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Chandigarh, Dec 22 (IANS): Two people were found dead as the 23-hour rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Army, besides civil authorities, to locate missing people trapped in a collapsed four-storey building in Punjab’s Mohali ended on Sunday. The body of a male was recovered on Sunday, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Damandeep Kaur said, adding the victim has been identified as Abhishek Dhanwal, hailing from Haryana's Ambala. Earlier, a woman, identified as Drishti Verma, 20, from Himachal Pradesh, died in the incident. Officiating Deputy Commissioner Viraj S. Tidke along with Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek, told the media the search and rescue operation to evacuate the trapped people whose exact number was not ascertained initially, got a boost when a critically injured woman was rescued from the wreckage. After that, the operation continued the entire night and onwards till 4.30 pm on Sunday when it was made clear by the NDRF that there was no more possibility of any person being trapped under the debris. Tidke said the debris had been checked by the NDRF thoroughly before declaring the operation over. He said that a total of 600 NDRF, Army, and police personnel were roped in for the round-the-clock operation. He said about 140 NDRF team members, 167 from the Army’s 57 Engineers Regiment, over 300 local police personnel and the rest from allied departments were involved in the operation. During the operation, requisite machinery was provided to the NDRF in addition to what they already had. He said that a magisterial probe had been ordered in this incident to fix the responsibility. SDM Damandeep Kaur has been entrusted with the probe and she has been asked to submit the report within three weeks. The whole operation was monitored by the district civil and police officials till its completion. Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, and Superintendent of Police Jyoti Yadav Bains were present at the site of the operation. According to officials, people were buried under the debris when the structure of a gym collapsed owing to digging in an adjacent building’s basement in Sector 77. The police have booked and arrested the building owners -- Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, charging them with culpable homicide. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had spoken with the district administration about the ongoing rescue works and directed us to make all possible efforts to rescue the victims. Also, Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang and local MLA Kulwant Singh were at the site on Saturday to oversee the rescue work. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav also took stock of the rescue work and directed the local police to ensure the safety of victims at all costs.
Bridgeport scores 49 straight points to move into semifinals over Nitro, 70-21Coffee consumption in the U.S. is at record levels, and ready-to-drink coffee is growing in popularity. These convenient canned (and occasionally bottled) coffee drinks, perfect for grabbing on the go, are taking up more space on grocery store shelves than ever, with new brands regularly introducing their own brews. Canned coffee can stay fresh for a while too, making it great to stock your pantry with. So, when faced with so much variety, which canned coffee brand should you reach for? There are the tried-and-true household names like Starbucks and Dunkin', but what about the smaller, lesser-known offerings? As a coffee connoisseur, hardcore caffeine fiend, and former barista, these ready-to-drink coffees have intrigued me lately. For a long time, I've thought of them as nothing more than a convenient caffeine boost to grab on the go, not something to seek out unless I was in too much of a hurry to stop and get a "real" coffee. Maybe, though, I wasn't giving them enough credit. Could a canned coffee reach the heights of a properly brewed fresh cup? And if so, which ones are the best of the best? I tasted nine brands, thirteen total individual coffees, and ranked each brand according to flavor, value, and quality, from worst to best. While I may never sleep again, at least now I know which brews to reach for, and which ones to leave on the shelf. 