In conclusion, the FIFPro Best XI for this year has brought some surprises and excitement, with notable absences and unexpected inclusions. As the football world continues to evolve and thrive, fans can look forward to witnessing the best players in action and celebrating the diverse talents that make the sport so captivating.
Before being elected as the first transgender woman to the US Congress, 34-year-old Sarah McBride said she expected hostility. A harsh national spotlight has fallen swiftly upon her. "They may try to misgender me, they may try to say the wrong name, they will do what we can predictably assume they might do," she told the TransLash podcast last month ahead of her resounding election victory on November 5. "They are going to do that to get a rise out of me and my job will be to not give them the response they want," the Democrat from Delaware explained. Ahead of her arrival in the House of Representatives on January 3, McBride was targeted by a resolution this week from a right-wing Republican colleague that would ban transgender women from women's toilets in the Capitol. "Just because a Congressman wants to wear a mini skirt doesn’t mean he can come into a women’s bathroom," South Carolina firebrand Nancy Mace wrote on social media as she led a highly personal campaign against McBride. House Speaker Mike Johnson, after initially seeking to buy time to debate the issue, came out in support of a ban, saying that all single-sex facilities would be "reserved for individuals of that biological sex." McBride -- who wears knee-length dresses, not miniskirts -- issued a statement saying that she said would respect the rules "even if I disagree with them." "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," said the politician and activist, who transitioned as a 21-year-old and told her parents on Christmas Day 2011. Donald Trump repeatedly raised transgender issues in the closing stages of his presidential campaign, with aides noting how questions around trans identity struck a nerve with swing voters. Two of the biggest issues -- at the heart of ongoing "culture wars" between conservatives and progressives -- are whether transgender women should be allowed in women's toilets and be admitted in women's sport. Mocking transgender athletes and "woke ideology," Trump promised to get "transgender insanity the hell out of our schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports." McBride has long been an advocate for trans rights and she helped campaign for a law banning gender discrimination in her home state of Delaware, during which she was publicly called a "freak" and the "devil incarnate". "Listening to that was demeaning and dehumanizing for my child," her mother Sally told The Washington Post in a 2018 profile. "I still have a hard time coping with that." Undeterred, McBride rode the blows and was elected as the first US transgender state senator in 2020. She has been open about her mental health struggles growing up as a boy named Tim and the personal tragedy that has marked her life since, writing a memoir called "Tomorrow Will Be Different" in 2018. "I remember as a child praying in my bed at night that I would wake up the next day and be a girl," she told a TED talk in 2016. She first gathered major public attention with an open letter while a student leader at American University in Washington that announced her transition. She went on to encounter President Joe Biden and his family, also Delaware natives, when she became active in grassroots politics there. After interning at the White House under President Barack Obama, she secured an invitation to speak at the 2016 Democratic Party convention. The White House was also the scene of her first encounter with her late husband, Andrew Cray, a transgender man and LGTBQ+ activist. They married two years later shortly before Cray died from cancer. Knowing the attention she is destined for in the US Congress, she says her aim is to be an effective congresswoman focused on everyday voter priorities such as housing and inflation. But she knows she will be constantly pushed to be a spokeswoman -- and defender -- of the trans community. "I can't do right by the trans community if I'm not being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she told TransLash. "It's the only way that people will see that trans people can be good doctors, can be good lawyers, good educators, good members of Congress. I can't be there to put out a press release and tweet every time someone says something." adp/bgs
One of the biggest challenges facing Solskjaer is how to unlock the potential of the existing players at the club. Talented individuals like Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial have shown flashes of brilliance, but consistency has been a major issue. Solskjaer must find a way to get the best out of his players and instill a winning mentality within the squad.Edge Security Market Growth Trends and Forecast 2024-2031: Industry Analysis
As the missing woman begins to reintegrate into society and reconnect with her past, she faces a multitude of challenges and obstacles. Rebuilding relationships, processing her lost years, and coming to terms with her new identity as a mother are just a few of the hurdles she must overcome. However, with the support of her family and loved ones, she is determined to forge a new path forward and embrace the future with hope and courage.The encounter between Trump and Macron was marked by a series of cringe-worthy moments, starting with their handshake upon meeting. Trump's signature handshake style, which involves aggressive pulling and tugging, seemed to catch Macron off guard, leading to a visibly uncomfortable exchange that lasted several seconds longer than expected. Macron, known for his composed demeanor, struggled to maintain his usual calm and collected facade, his expression shifting from surprise to embarrassment as the awkward handshake dragged on.Buying a house in 2025: your how-to guide
Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, arises from the inner lining of the stomach and can spread to other parts of the body if left unchecked. The development of gastric cancer is a multifaceted process influenced by various factors. One of the primary reasons for the increasing incidence of gastric cancer in younger individuals is the changing dietary habits and lifestyle choices in modern society. Poor dietary choices, such as high consumption of processed foods, fatty and salty foods, and low intake of fruits and vegetables, have been linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer. Additionally, factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity have also been associated with an elevated risk of developing gastric cancer.KUWAIT CITY, Dec 12: The forum “National Identity and Strengthening Citizenship Principles in Kuwaiti Society” held two discussions on Wednesday, focusing on the role of media in enhancing national identity and the impact of political and legal issues on national unity and citizenship. The first session, titled “The Role of Media in Strengthening National Identity and Citizenship Principles,” was chaired by Editor-in-Chief of Al-Rai newspaper Waleed Al-Jassim who emphasized that a variety of identities within society creates a beautiful mosaic, as long as no single identity dominates, ensuring national stability. Al-Jassim highlighted the media’s responsibility in fostering national identity while respecting individual differences and preserving the state’s identity, and also discussed the rise of a universal human identity through social media, questioning its potential risks. Meanwhile, former Minister of Information Sami Al-Nisf warned against prioritizing personal desires over national interests and stressed the importance of reinforcing national identity for coexistence among citizens. Al-Nisf discussed the crucial role of professional media in enhancing national identity, emphasizing the country’s achievements, and advancing the values that build nations. On his side, Professor of Mass Communication at Kuwait University Dr. Khaled Al-Qahs explained that each generation interacts with media differently, noting that the current generation, heavily involved with digital technology and social media, requires targeted communication to strengthen national identity through these platforms. He also outlined various types of digital citizenship, such as digital consumption, participation in decision-making, and political activity, mentioning both the benefits and challenges of digital citizenship, including security risks and the spread of fake news. The second session, titled “Political and Legal Issues and their Impact on National Unity and Citizenship Principles,” was chaired by Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghanim. He underscored the complexity of national identity and its importance to everyone, underlining the role of forums like this in shaping youth perspectives for a stronger nation. Next, Professor of Public Law at Kuwait University Dr. Mohammad Al- Fiali discussed national identity as a psychological concept requiring a legal foundation, emphasizing the connection between law, rights, and citizenship, and explaining that law binds identity to human frameworks, protecting it from dangers. As for the Professor of International Relations Dr. Ghanim Al-Najjar, he pointed out that national unity is closely linked to national identity, with Kuwait facilitating the formation of both. He referenced a study showing high levels of security in Kuwait, stating that justice, equality, and equal opportunities positively strengthen national identity. The forum, which started on Tuesday, was organized by the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Center at Kuwait University, the Women’s Institute for Development and Peace, and the National Unity Promotion Team at the Cabinet, and concluded today at the university’s Shuwaikh campus. (KUNA)In a surprising turn of events, reports have emerged indicating that Manchester United are considering the possibility of selling Marcus Rashford by the end of next summer at the latest. The club is reportedly open to listening to offers for the forward as early as the upcoming winter transfer window.Uber Technologies Inc. stock falls Thursday, underperforms market
