President Steinmeier: Germany-Nigeria Relations Stable, Built on Politics, Economy, CultureFourteen of the 18 NBA teams who played Monday night scored 100 points or more. Eight of the nine teams that won did so with 100-plus points in their favor. That included Knicks who totaled 145 points against the Nuggets, the Thunder who racked up 130 points over the Kings and the Mavericks who finished with 129 vs. the Hawks. But not the Magic . Not Jamahl Mosley ‘s squad that, in an 11-point win, didn’t crack 100 and held their opponent to fewer than 85. Orlando , without three opening night starters in Paolo Banchero (torn right abdominal muscle), Wendell Carter Jr. (left foot plantar fasciitis) and Jalen Suggs (left hamstring strain), improved to 8-0 when limiting opponents to less than100 points in its 95-84 win against the Hornets on the road. Charlotte (6-11) entered the contest averaging 110.6 points and Monday’s result marked just the third time (in 17 games) that it didn’t score at least 100. Perhaps more impressive, Orlando (12-7) is now responsible for two of those three sub-100 performances by the Hornets (Minnesota is the other team). For reference, the Magic are 4-7 when opposing teams score 100 or more. Relying on its defense is how Orlando has won games since Banchero’s abdominal injury Oct. 30 at Chicago. And, until his return and likely after it, defense is simply how the Magic will have to continue to win. Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic leaned on defense to win at Hornets “We have the personnel,” said guard Cole Anthony who scored 16 points off the bench after Gary Harris exited Monday’s contest in the first quarter and didn’t return with a left hamstring strain. “We shot 39% from the floor as a team. It’s hard to win games like that, but we just did that. “We can compete with anyone in the league,” he added. “That’s just what I believe. We’ve proved that and we’re going to continue to prove that.” Anthony’s effort off the bench was a part of a larger one in which the reserves outscored Charlotte’s 53-15. They also outscored their own starters 53-42. Charlotte’s LaMelo Bell had 44. But for Anthony, in particular, his performance that included a team-high 8 rebounds with 4 assists could bode well for the Magic moving forward. Harris is out for for Wednesday’s game vs. Bulls (7-11). Suggs and Carter are not listed on the injury report, meaning the latter is set to return after missing the past 12 games. Chicago played at Washington on the first night of a back-to-back Tuesday. Monday’s contest was just Anthony’s second scoring in double figures after he fell out of Orlando’s rotation. But even in limited action, Anthony has remained consistent with his work in the gym and his teammates have noticed that. “He’s a professional,” forward Jonathan Isaac said. “This league is not easy. Sometimes it’s just not your night. And sometimes you don’t have the opportunity for it to be your night. “But he’s kept his head down and waited for the right opportunity and it happened to be this game. He’s a big reason why we won this game.” In a stretch where Magic need all hands on deck to help Franz Wagner find ways to win, Anthony potentially getting back on track consistently on offense — where he’s shot a career-low 36.2% from the field — only helps. “I put a lot of work in,” he said. “And when stuff don’t go your way, it’s hard to sometimes cope with that. But I’ve just been trying to do what I can to stay ready. I’d love to do it again.” Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com Up next ... Magic vs. Bulls When: 7, Wednesday, Kia Center TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida
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Ross Barkley’s 85th-minute goal gave them victory in Germany after goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran early in each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner. That sent them up to third in the new league phase of the competition ahead of Wednesday’s games and with matches against Monaco and Celtic to come, Villa have an excellent chance of finishing in the top eight. Job done... in the end 😅 #RBLAVL #UCL pic.twitter.com/PRD1Hi1Q3A — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 That would mean they would avoid a play-off round to make it through to the last 16 and Emery says that is the target. “Today was key. Juventus at home, we were thinking more to win but in the end we accepted the draw because it was important for a point to be more or less in the top 24,” he told Amazon Prime. “Today was a match we were thinking at the beginning was key to be a contender to be in the top eight with the last two matches to be played. “It is going to be difficult and we have to get some more points but we now have the possibility to achieve this option. “We are going to enjoy and try to get top eight but we have to be happy because we are in the top 24 and maybe even the top 16. “We weren’t contenders in the beginning to get there but now we have to accept it.” Leipzig, who are flying high near the top of the Bundesliga, are out after losing all six matches. They did pose a threat to Villa, who inflicted some of their own problems on themselves, notably a rare gaffe from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for Openda’s equaliser. But Emery was happy with his side’s performance. “I try to enjoy and always we want to improve and sometimes it is hard but today the team were performing well, playing seriously and I was enjoying it,” he added. “We tried to overcome the mistakes we made and we did. More or less we were playing consistently. One mistake and they score but then we played very well. “Champions League is very difficult and we have to expect that every team playing at home are feeling strong. We played with consistency and domination.”