9. Slate I'll preface this by saying, this coffee is not for me. If you are looking for a sugar-free canned flavored latte, maybe this will have some appeal. Personally, I didn't find much to enjoy in this can except for the initial vanilla aroma. Once I tasted it, I didn't want to have another sip. That's partially because, as I've discovered over the years, I don't enjoy stevia-sweetened beverages. Stevia is a popular alternative sweetener , but to my palate, it adds an unpleasantly bitter, chalky flavor that takes over. Unfortunately, that means this coffee was my least favorite of the bunch. What it reminded me of more than anything was a protein powder shake. I don't drink those for the taste, and I wouldn't drink this for the taste either, but if you're looking for a functional beverage, perhaps it'll be something for you. It's high in protein and low in carbs, so nutrition-wise, it's not a bad choice. If you can handle stevia, give it a try; if stevia is not your thing, I'd go with something else. 8. Dunkin' I must admit, I've never understood the widespread appeal of Dunkin' coffee. Having spent some time living in the chain's birthplace, Massachusetts, where there's a Dunkin' on every corner , I have had my fair share of the stuff. It always struck me as unremarkable coffee at best, or downright awful at worst. Take my opinions here with a grain of salt, I suppose, although I do try to stay as objective and open-minded as possible whenever I am reviewing a product. The Dunkin' original iced coffee comes in a 13.7-ounce bottle. It's made with real dairy, a combination of skim milk and cream, and sweetened with cane sugar. When I opened and poured it, I took a sniff and got nothing. It may as well have been water. I wondered if I'd lost my sense of smell. On the palate, it's just pure sugar — I had a hard time discerning any recognizable coffee flavor. That said, it wasn't offensive, just kind of boring and way too sweet. After a few sips, I felt like I had a sugar high. And it's no wonder. Dunkin's iced coffee contained the most added sugar of any product on this list, clocking in at 28 grams per serving — or 57 percent of the recommended daily allowance. If you're looking for a sugar bomb, this might be for you. 7. Trader Joe's As a frequent Trader Joe's shopper, I'm always tempted by their coffee offerings, and every time I give in, I get burned. I'm not sure what it is about their coffee that doesn't do it for me, but I've tried a ton of their products and am always disappointed. I was hoping things would be different with their ready-to-drink cold brew cans. I like the size of the cans — eight ounces is just about the perfect amount of coffee, if you ask me — and the design is attractive. Unfortunately, what was inside didn't match up. Both the black and the vanilla-flavored cold brew were thin, without much richness or texture to speak of. I liked the black coffee's flavor at first but, as I kept drinking it, the bitterness on the finish began to compound so intensely that by the time I was halfway through the can, I thought I was drinking a triple IPA. I don't mind a bitter coffee, and I drink mine black fairly often, but there's something harsh about the way these coffees finish. I appreciated that the vanilla coffee wasn't overly sweet, but the flavor balance was off. These were the least expensive coffees on the list, but I'd rather spend more to get a tastier brew. 6. Peet's Full disclosure, Peet's is my local coffee spot, and has been for over a decade. I'm a big fan of their in-house coffees, and I use their coffee beans when I brew at home. I wasn't familiar with their ready-to-drink bottles, and so was quite curious to give them a shot. The vanilla creme coffee is the only one I tried, and as familiar as I am with their brand, this coffee took me by surprise. This is the second most sugar-packed coffee on this list, with Dunkin' edging it out by one gram. I was shocked by how sweet it was. Unlike the Dunkin' offering, however, it actually had some coffee flavor to it, which made it less cloying and somewhat more enjoyable to drink. That said, it's a massive bottle at 13.7 ounces, and I found myself feeling like I'd had enough after just a few sips. It's decadently rich and creamy, and you can tell it's good quality, but I would consider it a special treat to enjoy once in a while, rather than an everyday grab-and-go coffee. 5. Black Rifle This is an odd one. Black Rifle Coffee Company's espresso with cream seems pretty straightforward, and I thought it would be, but it turned out to be one of the more interesting coffees that I tried. At first, I was smacked with an odd earthy taste that reminded me of mushrooms. I couldn't get past it. I set the coffee aside for a while, and when I went back to try it again, that flavor had mellowed out and the coffee had become smooth and pleasant. I'm not sure what was going on with those first sips, but once that oddness passed, this was an enjoyable canned coffee. Clocking in at 200 milligrams of caffeine, this is not a can for the faint of heart. It's got just enough sweetness and creaminess to balance out the prominent coffee flavor without becoming a dessert drink. It's the only item on this list that bills itself as an espresso, rather than a coffee , so I'm glad they didn't water down the coffee flavor. If I'm looking for a serious buzz, I'll be reaching for this can. 4. La Colombe La Colombe's draft lattes are a delight to drink. I tried the triple, which is made with real milk, and the vanilla with oat milk. Both were creamy and very sippable, with good balance. The coffee flavor on both was fairly subtle, but as they're marketed as lattes, that didn't bother