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ATLANTA (AP) — Quarterback Carson Beck's status for No. 2 Georgia's Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal is uncertain after he suffered an elbow injury in Saturday's Southeastern Conference championship game win over Texas. Georgia announced Monday there is no timetable on Beck's return as he and his family explore treatment options. Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Sunday the team was awaiting results of tests. The school did not announce details of the injury in Monday's announcement. Beck was injured on the final play of the first half in the Bulldogs' 22-19 overtime win over Texas on Saturday. Beck made a dramatic return to the field for the handoff on the game-winning play. Beck was needed after backup Gunner Stockton had his helmet knocked off, forcing him to leave the game for one play. Beck's injury was to his right (throwing) arm. Even though he was able to take the snap and hand off to Trevor Etienne for the running back’s decisive 4-yard touchdown run, Beck was unable to raise his right arm. Smart said Sunday that Beck attended the team meeting for the CFP draw announcement. “He was pretty somber,” Smart said. “It was a tough deal for him in terms of not being able to go out there and finish in the second half.” Georgia announced punter Brett Thorson will need season-ending surgery after injuring his non-kicking leg against Texas. “Carson and Brett are both fierce competitors and extremely hard workers,” Smart said in a statement released by the school. “I’m confident they will attack their rehab with the same determination they exhibit in their daily habits. We will be here to support them every step of the way.” Stockton would be the likely starter if Beck can't return for the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl. Stockton completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with one interception against Texas. 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-footballGeorgia police fire water cannons at pro-EU protestersTrump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?
College Football Playoff & Bowl Game TV Schedule 2024When you’re a Russian retiree living on a limited income, it’s bad enough trying to contend with skyrocketing prices for staples like eggs, potatoes, or butter. Now add to the list of worries: a swooning ruble hitting lows not seen in years. “I see these prices, my eyes get wide,” said one retired history teacher who lives in St. Petersburg and tries to get by on a 19,100-ruble ($187) monthly pension. “What's going on? Prices are rising for absolutely everything.” “Polite words fail me, of course” the 72-year-old woman told RFE/RL’s Russian Service. She asked for her name not to be used to avoid police harassment. “I have to joke about it to cool down my anger,” she added. Nearly three years into the Kremlin’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s economy has defied expectations and the experts who predicted that it would be crippled by sweeping Western sanctions imposed in response to Moscow’ military aggression. Fueled by the flood of government spending that’s prioritizing the war above all else, is expected to clock in at 3.6 percent growth this year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But the torrid pace of spending is overheating the economy. Grappling with inflation hovering above 8 percent, the Central Bank has already hiked rates and could raise them even further in the coming weeks. That in turn has pushed up residential mortgages, not to mention business loans, prompting vocal complaints from business leaders. Now comes another symptom of an increasingly unhealthy economy: the plunging Russian currency, hitting levels not seen since March 2022, weeks after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine. As of December 5, the ruble stood at 103 to the U.S. dollar. That’s down from 85 in September, but up from its lowest recent level -- 113 -- which it hit in the final days of November. The main -- though not only -- reason for the drop? A new set of sanctions that the United States announced on November 21, targeting dozens of Russian banks, including the largest bank to avoid sanctioning to date. The state-owned Gazprombank had dodged that bullet mainly due to its role as a conduit for transactions related to oil and gas exports. Washington had previously feared that sanctioning it would disrupt global oil markets and send oil prices skyrocketing. Russians -- individuals, banks, and businesses -- were rushing to make transactions ahead of December 20, when the restrictions take effect, Sergei Aleksashenko, a former top official in the Central Bank, said, and that has flooded the market with rubles. “It seems to me that the sharp jump in the ruble (or dollar) is explained by the fact that the rules of the game will be changed, and no one knows what the new rules will be,” . Officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have tried to calm jittery nerves for both average consumers and business leaders. “As often happens in such situations, there is currently an excessive emotional component on the currency market,” Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov on November 27. “Experience shows that, after a period of increased volatility, the rate always stabilizes.” The economic crosswinds are causing headaches for policymakers, both big and small. Regular Russians -- particularly those in poorer regions far from urban centers like St. Petersburg -- have benefited from the torrent of cash in government spending. Dizzyingly high wages paid to men who volunteer to fight in Ukraine -- not to mention the bonuses and benefits paid to war widows – have spurred consumers to spend -- or even splurge. High war wages, however, have forced