The Great British Bake Off fans were left in shock as Georgie Grasso, hailed as "the very first Welsh winner," was declared the champion of the 2024 series. After an intense series presented by Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, the final three contestants standing were Georgie, 34, Christiaan de Vries, 34, and Dylan Bachelet, aged 20. The finalists' initial challenge in the tent involved crafting scones. They later had to impress the judges with an afternoon tea ensemble. Their final task required them to construct an intricate hanging celebration cake. As the tension escalated, Alison declared: "This is the bake between winning or losing," reports Wales Online . BBC Christmas TV guide - full schedule of what's on this Christmas from Gavin & Stacey to Call the Midwife Great British Bake Off star says 'I quit' as Alison Hammond forced to step in Under the scrutinising gaze of judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, as well as hosts Alison and Noel, Christian, Georgie, and Dylan began to exhibit signs of anxiety. Fan favourite Dylan, who had been performing well throughout the competition, encountered difficulties with his genoise sponge's consistency in the final round. This led viewers to speculate that Christian, who remained composed under pressure, might seize the victory from him. Meanwhile, Georgie also faced her own hurdles during her final showstopper, as she seemed to forget what she was doing. Retreating to the back of the tent, Georgie audibly questioned: "What am I doing here? " What did I come over here for?" Despite initial confusion, Georgie triumphed following three tense challenges. For her showstopper, Pru declared Georgie's cake "absolutely delicious," while both Pru and Paul concurred that its presentation was impressive. Nevertheless, some viewers couldn't make sense of Georgie's victory and took to X to voice their opinions. One viewer commented: "How on earth has Georgie won?" Another expressed: "Even with my Welsh bias, I think Christiaan should've won that. My money was on Dylan at the start, but unfortunately, he chose to morph into the wonderful Lucy Beaumont for the final. Congratulations to Georgie though." Another also remarked: "I'm happy for Georgie BUT Dylan is probably the best contestant this show has ever had. Such a weird result." However, certain fans were delighted with Georgie's win, with one posting: "Bravo Georgie, well done!" and another added: "Go Georgie... well deserved Welsh winner." Children's nurse Georgie, from Carmarthenshire, admitted her final showstopper challenge was "the most challenging bake I've ever done". She said: "When I saw the brief, I thought, game over. "It required considerable thought and planning. I practised about three times. My goal was to enable the judges to experience something truly reflective of myself in the bake, through my choice of colours and flavours. Undoubtedly, the assembly and time constraints comprised the most stressful aspects." As a mother of three, she spoke about the significant sacrifices she had to make to stay in the competition. She revealed: "I've had to put the family on the back burner which has been really hard. I've had to tell the kids 'no' a lot." The Great British Bake Off is available to watch on Channel4.com
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 12:19 p.m. ESTHow to watch Tyler Perry’s ‘Sistas’ season 8 new episode free Dec. 11
Emmerdale fans were left shocked during the most recent episode as 'creepy' Tom King escalated his abusive behaviour. In Tuesday's trip to the Dales (November 26), Belle, Tom's estranged wife, attempted to maintain her composure after learning that Tom, who is currently under investigation, was behaving as if nothing had transpired. Belle was further upset upon discovering that some of her village friends continued to support him despite the abuse she suffered during their marriage. Despite pleas from her family to stay calm, Belle feared that the investigation might not proceed as smoothly as she initially anticipated and worried that the villain might escape justice for his terrible actions. Later in the episode, upon learning that Belle had returned to the village after a stint in a mental health facility, Tom's obsession intensified. He broke into Jacob's Fold, where Belle was residing, and prowled around the house while Belle was upstairs taking a bath, reports Leeds Live . Rummaging through her suitcase on the living room floor, Tom selected Belle's blue jumper. He held it close to his face, deeply inhaling its scent. When he thought Belle might be coming downstairs, he quickly concealed himself with the blue jumper. Unaware of Tom's presence in the house, Belle went to the suitcase to fetch a towel. Later, Tom encountered Belle on Main Street and didn't hesitate to verbally attack her, dismissing her plans to bring him down as pointless. In a later scene, Tom gifted Amelia with Belle's blue jumper. This obsessive behaviour disturbed viewers who took to social media platform X to voice their concerns. One viewer commented: "OMG, Tom stealing Belle's top and encouraging Amelia to wear it reminded me of Nish abusing Suki in #EastEnders at the beginning. This is going beyond abuse now for Belle it's turning into a creepy and sinister obsession. At least Tom gets charged this week." Another viewer expressed: "Just finished watching tonight's episode #Emmerdale. Tom you are a creep!! Can't wait for him too get charged. " They added: "Nice too see belle back can't wait for her too get justice soon." A third viewer posted: "Tom, you absolute creep." While another remarked: "Nicking Belle's top and giving it to Amelia so she can smell like Belle." Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1.Superintendent and Principal Courtney Lyons presents updates on facility improvement projects during the Fayette Central School Board meeting on Nov. 19 at the school in Fayette. Franklin Journal file photo FAYETTE — The Fayette Central School board of directors met Nov. 19 to address budget concerns and review updates from Superintendent and Principal Courtney Lyons on three facility-related projects aimed at improving student well-being and school infrastructure. Board Chair Nancy Cronin raised concerns about the removal of the “principal’s line” from the budget several years ago, which had previously allowed principals to address student and staff needs. “There was something called the principal’s line, and the principal line’s job was to do things like, when a kid comes in and needs something, they have money to be able to pay for it,” Cronin said. “What I learned since that time is that staff has taken it out of their pockets. And that is not something that I think is appropriate.” Cronin emphasized the need to reinstate the line during finance discussions. “The need of our children is more and more, and you can’t just turn away from some of these things,” she said. “But I do not believe it should come out of staff pay.” Lyons provided updates on three requests for proposals [RFPs] aimed at improving facilities and addressing student needs. The first RFP focuses on constructing an outdoor classroom structure. “We are looking to create a space for students during recess time but also for teachers during class time to go out and use,” Lyons said. “This structure would give students a place where they can sit, read, draw, or play games with their peers. They’re not all looking to run around or play sports, so this provides another option.” Lyons highlighted the potential long-term benefits of the space. “Over time, we could build up this area to include gardening or science activities,” she said. “It’s not just for recess, it’s about creating a dynamic learning environment outdoors.” The second RFP concerns the installation of a fence along the playground’s perimeter to enhance safety. “This project is also funded by our bipartisan grant, which focuses on student safety and well-being,” Lyons said. The third RFP focuses on replacing the back gym roof, which has been plagued by issues with defective BP shingles. “Last year, we noticed water leaking over the gym stage area, and when we looked, you could see there were rotten trim boards,” Lyons said. “We thought once it was repaired this summer some of the problem would be solved, but this fall we’ve seen more water.” Lyons emphasized the need for a comprehensive solution. Lyons said they’ve had roofing companies come out, and it looks like the current shingles have failed again. “The back gym roof has to be fully replaced,” she said. “The shingles have to be taken off, and then we will have further conversation about our whole roof.” The board will review quotes for the projects at its next meeting and continue discussions on facility improvements and budget planning. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. We invite you to add your comments. 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The Philippines consistently cements its reputation as a vanguard of Catholicism in Asia—boasting old churches and a predominantly Catholic population. In 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that about four out of five Filipino households declared themselves to be of the Roman Catholic faith (http://bit.ly/4fJ41ng). The country is no stranger to the interactions between the Catholic Church and the state. The national hero, Dr. José Rizal, famously wrote about the power that priests wielded during the Spanish colonization in his obra maestras. In 1986, Manila’s Archbishop Cardinal Sin appealed to the people for peace, which led to the people power revolution. The influence of the Church on the country cannot be denied even today, where it is still common to see politicians display themselves as devout or to hear about political aspirants courting religious groups to secure block votes. With another round of elections coming soon in the Philippines, the spotlight is once again on the political aspirants to prove to the public that they are upright citizens and morally sound people. Speaking as someone who grew up witnessing how Catholic values shaped and influenced the Philippines, it makes me wonder why corruption is so prevalent in the country even though public institutions such as schools and media outlets regularly emphasize the importance of embodying moral values whether it be through formal curriculum or entertainment. This is the country where churches are found in every other town, where religious-themed shows like “May Bukas Pa” became mainstream nationwide, and where the opinions of award-giving bodies such as the Catholic Mass Media hold weight. This is the country where a lot of the top schools are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, where the process of legalizing universal access to contraceptives became ripe with protests, and controversies, and where divorce is still not legal. Despite Catholic-influenced institutions preaching about moral values to Filipinos, corruption still seems prevalent among people of power in the country. In 2023, the Philippines ranked 115th out of 180 countries in the 2023 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (https://bit.ly/3B7M0Qf). With each new administration, there seems to be a new scandal that comes to light at the expense of taxpayers and the common folk. Dishonest behavior and money almost always seem to be involved in corruption cases of public officials. Even though quite a number of public officials identify as Roman Catholic or were educated in Catholic-affiliated schools, they may still commit these dishonest acts. This is not to say that religion should bear the brunt of the ills of society. After all, other countries influenced by Catholicism or other religions also have their fair share of concerns. On paper, the Philippines should also be a secular state, and religion should not be the guiding hand behind people’s actions in service. It is interesting though how in truth, the country is still very much influenced by Catholicism. For a society that views itself to have a collective nature and prides itself on being a vanguard of Catholicism, the country remains plagued by behavior rooted in individualism and issues contrary to the Church’s teachings. If Catholic views about the sanctity of marriage can deter the legalization of divorce for all, how come Catholic views about the evils of greed do not deter corruption? If state-wise, Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and church-wise, the 10 Commandments, cannot stop corruption among public servants in the Philippines—then what can? What should? But then again, maybe it is actually Catholicism that inspires a generally forgiving nature among Filipinos, enabling corruption to propagate and go unpunished. After all, didn’t Jesus say let the one without sin be the first to cast a stone? Alyssa Y. Go Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .San Francisco wins 85-64 over Fordham