me too much. They're canned with nitrous oxide, a popular technique for coffee these days , which accounts for the creaminess. I did find that compared to other nitro coffees, the froth and richness faded pretty quickly, which was a little bit disappointing. Still, despite that one flaw, these coffees were among my favorites to drink. If you're looking for a canned latte that's milk-forward and not bitter at all, La Colombe is probably the brand for you. At 150 milligrams of caffeine per can, the triple will definitely give you a good charge, and it's so smooth, mellow, and creamy you won't even realize it. 3. Starbucks Starbucks' black nitro cold brew, which was widely launched in 2019 , is marvelous. Of all the nitro brews, it had the best and longest-lasting froth — I felt like I was back in Dublin drinking a perfectly poured Guinness. The flavor profile is deep, rich, and roasted which, along with the mouth-filling texture, makes it an incredibly satisfying coffee to drink. The balance is great, with enough of a bitter tinge on the finish to let you know you're drinking a serious coffee, but it doesn't go too far or become too overwhelming. I also tried the vanilla sweet cream cold brew from Starbucks. It was less impressive, but not bad. It smelled intensely sweet up front, like vanilla ice cream, so I was expecting a dessert-level amount of sugar. The smell, however, is somewhat misleading. There are only 13 grams of added sugars here, so it's not nearly as sickeningly sweet as some of these other vanilla concoctions. There's not a ton of coffee flavor in the vanilla cold brew, but it is there in the background. Personally, I wanted it to be more coffee-forward, but it's good for what it is. 2. Chamberlain Quite honestly, I was shocked by how much I liked Chamberlain Coffee's vanilla latte with oat milk. It was the only coffee I tried from this brand, and now I want to seek out more. The bubble on the can that said "sweeter recipe" concerned me — how sweet would it be? I'd already tasted several too-sugary coffees and was worried I couldn't take another one. To my surprise, however, the sweetness was really pleasant and not at all overpowering, and well balanced with the other flavors. It's sweetened with a combination of date syrup and cane sugar, which may have something to do with its unique sweetness profile. Unlike the vast majority of the other vanilla coffees on this list, Chamberlain's actually tastes like coffee with vanilla, and not the other way around. I didn't have to search for the coffee flavor, as it was perfectly integrated, offering a pleasing nuttiness and lightly roasted flavor. While this didn't take the top spot, it was my favorite of all the vanilla offerings. Plus, it gets points for having an adorable can. 1. Rise Here we are at number one, and I'm going to sing the praises of Rise coffee. The two varieties I sampled were the original black and the oat milk vanilla. Both come in seven-ounce cans and are nitro-infused. These are the smallest products out of everything I tried, and they're not particularly cheap. However, the quality of these coffees was so high, and the flavor so good, that even after dinging them a bit in the value category, they still ranked above all the rest. The cans may be small, but they're bursting with flavor. The original black boasts 180 milligrams of caffeine, so it packs a mighty punch. The second you open the can and hear that hiss, aromas jump out — pungent, nutty, chocolatey, dark, and roasted scents that also show up on the palate. The nitro gives the coffee a gorgeously rich, frothy texture that holds up for some time. While I loved the original black, I only liked the oat milk vanilla; the vanilla aroma was so intense it almost put me off after the absolute perfection of the black. As I drank it, though, I found it to be quite enjoyable. It's not too sweet, and the nitro-infused creaminess works beautifully with the flavors. You can actually taste the coffee, too, which wasn't always the case with the other brands' vanilla offerings. I will be adding Rise coffees into my regular rotation, and I recommend you do, too. How we chose the best canned coffee To decide which coffee brands to include in this ranking, I shopped around at my local grocery stores to see which ones were readily available from multiple different grocery retailers. To keep things simple, I narrowed down the possible selections to plain black coffee, coffee with milk or milk substitutes, and coffee flavored with vanilla. Some brands only offered one of these styles, while others had two. I tasted each coffee and assessed it based on flavor, quality, and value. For brands that offered two selections, I averaged them both out and used that assessment as representative of the brand as a whole. The two main criteria I based the rankings on — would I happily drink the entire can (or bottle), and would I purchase this coffee again? The more enthusiastically I answered these questions, the higher they ranked on the list.
