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PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A pair of conservative groups on Friday challenged a Maine law that limits donations to political action committees that spend independently in candidate elections, arguing that money spent to support political expression is "a vital feature of our democracy.” Supporters of the referendum overwhelmingly approved on Election Day fully expected a legal showdown over caps on individual contributions to so-called super PACs. They hoped the referendum would trigger a case and ultimately prompt the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the matter of donor limits after the court opened the floodgates to independent spending in its 2010 Citizens United decision. The lawsuit brought by Dinner Table Action and For Our Future, and supported by the Institute for Free Speech, contends the state law limiting individual super PAC donations to $5,000 and requiring disclosure of donor names runs afoul of that Citizens United legal precedent. “All Americans, not just those running for office, have a fundamental First Amendment right to talk about political campaigns,” lawyers wrote in the lawsuit in federal court. “Their ‘independent expenditures,’ payments that fund political expression by those who are not running for office but nonetheless have something to say about a campaign, are a vital feature of our democracy.” Cara McCormick, leader of the Maine Citizens to End Super PACs, which pressed for the referendum, said the lawsuit attempts to undermine the will of the people after an overwhelming majority — 74% of voters — approved the referendum last month. “Super PACs are killing the country and in Maine we decided to do something about it. We want to restore public trust in the political process,” she said. “We want to say that in Maine we are not resigned to the tide of big money. We are the tide.” But Alex Titcomb, executive director of Dinner Table Action, argued Friday that the government “cannot restrict independent political speech simply because some voters wish to limit the voices of their fellow citizens.” Named in the lawsuit are Maine’s attorney general and the state’s campaign spending watchdog, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. The ethics commission is reviewing the complaint, said Jonathan Wayne, executive director. The Maine referendum didn’t attempt to limit spending on behalf of candidates. Instead, it focused on limits on individual donations to super PACS, an area the Supreme Court has not ruled on, observers say. Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig, a longtime advocate for campaign finance reform, contends the U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue of individual contributions to PACs, and long-established case law supports the notion that states can limit individual contributions to PACs despite a decision to the contrary by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Lessig, whose Equal Citizens nonprofit backed the Maine referendum, previously said the cap on donations imposed by the referendum "is not asking the Supreme Court to change its jurisprudence, not asking them to overturn Citizens United.”
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By Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service (TNS) Everyone seems to be listening to something. I’m not sure what they’re listening to, because they all seem to be wearing headphones. I suppose they’re all listening to their favorite podcast or just their playlists. Here are a few gift suggestions for headphones that’ll make anything sound better. I’ve listed the retail pricing, but don’t be surprised if you find them on sale. We’ve all tried traditional earbuds. They can sound good if the fit is correct. The SoundCore AreoFit 2 ($99.99, soundcore.com) don’t fit inside your ear canal. Instead, they sit on the outside of your ear. The battery sits behind your ear, much like a hearing aid. The speaker is attached by a sturdy, yet flexible cable. The only adjustment is on the speaker end – it clicks to adjust the angle of the speaker to sit directly over your ear canal. The fact that they don’t insert into your ears means you can still hear the outside world, so you are not so isolated. These are great for jogging or biking. The sound is really nice. The full range of sound comes in very clearly and the form factor is comfortable to wear, even for hours at a time. There are four microphones, so your voice sounds clear on phone calls. They have an IP55 rating, so they can withstand water spashing, sweat or dust. They can also connect to more than one device, so you can keep them paired to your phone and laptop and switch easily between them. The AeroFit 2 can play for 10 hours on a charge. They live in a battery case that can keep them charged for more than 40 hours. The charging case can power up via a USB-C port or a Qi wireless charger. They are available in white, blue, green or black. The Soundcore C40i ($99.99, soundcore.com) is another fun option in a non-traditional form factor. Instead of going inside or even over the top your ears, the C40i earbuds are u-shaped and they clip on the sides of your ears. They are unlike anything I’ve ever tried, and they sounded surprisingly good once you get them in the right spot. They are a bit flexible, in that you can pull them apart slightly to get them in the right spot. Once you let go, they gently grip your earlobe. I must admit I was a little self-conscious when I first started wearing the C40i earbuds, as they look a bit like earrings. Related Articles The fit is interesting. The end with the speaker sits in front of your ear canal and the end with the battery and action button goes behind your ear. You can adjust them on your ear until the sound becomes clear. It’ll be obvious to your ears when you have them adjusted correctly. If your earlobes are thin, there are some rubber sleeves that can help with the fit. You want them to be snug, but not to the point where they are pinching your ears. There is a customizable button on the back of each earbud for call and music control. They are on the small side, so the battery life is seven hours before