out of rhythm. He’d been sacked on his most recent pass attempt — on third-and-9 with 6:51 remaining — and he hadn’t gotten a pass off since throwing an incompletion intended for wide receiver Josh Downs at the 11:20 mark. With the dual-threat quarterback and running back Jonathan Taylor combining for 270 of Indianapolis’ single-game franchise-record 335 rushing yards, Richardson had not completed a pass since the 8:33 mark of the third quarter, and he was just 1-for-2 in the second half. Still, he was calm and composed on the crucial third down — hitting Pittman on a simple out pattern to move the chains and keep the clock moving. When the Colts finally did punt the ball back to Tennessee, there were only three seconds remaining for the Titans to work with, It was a forgettable play in the grand scheme of the game, but it was also the most recent evidence of the 22-year-old quarterback’s ability to raise his level of play in the clutch. He’s 3-2 as a starter since taking the role back from veteran Joe Flacco, and the other two victories featured game-winning touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. “I think that’s a special trait — obviously as a young player — that he doesn’t flinch in those times, to lead those comebacks,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “Obviously, the (New York) Jets, the New England (Patriots) game, I mean, those are big-time drives to go win games. “You want that out of young players, especially (when) you see the veteran guys do it around the league all the time, but to do it as a young player speaks volumes of the person that he is.” Despite Richardson’s up-and-down season, Indianapolis has maintained steadfast belief in his potential. Even when he was benched for Flacco, the organization repeatedly stated it was not giving up on the quarterback as its future leader. There’s still plenty of work to be done. Richardon has completed just 47.7% of his passes, and he’s thrown 12 interceptions in 11 starts. His rushing ability again was evident Sunday, and he’s set franchise single-season records for a quarterback with 499 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. And he has proven his big-play ability with a league-leading 14.4 yards per completion. The Colts still believe improved consistency will come with increased reps, and they hold out hope the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft can still become the long-term answer at the game’s most important position. For now, Richardson’s late-game heroics offer the most compelling argument in his favor. “I think it’s just me just playing all the way until the clock hits zero,” Richardson said of his mindset. “I never think about fourth quarter moments or anything like that. I just try to play until the game’s over. And it just happens sometimes that most of it happens in the fourth quarter. So I just try to play through the whistle and just play through the whole game.” After rushing for 218 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans – both the second-highest single-game totals of his career – Taylor has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. It was a major bounce-back performance after Taylor’s unforced fumble just short of the goal line cost the Colts dearly in a pivotal loss against the Denver Broncos a week prior. “It’s always exciting to see that dude just do what he does,” Richardson said. “It’s fascinating, honestly, just to see him hit a gap and just take it to the house. It’s just amazing, especially thinking about what happened in the Denver game. It honestly like wiped my mind. I wasn’t even thinking about it until people were talking about him coming back and having the game he did. “It’s like ‘OK, that’s the type of player he is, the type of person he is.’ He always wants to do better for the team and for himself. And just to see him do that and get what he did on Sunday is just a blessing.” The Colts officially signed right guard Mark Glowinski to the 53-man roster Tuesday after he’d been called up for game day in each of the past three weeks. Guard Antonio Mafi was re-signed to the practice squad after being released from the 53-man roster Monday.NetEase Games released Marvel Rivals this week and it has already become one of the most popular multiplayer shooters on Steam of all time. With almost half a million players checking out the game, there's a lot to like in it but the reliance on Marvel IP and reiteration of popular hero shooter mechanics may not be everyone's cup of tea. Many games have inspired Rivals, so it's always interesting to return to the originals to see how time has treated them. Alternatively, other hero shooters and multiplayer games offer unique mechanics and lore you won't find in Marvel Rivals. If you love Marvel Rivals, check out these other multiplayer shooters. Team Fortress 2 Most hero shooters of today all take inspiration from Team Fortress 2, a game that's still running seventeen years strong. Valve's colorful action game has two teams duking it out to complete various objectives, with each team having different abilities. With over two decades under its belt, TF2 remains a highly entertaining, but focused shooter with nine specific characters and a very active player base. Overwatch Marvel Rivals has been directly compared to Overwatch on multiple occasions, and rightly so. The game is very clearly inspired by Overwatch's overall design, but there's enough distinction between the two for NetEase's game to stand out. Overwatch 2, which replaced the original game last year, has a bigger roster