civilian factories, particularly military industrial enterprises, to hike wages to compete, and fill vacancies. Putin himself has publicly lamented that labor shortages have been a problem. Elevated salaries have , driving up the cost of everyday goods, including butter, potatoes, and eggs. Several regions have reported a rash of thefts of butter and other dairy products, as prices climb. Some retailers have taken to putting dairy products under lock-and-key to prevent theft. Rates on residential , in conjunction with the Central Bank’s interest hikes, which has in turn choked off home and apartment sales in a growing number of regions. The ruble’s drop, meanwhile, will make imported goods more expensive -- at a time when Russian consumers are ramping up spending for the long New Year’s and Christmas holidays. It’s also pinching migrant workers, many of whom hail from Central Asia and send much of their Russian wages back home to support families. The current drop means less money to send. “If you have to live in Russia, then it makes no difference,” one Uzbek man who works as a taxi driver told RFE/RL. “But if you have to work here and send money back to Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan, then there’s no point in working here. Better just to go home.” Few experts are predicting outright economic collapse anytime soon. More likely the flashing warning lights are pointing to a cooling off, which is what the Central Bank director Elvira Nabiullina has said is the goal of the recent rate hikes. The IMF predicts that the economy will slow to around 1.3 percent growth next year. “Economic growth has to slow down,” Laura Solanko, an expert on the Russian economy at the Bank of Finland’s Institute for Economies in Transition, told RFE/RL. “But cooling growth is no sign of economic collapse. Russia can sustain broadly [the] current level of household consumption and of warfare with broadly [the] current level of economic activity.” “It’s becoming [all too clear] that there are no good remedies for the Russian economy’s malaise apart from ending the war; the mother of Russia’s problems,” Alexander Kolyandr, a researcher with the Center for European Policy Analysis, last month. By RFE/RL
Notable quotes by Jimmy CarterThe Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Sunday announced that the former governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has been selected as the 2024 Igbo Man of the Year. In a statement in Abakaliki, the Secretary-General of the Chidi Ibeh-led faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said that after critical evaluation and independent assessment of public officeholders of Igbo extraction within the 2024 framework, Umahi was chosen as Igbo Man of the Year, surpassing the likes of Hope Uzodinma, Benjamin Kalu, and others. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for being the first president to remember Ndigbo, adding that his administration’s impactful recognition of the Southeastern region marks a landmark shift not seen in the 55 years since the conclusion of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. Isiguzoro noted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo employed a rigorous model of evaluation on critical areas such as infrastructure development, job creation, solutions to insecurity, democratic inclusiveness, and historical and current antecedents, with Umahi standing tall among others. Isiguzoro further stated that Ohanaeze extends its commendation to Governors Peter Mba and Francis Nwaifuru of Enugu and Ebonyi states, who exhibited exemplary governance by allowing their elected local chairmen full access to the benefits that stem from local government autonomy, promoting transparency and accountability. The statement read: “The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, takes this momentous occasion to express its unequivocal admiration for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His administration’s impactful recognition of the Southeastern region marks a landmark shift not witnessed in 55 years since the conclusion of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. “His commitment to massive infrastructure development throughout the Southeast, largely orchestrated by Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, positions the region for a future that is decidedly more prosperous and hopeful. “In our thorough and independent assessment of public officeholders of Igbo extraction within the 2024 framework, Ohanaeze Ndigbo employed a rigorous model of evaluation. This new set of ‘Igbo Performance Perimeters and Indexes’ provided a transparent and quantifiable means to hold public officials accountable. “In our comprehensive report, we proudly announce Senator Dave Umahi as the 2024 Igbo Man of the Year. His accomplishments as Minister of Works have been nothing short of extraordinary. From revitalizing dilapidated federal roads to creating innovative job opportunities via groundbreaking cement technology. “Umahi has delivered tangible benefits to the people. Notably, his effective strategies in fostering development have addressed longstanding security concerns on major highways, helping to restore a sense of safety and normalcy in the region. “The acknowledgment of Umahi’s pivotal role in ensuring a harmonious relationship between the Southeast and the Federal Government, especially highlighted by his efforts to prevent regional participation in national protests, is commendable. “This has fostered an environment conducive to collaborative governance—an important disposition for a polarized nation. Consequently, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu stands as the second-best performer among National Assembly members, solidifying the significance of a concerted Igbo political strategy going forward.”