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Why now presents an 'attractive opportunity' to buy this quality ASX 200 dividend stockMillions of you have turned to each month in 2024 to see the latest scientific breakthroughs and technological debacles and everything in between. Using a secret formula of readership statistics, social activity, and curatorial instinct, we have collected 22 (why not!) stories spanning everything from DIY home tips to (so-called) gates of hell to (real) transparent mice. Peruse our most popular headlines of 2024 below and click through to read the stories. We love answering our readers’ questions in our series When posed with a question of what to do with Earth’s ever-mounting piles of e-waste, plastic, recalled microwaves, bedbug-ridden couches, beached tankers, what have you... One of our readers had the idea of shooting it all into the sun. contributor Harri Weber and consulted experts to see if it was viable in one of our most read stories of the year. Short answer: No. But why? The answer is... practical. (If you’re feeling inspired, you can always submit your burning questions using . Nothing is too outrageous for us to tackle, clearly.) If you were on the internet at all during the first two years of the pandemic, you may have seen a very floating around. It insisted that while we were sequestered to our homes by well-meaning health authorities, the lack of human activity in the outside world had resulted in a sort of ecological Renaissance. Turns out that that wasn’t actually true. contributor Lauren Leffer behind the viral (but fake) phenomena. And no, dolphins weren’t swimming in the Venice canals. Sorry. The Mastervoice Butler in a Box was the original home voice assistant, first introduced way back in 1983, costing more than $4,000 a pop in today’s money. Our intrepid video team set out to find it and reactivate it more than forty years later. It was a journey! Watch us What happens if you ingest collagen? A market will tell you that its benefits are plentiful, especially if you’re trying to revitalize your skin’s youthful glow. Contributor Hannah Seo digs into the claims on a granular... nay, molecular level. For more on collagen drinks, dermatology advice, and the wild world of under-regulated supplements, You know you can recycle, upcycle, and repair your old sunglasses instead of contributing to piles of garbage (which, we repeat, you just launch into the sun) and wasting money? Of the we’ve published this year, something about sunglasses piqued your interest. 😎 It may sound like stuff of science fiction, but, with the help of physics and chemistry, scientists have turned the bellies of live lab mice nearly transparent, allowing for an unobstracted view of the pumping and throbbing innards within. Oh, also they used a dye commonly found in your most orange snacks. Wild! You can and , if you don’t believe us. Usually, orcas hang and hunt in pods, but this solitary creature with a taste for blood all by itself. Our resident expert all things under the sea Laura Baisas observed this gnarly display of nature. We love a good heist... and airplanes! Staff writer Andrew Paul spotted earlier this year. All that effort and creativity, but the alleged smugglers did not get away with it this time. This was the first documented case of in an extremely rare case of . In a lab experiment, a type of marine algae and a bacterium had combined into one living organism. Scientists predict that this event could not have happened in the last billion years... that we know of! There are named after a biblical destination of eternal damnation. But appears to be growing. Uh-oh. In yet we explore RCA’s ill-fated attempt at making the home media system Selectavision 400 happen. It was a disaster for the company. Of course, we had to get one of these and try to make it work. The struggle was real. Did you know that there’s a sweet spot of optimal battery power for your Android phone? Shocking, we know, but it’s not 100%. contributor and tech hacks extraordinaire David Nield Whether or not you can handle it psychologically is up to you. Did you know ? Neither did we until inspired DIY’er Debbie Wolfe outline this and many more uses for this supposed waste product. For more home tips from Debbie, check out her , , and . Humans grow and change. It’s part our nature. Not this guy. has been found to have the slowest rate of molecular evolution among all jawed vertebrates, with its genome changes much more slowly than other vertebrates walking and swimming around the globe. That might explain the “old soul” look in Gar’s eyes. Kristin Shaw, our contributor for all things auto, dug into the history of Ski-Doo, the only snowmobile quiet enough to be allowed at Yellowstone National Park. If you’re interested in rules, regulations, and snowmobile design, We were told to squish as many of these brightly-patterned bugs as we could, but has it made a difference? In this very through feature from Lauren Leffer, we not only answer your burning question but break down exactly how invasive species get designated and dealt with. the scientific mysteries of ecological imbalance. Meanwhile, keep squishing. We’ll let the scientists speak for this one: “Watching an invasive apex predator swallow a full-sized deer in front of you is something that you will never forget.” Yikes! and try, try to unsee it. These that apply to both Windows and macOS will not only keep your computer running smoothly, they will help you declutter your life. Try them out and find out for yourself. Ever touched the soft flesh bags dangling from your ear and wondered, what are these even for? (Besides wearing earrings, of course.) on vestigial organs and offered some very convincing theories on the evolutionary mystery of earlobes in this feature. Ever wondered how electronic drums and cymbals work? What do they sound like? What do they feel like? This hands-on breakdown from Stan Horaczek . This one was close to Andrew’s heart, and we’re glad our readers shared the interest. At the intersection of luck and technology, meet the kid that finally “beat” this game, , and learn more about the history of Tetris kill screens, mods, and “hypertapping.” Laura spotted this ultra-rare specimen on and interviewed the scientists that received it as a donation. Then, stay tuned for more amazing animals, groundbreaking inventions, and handy tips in 2025.