and is also free to play like Rivals. However, you won't find the impressive destructive physics of NetEase's game, and Overwatch is a first-person shooter, which completely changes how you interact with the game. Valorant Valorant is essentially Counter-Strike with hero shooter abilities, making it a far more tactical game than Marvel Rivals' frenetic action. Riot's shooter has characters with striking designs and abilities, which bring a new twist to the popular CS formula giving you more agency over your play style. Valorant's gameplay is a lot more competitive than your usual hero shooter, and you'll need to rely on clear communication with your teammates to win the match. Rogue Company Rogue Company is another free-to-play tactical hero shooter with multiple game modes and a more realistic art style than Rivals. More than any other game on this list, Rogue Company really focuses on the "shooter" aspect, with somewhat grounded movement, gadgets, and characters. What Rogue Company lacks in originality it makes up for in its varied game modes. It has been on the block for over four years, so there's plenty of content and it has carved out an identity for its own. SMITE 2 SMITE 2 is a third-person MOBA with over fifty powerful characters to choose from in a mythological setting. The 5v5 game takes every mistake from the original game and improves upon it, and features new assets and technology to hopefully last as long as the original SMITE, which is still going. However, SMITE 2 is also a highly competitive game, just like DOTA 2, and you'll want to prepare yourself before dipping your toes into it. Paladins Paladins is very similar to Overwatch but set in a most medieval fantasy-inspired world, with shooting that feels more similar to Halo. It's a pretty fun mix of gameplay styles that make it stand out in a sea of similar games. Players can customize their hero as much as they want, and there are almost five dozen characters to choose from. If you're tired of the overdesigned characters in Overwatch and Rivals, try out Paladins as its medieval, almost Fable-like designs may bring a sense of freshness to a tired genre. Paladins also includes a battle royale mode, which expands the compact hero shooter gameplay to expansive levels. Marvel's Midnight Suns Midnight Suns is what you get when you combine XCOM with superheroes. The more tactical encounters will take some time to get adjusted to after Rivals, but you end up with a far more strategic game with some new takes on iconic characters. Its XCOM-like gameplay also includes a deckbuilding element, making its combat system the most unique on this list. Deadlock Technically, Deadlock isn't out yet and Valve wants to pretend it doesn't exist, but the unannounced game has already crossed over 170,000 players at its peak. Deadlock is a third-person MOBA with gameplay that's not dissimilar from DOTA 2. Set in a steampunk world, Deadlock combines the fast-paced action of Rivals with the strategic team-play required in MOBAs. With classic four-lane maps and innovative character abilities, Deadlock is already shaping up to become a classic. Valve has yet to announce the game's official public release date, but you can get into it by getting an invite to its playtests. Concord Oh Concord, rest your soul. Concord was PlayStation's ambitious triple-A hero shooter that never lived long enough to amass a large player base. Maybe it's because Marvel Rivals attracted over twenty times the players Concord got during their concurrent betas. Concord was also pulling elements from Overwatch with its hero classes and first-person action, but set in a new sci-fi universe (much like Guardians of the Galaxy) with plenty of storytelling potential. It wasn't a free game, but its post-launch model showed some promise with free content and relaxed microtransactions. Unfortunately, players simply weren't interested in giving it a chance, perhaps rightly so. Rivals is just one of the many other highly anticipated games coming out in December , with games like Path of Exile 2 , My First Gran Turismo , and Indiana Jones releasing in the same week . Marvel Rivals will be released on December 6, 2024, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.Jinnah and Iqbal: Bridging Islamic principles with progressive statecraft
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Dockery’s 27 lead Howard past UNC Wilmington 88-83Kings’ slumbering offense needs a jolt against Seattle
HUNTINGTON, W.V. (AP) — Marshall has withdrawn from the Independence Bowl after a coaching change resulted in much of its roster jumping into the transfer portal. The Thundering Herd were slated to play Army on Dec. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana. But the Independence Bowl and Louisiana Tech announced on Saturday that the Bulldogs will take on the 19th-ranked Black Knights instead. Marshall said it pulled out “after falling below the roster minimum that was deemed medically safe.” The Herd (10-3) beat Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 last weekend to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time. The program has won seven games in a row in the same season for the first time since 2020. “We apologize for the nature and timing of this announcement and for the turmoil it has brought to bowl season preparations for Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN,” Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said in a statement. Coach Charles Huff left Marshall for Southern Miss last Sunday, and Tony Gibson, the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State, was