Your black plastic kitchen utensils aren’t so toxic after all. But you should still toss them, group saysGalal Yafai overpowered Sunny Edwards in six rounds to claim the WBC interim flyweight title in his home city of Birmingham and send the former IBF champion into retirement. Yafai, 31, extended his unbeaten professional record to nine fights with a seventh stoppage at the Resorts World Arena on Saturday night with 28-year-old Edwards appearing to tell his corner “I don’t wanna be here” amid an early onslaught. The 2020 Olympic gold medallist, who lost to Edwards on a split decision when the pair fought as amateurs in 2015, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I was scared going into camp, worried what Sunny could do to me. I sparred him, he was hard to spar, he’s beaten me before, he’s been the man in the division, so I had to train as hard as I could to compete with him. “Whatever Sunny decides to do, he’s been the man for a long time now and I’ve looked up to him, so it’s nice to beat him. But it’s 1-1, maybe we can finish on that note.” Yafai went on to the offensive from the off, pinning Edwards to the ropes in the first minute of the fight and unleashing both hands as he set out his stall, catching his opponent with a left cross, right hook combination as the younger man struggled to find his range. Edwards took a series of second-round body shots and a solid left cross with Yafai riding what response the Londoner was able to muster, and having told his corner his legs had gone during the interval, he found himself under intense pressure in the third. "I don't want to be here" Astonishing 🤯🤯 — Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) Yafai maintained his dominance over the fourth and fifth rounds with Edwards visibly wilting and landed a series of right hooks in the sixth before the referee stepped in to call a halt after a minute and 10 seconds. Edwards, who tasted defeat for the second time in his 23-fight career, swiftly announced his decision to retire, saying: “I’ll be real, if I won the fight, I was going into the sunset. This is the last thing that I wanted to do, get that scalp of the Olympic [champion].” He added: “If I’m being perfectly honest, my body’s falling apart, man. I’ve got bad ankles, I’ve got bad wrists, I’ve got bad shoulders, I’ve got a bad back – everything about me is bad at this moment.”
ISTANBUL Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona 100-78 and jumped to third place Friday in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Andreas Obst led the German club with 34 points and Carsen Edwards added 25 at Sap Garden. Obst broke the record for 3-pointers in a single game with 36 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter, having made 10 three-pointers at the end of the third, which had him tied with Shane Larkin (twice), Andrew Goudelock and Marcus Eriksson "Somebody told me that I was near the record, so I was aware of it, so it was a great night also because of the team’s win," Obst said after the game. Nick Weiler-Babb had 14 points and five boards for Bayern. For the Spanish club, Jabari Parker finished with 26 points and Willy Hernangomez had 10 points in the loss. Bayern Munich have an 8 - 3 record while Barcelona are in eighth place at 7 - 3. In another Friday game, Zalgiris Kaunas defeated reigning champ Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 84-77 to end a four-game skid in the EuroLeague at Zalgirio Arena.MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler will not play in the final two games of Miami's ongoing road trip while recovering from illness, the team said Friday. That means Butler will not play Saturday at Atlanta or Sunday at Houston. The earliest he could play again is Wednesday at home against New Orleans. Butler hasn't played since the first quarter of Miami's Dec. 20 game against Oklahoma City, when he twisted an ankle, left the game and then was ruled out because of illness. Miami has played three games since without Butler, two because of the illness and then Thursday's win in Orlando with him back in Miami conditioning for a return. He is not with the team on the road trip. The Heat said Thursday that they are not going to trade Butler, that announcement coming after ESPN, citing sources, said the six-time All-Star would prefer to be moved before the trade deadline on Feb. 6. Butler has not publicly expressed any desire to be traded. He is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA The Associated Press
Appalachian State hires South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as head coachOhio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffleSrinagar / New Delhi, Dec 27: The last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be performed at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday with full State honours as the nation united in paying rich tributes to the departed leader at his residence a day after his death. Draped in the tricolour, Singh’s body was placed at his 3, Motilal Nehru Road, residence – the sprawling bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi that served as his retirement abode for over 10 years, where people made a beeline to pay their last respects. Singh, the architect of India’s economic reforms and a consensus builder in the rough world of politics, died at AIIMS, Delhi, late on Thursday. He was 92. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Singh’s wife, his daughter and other family members were present beside the body. Despite the inclement weather, leaders from across party lines and common people made a beeline to have a glimpse of the departed leader who was respected the world over. Meanwhile, the Government of India announced with profound sorrow the death of the former PM. “As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, it has been decided that seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India from December 26, 2024, to January 1, 2025, both days inclusive. During this period the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning. It has also been decided that the State funeral will be accorded to late Manmohan Singh,” the government said. “The national flag will also fly half-mast on the day of funeral in all Indian Missions and High Commissions of India abroad.” The J&K Government, in alignment with the decision of the Government of India, also announced a seven-day ‘State Mourning’ in J&K from December 26, 2024, to January 1, 2025, as a mark of respect to the former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar were among the top dignitaries who paid homage in the morning. Former president Ram Nath Kovind also paid his last respects in the evening. Singh’s life teaches how to rise above adversity: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the former PM in a video message from New Delhi. He said that Singh’s demise was a significant loss for the nation. The PM said that achieving success in every field of life was not an ordinary feat and Singh was an achiever despite having lost much after he came to India during the partition. He said that Singh’s life teaches future generations how to rise above adversity and achieve great heights. PM Modi emphasised that Singh would always be remembered as a kind person, a learned economist, and a leader dedicated to reforms and highlighted Singh’s numerous contributions to the Indian government at various levels as an economist. He lauded Singh’s role as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India during challenging times. The PM said that as Finance Minister in the government of former PM and Bharat Ratna P V Narasimha Rao, Singh guided the country out of a financial crisis and onto a new economic path. He emphasised that Singh’s contributions to the nation’s development and progress as the PM would always be remembered. PM Modi said that Singh’s commitment to the people and the country’s development was always held in high regard. He underscored that Singh’s life was a reflection of his honesty and simplicity. The PM highlighted that Singh’s distinguished parliamentary career was marked by his humility, gentleness, and intellect. He recalled that at the end of Singh’s tenure in the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, he had praised Singh’s dedication as an inspiration to all. PM Modi said that despite his physical challenges, Singh attended important sessions in a wheelchair, fulfilling his parliamentary duties. He said that despite receiving education from prestigious global institutions and holding top government positions, Singh never forgot the values of his humble background. The PM said that Singh always rose above party politics, maintaining contact with individuals from all parties and being easily accessible to everyone. He fondly remembered his open discussions with Singh on national and international issues during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and later in New Delhi. PM Modi expressed his condolences to Singh’s family and paid tribute to him on behalf of all citizens. Union cabinet passes resolution The Union cabinet also passed a resolution that said, “Manmohan Singh has left his imprint on our national life. In his passing away, the nation has lost an eminent statesman, renowned economist and a distinguished leader.” Union Ministers pay tributes Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP President J P Nadda also paid their tributes to the former PM. “It has been decided by the Government that a State funeral will be accorded to Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11:45 am on December 28, 2024, at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi,” the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a communication. CWC hails Singh’s contributions Hours after the union cabinet condoled the death of Singh and hailed his contribution to the nation, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) met in the evening to mourn the loss of a “true statesman” and said his life and work profoundly shaped the destiny of India. Describing Singh as a towering figure in India’s political and economic landscape, the CWC resolution said his contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide. “Through his policies of deregulation, privatization, and the encouragement of foreign investment, he laid the foundation for India’s rapid economic growth. Under his stewardship, India emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, a testament to his brilliance and vision,” the CWC said. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi pay tributes Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi also paid their tributes to the former two-term PM. Sonia Gandhi termed Singh’s demise as a “personal loss”, saying he was her friend, philosopher and guide and that in his death, the party had lost a leader who was the epitome of wisdom, nobility and humility. His transformative reforms set foundation for modern India: Farooq Abdullah Three-time chief minister of J&K and National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the former PM. In his heartfelt message, Abdullah extended his sympathies to the bereaved family, especially to Singh’s wife and daughters. “Manmohan Singh was a paragon of patriotism and secularism, embodying the virtues of a true leader. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by remarkable contributions to India’s economic landscape, notably the transformative reforms of 1991 that liberalised our economy and set the foundation for modern India,” he said. Abdullah also highlighted Singh’s distinguished role on the international stage, particularly his contributions to the United Nations, which enhanced India’s stature globally. “As an economist and statesman, Singh’s vision and policies were instrumental in shaping the trajectory of our nation’s development,” he said. Sukhbir Singh Badal expresses shock Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed shock and disbelief over the Centre not acceding to the request of Singh’s family for cremation at a place where an “appropriate and historic memorial” may be built to commemorate his “unparalleled services to the nation”. “It is inexplicable why the government is showing such disrespect to the great leader who was the only member of the Sikh community to rise to become the PM,” Badal said in a post on X. CMs of various states pay last respects at Delhi Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also came to Delhi to pay their last respects to the former prime minister. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also paid their last respects to Singh. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale condoled his passing, saying his contributions to Bharat would always be remembered. The Life of Simplicity Born to Gurmukh Singh and Amrit Kaur on September 26, 1932, in Gah village of the Punjab province of undivided India (now Pakistan), Singh passed his matriculation examination in 1948. His family migrated to Amritsar after Partition in 1948 after living shortly in Haldwani. Singh completed his intermediate and graduation in economics from the Hindu College here before moving out of the city to pursue higher studies in Panjab University’s Hoshiarpur campus. His academic career took him from Punjab to the University of Cambridge, UK, where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics. Singh followed this with a D Phil in Economics from Nuffield College of Oxford University. Singh’s half-brother Surjit Singh Kohli said the former prime minister had deep affection for his grandmother, who raised him following his mother’s death when he was very young. After migrating to India, the Singh family settled in a small rented house in Amritsar till he graduated. Uttar Pradesh minister Asim Arun, who served as Singh’s close protection officer for nearly three years during his tenure as a Special Protection Group (SPG) officer, shared his experiences and insights into Singh’s personality, emphasising his simple lifestyle and connection with the common man. He also shared an anecdote of Singh’s attachment to his Maruti Suzuki 800 personal car, reflecting his simplicity. His UPA government introduced path-breaking initiatives such as the Right to Information Act, Right to Education Act and the MNREGA.
Appalachian State hires South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as head coach
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From now through December 24th, Apple will be offering free two-hour delivery from your local Apple Store for last minute holiday gifts. This offer went live yesterday. Of course, you have to live close to an Apple Store in an eligible area in the US & Canada to take advantage of this offer, and your nearest store would need to have the products in stock. This free delivery offer is only available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, and Beats, which should cover most peoples needs. Normally, this 2 hour delivery service costs an extra $9. Apple partners with local couriers such as DoorDash and Uber to make this service possible. If you want to pick up an Apple gift for a loved one, now would be the time to do so! Apple doesn’t offer the best deals most of the time, but this is a surefire way of making sure your gift arrives in time for the holidays. I’ve also gathered a list of good Apple deals on Amazon that should deliver before Christmas at the time of writing, though your mileage may vary. These prices will be lower than what Apple currently offers: MacBook Air (13-inch, M2) with 256GB storage, 16GB unified memory – $799 MacBook Air (13-inch, M3) with 512GB storage, 16GB unified memory – $1099 iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) with 256GB storage – $899 iPad (10th generation) with 256GB storage – $429 AirPods (4th generation) – $119 Beats Studio Buds – $79 Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian – $169 Beats Pill – $99 Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) – $189 Follow Michael: X/Twitter , Bluesky , InstagramHow to watch Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks: TV channel, streaming infoIf there was a