Figuring out who they are would be a first step in the right direction. The Titans (3-9) also must bounce back from last week's ugly loss at Washington that cost this franchise yet another chance to string together consecutive wins for the first time in more than two years. “We know that this is a big opportunity for us to develop as a team and to create and to continue developing our identity,” quarterback Will Levis said. “And so we’re going to make sure that we do our best throughout these next few weeks to do that.” The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) lost Trevor Lawrence for the rest of the season after the hit he took from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in last week's 23-20 loss to Houston. Their already dim playoff hopes were extinguished Monday night when Denver won. That leaves the Jaguars playing for pride and potentially drafting No. 1 overall for the third time in five years. “It’s all about how you finish,” tight end Evan Engram said. “How we finish probably won’t erase the feeling we have of the season. But as the pride of this franchise, the pride of the team, it’s definitely worth going to finish strong and going to get some wins and fighting for that.” The Titans went into Washington with one of the NFL's stingiest defenses and wound up shredded, giving up a season-worst 267 yards rushing. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said, “We can’t allow what happened last week to happen again.” Wide receiver Calvin Ridley says he's excited to see some old teammates Sunday and downplayed a question about how close Jacksonville's offer to keep him last March might've been when he chose to sign with division rival Tennessee instead. “Doesn't matter right now,” Ridley said. “I'm excited for this week. Jags come in here, play with my boys. I'm excited.” Ridley played one season with Jacksonville after the Jaguars traded for him . He had 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight TDs last season with the Jaguars. So far this season, Ridley has 43 receptions for 679 yards and three TDs. “I just know I'm going to be ready,” Ridley said. Jacksonville has lost 16 consecutive games when tied or trailing at halftime. It’s a complete flip from the 2022 season, in which the Jaguars rallied to beat Dallas, the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee down the stretch to make the playoffs. The 20-16 victory against the Titans in the regular-season finale that year is the last time coach Doug Pederson’s team has come from behind to win after trailing or being tied at the break. Tennessee led 13-7 at the half in that one and was minutes from winning a third straight AFC South title . Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen needs 4 1/2 sacks to break the franchise record of 55 held by Tony Brackens. Hines-Allen has at least half a sack in four consecutive games against Tennessee, which has given up 43 sacks in 2024. “My family knows about it probably more than me,” Hines-Allen said. “My wife tells me all the time, ‘Hey, get that record. All you just need is four sacks.’ Like, you can just (get) four sacks. “I had a couple games last year where I had three, so I can’t say it’s out of the realm. But I never had four sacks; don’t know what it feels like to do that in one game. But hopefully speak it into existence.” Mac Jones will be starting at quarterback and is 0-2 with the Jaguars this season. He has one more interception (three) than touchdown passes (two) in five appearances. The Titans are looking to see if Levis can keep building on his strong play of the past month and start turning those into wins. Levis is 1-3 since returning from a strained throwing shoulder. He has seven TD passes with two interceptions for a 101.3 passer rating in his past four games. He also is completing 61.7% of his passes for 960 yards. “The cool thing right now for Will is that as we’ve corrected things, he’s corrected them,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said . “And that’s been really fun to watch as he’s made adjustments from game to game, sometimes even from in the game made an adjustment to a coverage or a read, and that part’s been good to see.” AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long in Jacksonville, Florida, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflAtalanta's aspirations of contending for the title in Serie A will depend on their ability to maintain the highest level of performance throughout the season. The team's success in recent years has been built on their consistency, resilience, and ability to overcome obstacles. Atalanta must continue to play with intensity, focus, and confidence in order to challenge the traditional powers of Italian football and stake their claim as legitimate title contenders.At the heart of this groundbreaking program is the cutting-edge AI technology known as "RealAI," which has been specifically designed to revolutionize the way in which films and TV shows are conceptualized, developed, and produced. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, filmmakers participating in the AIGC Director Co-creation Program are able to tap into a wealth of creative resources and insights, enabling them to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling and embrace new and exciting narrative techniques.
The collaborative effort that went into the creation of the snow-carrier highlighted the strength of unity and teamwork. It exemplified the idea that when individuals come together with a common purpose, they can achieve remarkable feats that transcend the boundaries of individual achievement.