announced as his replacement less than an hour later. By Thursday, at least 25 Marshall players had entered the transfer portal. Gibson held a meeting shortly after arriving on campus in Huntington to introduce himself to the team. He followed that up with phone calls, text messages and more meetings Friday and Saturday. “Any time coaches leave to take other jobs, it is emotional,” Gibson said at a news conference Thursday. “And kids that are 18-to-22 years old are going to make emotional decisions instead of just breathing for a day or two.” It's the first bowl for Louisiana Tech (5-7) since 2020. The Bulldogs have won two of their last three games, but they haven't played since a 33-0 victory over Kennesaw State on Nov. 30. “We are excited to accept the opportunity to play in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl against a fantastic and storied program as Army,” Louisiana Tech athletic director Ryan Ivey said in a release. “I believe our football program is moving toward positive structure and the opportunity to play in this bowl adds to that momentum. We are looking forward to being in Shreveport for this matchup.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballNewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], December 14: Dr.Umesh Srinkantha, an expert spine doctor in Bangalore, and the Founder of Spine360, has come up with two significant achievements in spine care. The first one is the release of a new digital platform specifically created to improve patient accessibility. The second is the introduction of cutting-edge techniques in minimally invasive spine surgery. These improvements constitute a major step in modernising spine care in Bangalore. Also Read | Arunachal Pradesh Tank Collapse: 3 School Students Dead, 2 Injured As Overhead Water Tank Crashes at Alphonsa School in Naharlagun, Principal Detained. The recently launched digital platform offers speedier loading times, user-friendly navigation, and many educational resources. "Our aim was to provide a digital experience that reflects the top standards of our medical care," said Dr.Umesh Srikantha. "The enhanced site could be a comprehensive asset for patients looking for information about spine conditions and accessible treatment alternatives." Spine360 also remains at the forefront of development in minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Umesh Srikantha has successfully performed over 2,000 minimally invasive procedures and 4,500 brain and spine surgeries. He utilises the latest surgical navigation systems and advanced 3D imaging technology. "These minimally invasive techniques help reduce recuperation times considerably and improve results for our patients," Dr. Umesh Srikantha added. Also Read | Mumbai: After Massive Political and Public Furore, Central Railway Revokes Order To Raze 80-Year-Old Lord Hanuman Temple Outside Dadar Railway Station (Watch Video). Key features of Spine360's digital platform include: * Interactive educational resources that provide in-depth information about spine conditions. * Seamless appointment booking system. * In-depth insights into minimally invasive surgical options. * Patient testimonials and success stories. * Accessible tips on spine health and preventive care. The platform aligns seamlessly with Spine360's surgical innovations, which encompass: * Advanced surgical navigation systems, enabling precision and accuracy during procedures. * Intraoperative neuromonitoring to ensure safety * Minimally invasive techniques to reduce recovery time and patient discomfort. * Cutting-edge 3D imaging technology for precise surgical planning and execution. "By utilising a combination of digital accessibility with surgical excellence, we are setting a new benchmark in spine care," said Dr.Umesh Srikantha. "Patients now have easier access to vital information and can benefit from the most advanced surgical techniques available." About Spine360 Spine360, headed by Dr. Umesh Srikantha, is considered one of the best spine care centers in Bangalore. It emphasises less invasive ways of spine surgery and provides a whole range of spine-related care. It has operated for more than 40 years and has handled over 25,000 successful treatments. Spine360 is always the first one to offer the latest spine treatments and makes it a priority to meet the patients' needs. You can find out more at www.spine360.in Contact Person: Dr. Umesh Srikantha Address: 43/2, New Airport Road, NH 44, Sahakar Nagar, Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560092 Ph No: 09731616061 Map: maps.app.goo.gl/3P7w1oQvY47Z7kF3A. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jalandhar: Shiromani Akali Dal has informed the Akal Takht Jathedar that it could face serious legal trouble, including a challenge to its registration as a political party, if it complies with the political directives issued by the five Sikh high priests on Dec 2 as they pronounced ‘tankhah' (religious punishment) on party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders. To support its plea, the SAD also handed the jathedar a legal opinion, sought by the party on seven points from ormer Punjab advocate-general and senior advocate Ashok Aggarwal. "When our delegation called on Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh at Machhiwara on Saturday, we explained that we don't have a problem with the directives, but there are serious legal issues and also handed him the legal opinion," the SAD secretary, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema told TOI