Bills Bills LB Von Miller on whether QB Josh Allen should win the MVP award: “I played with Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford and those guys are special in their own right. But this year, Josh is just doing something totally different. It’s amazing to witness it.” ( Ryan O’Halloran ) Jets “I definitely want to go into free agency, and it’s not because I don’t want to be a New York Jet,” Reed told ESPN’s Rich Cimini . “I definitely want to be a New York Jet, but I feel like they had the whole offseason, and even throughout the season, to extend it, and they didn’t. I feel like for me, personally, it would be best to go into free agency and see what’s out there.” Jets QB Aaron Rodgers became the most sacked quarterback in NFL history on Sunday, being sacked 566 times throughout his career. ( Rich Cimini ) Patriots Patriots HC Jerod Mayo acknowledged that fans were chanting for him to be fired after the team’s blowout loss to the Chargers on Saturday. “You hear those things. But at the same time, they paid to sit in the seats, and we’ve got to play better,” Mayo said of the chants, via Mike Reiss of ESPN . “If we play better, we don’t have to hear that stuff.” Veteran defensive linemen Deatrich Wise Jr. and Davon Godchaux were quick to jump to Mayo’s defense when interviewed about the chants. “I think he’s doing a great job, keeping us motivated and prepared and locked in on our goals every week,” Wise Jr. said. “It’s up to the players. Coaches coach, players play. I only speak about myself, and I felt like there were a lot of games I could have played better to help the team win. I feel like Mayo is putting people in the right positions, he’s very positive but also criticizes people in a motivating way. I don’t think we should write him off right now. A lot of coaches start off tough, but there are multiple coaches who are OK now and in the playoffs. I feel like we need to continue to believe in Coach and he’ll find a way to make everything right next year.” “The guy’s in his first season. It’s not going to be golden. We didn’t expect to win a Super Bowl this year. I get it, nobody wants to get beaten 40-7, but the chant is ridiculous,” Godchaux added. “Everybody plays a part in this. It isn’t just Jerod Mayo. Players. Coaches. Front office. We just have to get better as a whole organization. I believe in this organization. We just had probably the best team in the NFL right now on the ropes last week [in Buffalo]. I don’t believe in all that other ridiculous stuff. The guy is in his first year. It’s just ridiculous.” Mayo on potentially coaching for his job: “I’m always under pressure and it’s been that way for a very long time.” ( Chad Graff ) Mayo says it was a coach’s decision to start Rhamondre Stevenson at running back after saying pregame that Antonio Gibson would be the starter. ( Doug Kyed ) Patriots QB Drake Maye on taking a shot to the head on Saturday: “I feel good — I still feel good — and then I was good to go...Those guys up front are battling their butts off, so I’m not going to go to the coach and say, ‘Hey, take me out.’ That’s not me.” ( Mike Reiss ) Patriots C Cole Strange on making his debut at the center position: “I don’t think I had any bad snaps. I had one early in the third quarter, but that’s a timing thing, and I’ll fix that. I believe that most of my mistakes were more mental than technical, so I consider those easy fixes. I’m extremely confident I’m moving in the right direction.” (Reiss) Per Adam Schefter , the Patriots would clinch the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with a loss next week against the Bills. This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.GENEVA (AFP) – A Roman gold coin bearing the image of Brutus, the assassin of Julius Caesar, will go to auction in Geneva on Monday, with bids set to start above USD850,000. “A numismatist’s eyes light up when beholding a coin like this,” because this is “a piece of history”, said head of the Numismatica Genevensis (NGSA) auction house behind the sale Frank Baldacci. The aureus, the gold coin currency used in ancient Rome, was issued by Brutus and his friends a year or two after they assassinated Roman ruler Caesar in 44 BC, he said. The coin, which weighs eight grammes, is “of immense historical importance both artistically and politically”, NGSA said. Bidding will start at CHF750,000 (USD852,000), but Baldacci said it would likely go for more than CHF1 million. “This could go quite high,” he told AFP , pointing out that the piece was a bit like “the Da Vinci of Roman coins”. This particular aureus features Brutus’ profile framed with laurel leaves on one side. The other celebrates his recent military victories with warlike symbols. It is one of only 17 known examples. The coin was “cast not in Rome but in a mint that travelled with Brutus and his armies as he tried to seize power after the assassination of Julius Caesar”, Baldacci said, adding that it had a “propaganda value”. The laurel wreath is clearly a sign of “someone who wants to promote himself as emperor”, he said, pointing out that ‘IMP’ – for emperor – was engraved next to Brutus’ face, even though he did not hold that title. The coin was struck shortly before the fateful Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, which ended with Brutus killing himself after losing to Octavian and Mark Antony as they sought to avenge Caesar’s death. The aureus has since travelled discreetly through the centuries, with little known about its owners along the way. “But we know that during the Renaissance, there were a lot of princes and lords who had Roman coin collections,” Baldacci said. The coin resurfaced in the 1950s when it was catalogued as part of a private collection. It reappeared again in 2006, when it was put up for auction in Zurich, and sold to a private collector for CHF360,000.Winnipeg police say 72 more cops needed to keep up with escalating demand
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Short Interest in G. Willi-Food International Ltd. (NASDAQ:WILC) Expands By 102.3%