legacy that grew out of the humid and sun-drenched lawns of the old Hebburn colliery at Abermain, where the mullets return each year and converge, it is this: at the edges, no one has ever felt unwelcome. Login or signup to continue reading The mullet appears as many things: a joke, a dare, a happy rebellion against the conventions of style and culture, but it is also endearing in its roughness and brotherly in its unapologetic defiance of trend. You cannot help but become tangled in the split ends. Patrick Stewart moved up to Newcastle from Mudgee for the work. He put in a hard graft in the kitchen to make management, and when he did, he knew that he could wear his hair how he liked. He was in charge now, after all. But the cascade of dark curls that washes past his shoulders as he throws his head back to down his drink is not an empty jab at the rigidity of the status quo. It is, of course, but it is also more. "My mum died when I was 12," he said. "She always loved my dad when he had a mullet. So, growing up, it was just to remember a little bit." Mr Stewart's mother was murdered by an intimate partner when she was 38 at Bathurst. She was stabbed more than 30 times. It would be unsurprising if her surviving son would not want to remember that tragic moment, but he retells the story with a heartbreaking clarity and unblinking sincerity. "It doesn't define me," he said. "It has made my life - not better, I would always love to have my mum - but being able to do this. I know she would love every second of it." "My friends don't know things like this - but then, nobody ever asks. I don't like saying it because people feel bad or treat me differently. I don't want to get ahead because I have a sad story. I want to show people that you can live your life." Under a shade, among the crowd, Bayley Martin-Pyke from Salamander Bay was surrounded by his entourage all wearing "Team Bayley" t-shirts and bearing a giant banner of his image and the slogan "Mulletfest 2024". Mr Martin-Pyke said he grew his hair - pure white and fine as silk - because his friends told him he could not hope to keep his job if he did. "One of my friends said they would sack me if I grew a mullet," he said, and smiled. "I said, 'watch me'." He has been maintaining his mane since late 2021, but said he never had any intention to compete. "One day, I took my hair out at work and one of my coworkers said I should 'go in that Mulletfest'," he said. "I asked when it was, and she said 'Tomorrow'. So, off I went." He won that rookie heat, and at the weekend was surrounded by friends. "I have always been a bit different," he said. "It's good to not feel like I am heaps different, if you know what I mean. It is like, we're all going to be different so none of us feel like we're different." Elsewhere, as the humidity climbed after a brief shower that did nothing to cool the temperature of the day, Meihana Coleman leant in a doorway as his mum took pictures. His hair fell in a pin-straight and jet-black stream down his back. His school friends know him as Mei Mei - the 13-year-old who marches to the beat of his own drum, exuding a quiet and reserved gentleness as he goes. "If it feels good, he'll do it," his mum said, smiling, as her son stood for photos. "It's really set a bit of a standard among his friend group at school - Mei Mei is wearing different socks to school, or Mei Mei has a mullet - all of his football team have started growing little mullets. It's a bit of a trend." Mei Mei runs his fingers through his hair: "Sometimes, if I look in the mirror and pull my mullet to the side so that I can't see it, I just look different," he said. "I'd trim it. Not cut it off." Outside, as the vintage mullets - those whose style feels baked in over countless years - strutted their stuff for the judges, Joe Falbo, wearing a handlebar moustache and ringlets to his shoulders, in a stylish and tight seventies-inspired do, took the microphone and dropped to one knee. He opened a ring box he had tucked into his sock and asked his love - Barbie Louise Roberts - to marry him after more than two decades together. Barbie Louise said yes. The couple shared a kiss as Mulletfest founder Laura Johnson announced the response over the speakers. Mrs Johnson and her family have been the driving forced behind Mulletfest since its inception in 2018. The former hairdresser and publican who had envisioned a wild bash at the back of her Kurri Kurri pub to lift spirits after the smelter closed, took her show on the road in 2022, bouncing between pubs and country towns off the main drag, evangelising the haircut and the sentiment it represents. The finalists of that national tour - now an annual event - converge on the former Hebburn No. 2 colliery each year to crown their champion and celebrate the philosophy that brings them together; a code that asks nothing but to come as you are, be as you are, and take everyone as they are. A full list of winners will be published when it becomes available. Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. He covers general news, culture and community issues, with a focus on the Herald Weekender.He is a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and adheres to its codes of ethics for journalists.Contact: simon.mccarthy@newcastleherald.com.au Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. 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