on Tuesday. The five-member delegation, which called on the jathedar in Machhiwara, was led by SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder. "We explained to the Jathedar Sahib that there are legal as well as practical difficulties in complying with their directive about fresh enrolment through a seven-member committee headed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, and we have requested him to leave the issue to the working committee," revealed Cheema. Asked whether any decision had been taken by the party to accept SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal's resignation, as directed by the Akal Takht, Cheema said the party's working committee would decide on this, and he could not comment beforehand. He said a meeting of the working committee would be held in the first week of January as the community is observing the ‘Shaheedi Pandarwara' (martyrdom fortnight - pertaining to the martyrdom of four sons of Guru Gobind Singh) at present. Apart from citing provisions of the Representation of the People Act and provisions of the Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, the legal opinion cited by SAD quoted from the judgement by a bench of nine judges of the Supreme Court in the ‘SR Bommai versus Union of India, 1994' case, to argue that by accepting the directives issued by the supreme religious body (Akal Takht), the SAD would be falling on the wrong side of the law. "The directions issued by the supreme religious body (Akal Takht) are not mere observations, but they are categorical, confirmed, and assertive in the form that if they are accepted, it would categorically mean that the querist (SAD) has acted and behaved in a manner by mixing religion into politics, which is neither permissible nor constitutional as per the law of the land," according to the legal advice. Regarding recruitment of cadre by the SAD and directions to elect the party's president and other office-bearers, the formation of the seven-member committee headed by the SGPC president, the legal opinion held that the SAD constitution does not permit any external body or association to interfere in the functioning of the political party, and the least can be said in case a purely religious body is responsible for such interference. "The orders passed by the supreme religious body regarding the internal functioning of the querist would not only impinge upon the autonomy and independence of the political party but would be a clear violation of the principles of secularism as enshrined under the Constitution of India and would also violate the undertaking given by the party before the Election Commission of India at the time of seeking registration of the party as a registered political party," concludes the legal opinion. Sukhbir and other SAD leaders have completed their religious punishment, but the political component of the ‘tankhah' is yet to be complied with, and a debate is already on the issue in the community. MSID: 116634708 413 | Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .Kinkead Dent and diverse ground game powers UT Martin past New Hampshire, 41-10 in FCS 1st round
Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy is reprising his role as Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby for the film, which is set following the events of the original BBC drama which ran for six series from 2013 to 2022. Following the film wrapping production, Knight has revealed that it will be around a year before the project is released. Speaking to Times Radio about a future release date, Knight said: “It’s a bit too soon for that, but you know, you can sort of work out that it will be about a year.” Asked if there are any more plans for Peaky Blinders beyond the film, he replied: “It’s interesting you should ask that question because the film is coming out and that won’t be the end.” The screenwriter was questioned if that meant fans could expect more series in the future, but he refused to provide more details. The film is believed to be titled The Immortal Man and has been teased to involve new conflicts for the Shelby family set during the Second World War. THAT'S A WRAP. The Peaky Blinders film has completed production. 📸: Robert Viglasky pic.twitter.com/VImZlFWZdQ — Netflix (@netflix) December 19, 2024 Saltburn and The Banshees Of Inisherin star Barry Keoghan will join fellow Irish actor Murphy in the new film. Earlier this month a photo was shared by Netflix of the pair looking jubilant while wearing flat caps and suits as the streamer confirmed filming had wrapped on the project. Other returning cast members include British actors Stephen Graham as union organiser Hayden Stagg and Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby, while Dune actress Rebecca Ferguson and Pulp Fiction actor Tim Roth have also joined the project. Tom Harper, who previously directed episodes in the first season in 2013, will return to helm the film. Knight previously told Netflix’s Tudum site: “It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.” When the series came to an end in 2022 after nine years, Tommy appeared to put his criminal past behind him. Across the six series, the show tackled the rise of fascism, Irish republican politics and communist activities throughout the period after the First World War – along with Tommy’s ambitions in politics. Knight later created a stage adaptation of the show for a limited-run production, titled The Redemption Of Thomas Shelby, which featured performances from Rambert’s dancers and a soundtrack from a live on-stage band.
Gorosito's 21 lead Ball State past Bellarmine 86-82
Algert Global LLC cut its position in shares of Freshworks Inc. ( NASDAQ:FRSH – Free Report ) by 26.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 74,129 shares of the company’s stock after selling 27,150 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC’s holdings in Freshworks were worth $851,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Freshworks by 34.2% in the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,971 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 757 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in Freshworks by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 161,706 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,945,000 after buying an additional 831 shares during the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in Freshworks during the second quarter worth $144,000. CWM LLC raised its holdings in shares of Freshworks by 554.5% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,397 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 2,878 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Freshworks by 72.0% in the second quarter. Renaissance Capital LLC now owns 181,789 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,307,000 after acquiring an additional 76,092 shares in the last quarter. 75.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently weighed in on FRSH shares. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price on shares of Freshworks from $17.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. JMP Securities boosted their price objective on shares of Freshworks from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Freshworks from $11.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Freshworks from $16.00 to $15.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Freshworks from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $18.69. Insider Transactions at Freshworks In other Freshworks news, Director Zachary Nelson sold 8,433 shares of Freshworks stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.54, for a total transaction of $97,316.82. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 22,530 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $259,996.20. The trade was a 27.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, Director Jennifer H. Taylor sold 4,690 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.06, for a total transaction of $51,871.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 36,689 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $405,780.34. The trade was a 11.33 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders sold 34,683 shares of company stock worth $397,518. 19.15% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Freshworks Trading Up 1.0 % FRSH stock opened at $15.99 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $12.95 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $12.60. The company has a market cap of $4.84 billion, a PE ratio of -46.56 and a beta of 0.72. Freshworks Inc. has a 12-month low of $10.81 and a 12-month high of $24.98. About Freshworks ( Free Report ) Freshworks Inc, a software development company, provides software-as-a-service products worldwide. It offers Freshworks Customer Service Suite, which provides automated, personalized self-service on various channels, including web, chat, mobile messaging, email, and social; Freshdesk, a ticketing-centric customer service solution; Freshsuccess, a customer success solution; and Freshchat that provides agents with a modern conversational experience to proactively engage customers across digital messaging channels. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Freshworks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freshworks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Algert Global LLC decreased its position in Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. ( NASDAQ:IBKR – Free Report ) by 52.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,362 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 7,090 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC’s holdings in Interactive Brokers Group were worth $887,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Interactive Brokers Group by 172.1% in the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 12,464 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,528,000 after purchasing an additional 7,884 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Interactive Brokers Group by 9.9% in the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 108,977 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $12,173,000 after purchasing an additional 9,858 shares during the period. Aurora Investment Counsel purchased a new stake in shares of Interactive Brokers Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,693,000. Waverton Investment Management Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Interactive Brokers Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,946,000. Finally, Versor Investments LP purchased a new stake in shares of Interactive Brokers Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $474,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 23.80% of the company’s stock. Interactive Brokers Group Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of IBKR stock opened at $191.09 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $158.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $135.41. The company has a market cap of $80.74 billion, a PE ratio of 29.17, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.79. Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $76.89 and a 12-month high of $193.42. Interactive Brokers Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 13th. Investors of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.52%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 29th. Interactive Brokers Group’s payout ratio is 15.27%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth IBKR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Interactive Brokers Group from $152.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 4th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Interactive Brokers Group from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Interactive Brokers Group from $166.00 to $165.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $163.00 price objective on shares of Interactive Brokers Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Interactive Brokers Group presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $143.00. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on IBKR Interactive Brokers Group Company Profile ( Free Report ) Interactive Brokers Group, Inc operates as an automated electronic broker worldwide. The company engages in the execution, clearance, and settlement of trades in stocks, options, futures, foreign exchange instruments, bonds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), precious metals, and cryptocurrencies. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IBKR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. ( NASDAQ:IBKR – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Interactive Brokers Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Interactive Brokers Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .In July, Asvatha Babu and her husband set off for Bengaluru from Chennai to attend a wedding. Instead of taking their usual hatchback, owing to the amount of luggage they were carrying, they took an SUV, with their child seated in the back. The Chennai-Bengaluru expressway is partially operational, and there was a diversion on the way. Relying on Google Maps, the couple took a detour that would briefly take them into Andhra Pradesh. This was a common enough route to take — through Ranipet and Chittoor — for journeys terminating in North Bengaluru, while routes to the heart of the city usually rely on the highway network within Tamil Nadu itself. In a few minutes though, Babu found herself on a “dirt road in the middle of nowhere with trees all around and basically no streetlights”. Two cars behind her were similarly stranded, a few kilometres from the Kunjanur Rainforest. Fortunately, there was enough daylight — and company — to backtrack and exit back north, and reach the Bengaluru-Tirupati highway, putting them back on track. But the detour had cost them precious hours, and by the time they reached the venue, the festivities had wound down. Others have not been so lucky. Over the past year, numerous incidents have come to light where drivers navigating using Google Maps have found themselves similarly stranded, at odd hours. Early in December, a couple traveling from Bihar to Goa found themselves stranded in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, and had to be rescued in the dead of night by Belagavi police. In the Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh in November, three people in a car died after taking an incomplete bridge amid dense fog and plunging off its edge into a river. There too, the Google Maps navigation had led the unsuspecting driver through a route that did not exist. In August, a car in Kerala’s Wayanad overturned into a stream following a walkway — suggested by Google Maps as a road — leading to three injuries. Google Maps’s turn-by-turn navigation is massively popular around the world. In India alone, the tech giant said last December, 2.5 billion kilometres of navigation were requested by users per day. Google amasses map data from Indian cities and highways through a combination of commercial third-party sellers and user contributions. Roads, pedestrian walkways, expressways, buildings — these are all labelled by lane count, direction, permissible vehicle classes, and speed limits. Thanks to its massive user base and real-time data from these phones, Google is able to also use real-time data to provide travel duration estimates, and suggest alternate routes to avoid congestion. But the real world does not always operate or change in ways that are immediately flagged by Google’s systems. For instance, when some of the northernmost stations of the yellow line of the Delhi Metro were shut this month (December), Google briefly misinterpreted the outage to mean that the entire yellow line was not functioning and provided much longer transit directions through buses and other metro lines that extended travel time, sometimes by over an hour. For experienced commuters heading to work in the national capital, this may not have been a problem. But data lapses in remote areas and highways can have more far-reaching consequences. Traffic advocacy group SaveLIFE Foundation’s founder Piyush Tiwari placed the responsibility of traffic incidents like the one in Budaun squarely on local authorities. “The current news cycle about the involvement of GPS in the particular crash appears to be entirely based on an unscientific analysis of the crash, and hearsay, mostly in social media,” he said in an emailed statement. “Prima facie, it appears from the crash images as published in the media that the crash site was an unsafe, unguarded and untreated bridge construction zone. The liability of the fatal crash therefore falls entirely on the road-owning agency and the bridge contractor for failing to prevent the movement of vehicles on an incomplete bridge section.” The bridge was removed from Google Maps shortly after the incident. A Google spokesperson did not comment on the individual incidents but said that the company took “user safety and information quality incredibly seriously,” and that while it strove to provide users with accurate guidance, this was a challenge, as the best route between any two places can change constantly due to things such as sudden weather changes. “Now, we’re adding two new weather-related alerts in India for low visibility areas due to fog and flooded roads,” Google announced in an October blog post. The app accepts contributions in real time from users on accidents and road closures. The Google spokesperson said that these reporting mechanisms were being simplified, and that in urban areas, the company was partnering with traffic police to get “authoritative” sources of information on traffic disruptions. How does Google obtain road data in the first place, especially for unpaved ones or pedestrian walkways? Adhavan Sivaraj, a contributor to the volunteer-run OpenStreetMap (OSM) platform, pointed to the company’s use of satellite imagery, which is common across all sorts of mapping services. OSM allows contributors to mark various road attributes, like whether one is paved, number of lanes, and so on. Google Maps restricts the level to which individual users can contribute such data to the company, and their practices are not always open to scrutiny, Mr. Sivaraj says. Using satellite imagery to add unpaved roads is also not a problem that can necessarily be detected immediately, as nearby expressways are likely always suggested as the best route. When there is a route closure, users are likely to discover the issue. A Google executive speculated — asking not to be identified — that another problem that was likely making issues worse was users selecting alternate routes while using turn-by-turn navigation, instead of following the recommended route, which is more likely to be safe and accurate. “I think there is a lot of dependency on Google, on what it’s offering apparently out of its goodwill,” Mr. Sivaraj says. “There is so much dependency on something we cannot hold accountable. There is so much belief in just one map. And that is very dangerous.” There was little way for local communities to get involved in the representation of their own surroundings, he said. Published - December 28, 2024 07:57 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit technology (general) / IT/computer sciences