needing to return to the case for a charge. The case can charge them twice more before it needs recharging. The case charges via USB-C cable, but it is too small for wireless chargers. The earbuds have a 12mm x 17mm oval shaped driver and the sound quality is very good. Voice quality on phone calls also surprised me with its clarity. They sync with the Soundcore phone app to let you assign the button commands and tweak the sound settings. They also can pair to two devices at once. Frequent flyers know all about noise canceling over-the-ear headphones. These headphones usually have active noise canceling, which uses microphones to listen to the ambient noise and reduce it before it can get to your ears. What I’m noticing is more and more people wearing these during workouts or just walking around. The Baseus Bowie 30 Max noise canceling headphones ($79.99, baseus.com) are fairly generic looking headphones, but their performance is incredible for the price. Baseus says the Bowie 30s can eliminate 96 percent of noise, but that actual noise cancellation will vary depending on the ambient noise level. I can tell you the noise canceling is impressive. There is also a transparency mode that lets in outside sounds so you can have a conversation with someone without taking them off. You can pair them to the free Baseus phone app to unlock some additional features including spatial acoustics, bass enhancement and low-latency mode. These connect to your phone or PC wirelessly via Bluetooth or wired with an included 3.5mm cable. They last an impressive 65 hours on a charge without noise canceling or 50 hours with noise canceling enabled. The ear cups and piece that fits over the top of your head are nicely padded and the entire headset folds up to take up less room in your bag. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.SplashNews and are home for the holidays. The "Houdini" singer shared a string of , which included a cozy selfie of her with the actor. "home for the holidays ❣️ sending you all so much love," Lipa, 29, captioned the Tuesday, Dec. 24 post. The third slide of her social media update featured an out-of-focus picture of her and Turner, 34. The couple is bundled up, smiling and riding in a car together. Dua Lipa/Instagram Related: Elsewhere in her post, the singer included pictures of loved ones, delicious food and animals. A video from a concert was also in the mix, along with a visit to a cheese shop. were first romantically linked almost a year ago in January when they were spotted together after attending the London premiere of . They were spotted several times that month out together in and packing on the PDA. The star and singer were also photographed holding hands as they arrived at the and Tiffany & Co.’s annual Fashion & Film afterparty. The rumor couple did walk the separately that evening. Lipa subtly made their relationship in July with a . Samir Hussein/WireImage Related: from 2019 until 2021 and had a rumored fling with . Meanwhile, Callum was in a relationship with actress from 2015 until 2019, as per . Read the original article on
It is claimed for decades now that Baba Vanga's predictions often come true, and the world has seen some major calamities and incidents that had already been predicted by her years ago. Also known as the Nostradamus of the Balkans , Baba Vanga predictions are taken seriously by many on the planet, with one of her predictions reportedly being the 9/11 attacks on US soil, that is itself quite surprising in nature. However, these predictions lack verifiable data and have an interpretive nature, and therefore, must be followed with ultimate caution. Vangeliya Pandeva Gushterova , who is also known as 'Baba Vanga' is known for some predictions that have reportedly come true. And now, reports suggest that she had made some predictions about the coming year 2025 too, which could be life-changing for millions on the planet. Top Baba Vanga predictions for 2025 For starters, Baba Vanga's predictions have claimed an internal strife in Europe, which could lead to major political instability and uncertainty in the region. There are certain fears about internal conflicts in Europe, whose effects could be catastrophic in nature. Moreover, one more miraculous prediction for 2025 is the fact that there could finally be a major cure for cancer, which is one of the deadliest health concerns in the world. Such advances in medicine and healthcare could increase life expectancy by a manifold, if Baba Vanga's predictions are indeed true. Will humans interact with aliens in 2025? Baba Vanga's predictions have included the fact that humans could be making contact with extraterrestrial beings in the year 2025. Apart from this, there are also predictions about the 'start of the apocalypse' in 2024, which means a string of untoward incidents across the world could follow. Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Legal Complete Guide to AI Governance and Compliance By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Web Development Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program FAQs: Who is Baba Vanga? Baba Vanga is also known as Vangeliya Pandeva Gushterova, and she is a Bulgarian mystic and healer who had claimed to have foreseen the future. She was born in 1911 and passed away in 1996. Did Baba Vanga predict the 9/11 attacks? It's claimed that Baba Vanga predicted the 9/11 attacks. She reportedly said, "Horror, horror! The American brethren will fall after being attacked by the 'steel' birds," according to the statements from back then. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Share the Spirit: Nonprofit helps homeless, impoverished East Bay military veterans feel like ‘not just a number’Tonight, Dean McCullough had the prospect of a sixth trial of the series so far, much to a few people's annoyance, but it was Jane Moore who got people talking. Last night, Barry and Danny decided on the new chores each campmate would be doing from now on, Loose Women's Jane Moore accused Barry of being "sexist" and "ageist". Barry explained: "We were looking at you for possible water duty and I thought 'well, you're 62 years old, you're a year younger than me'." As Jane shook her head, she exclaimed: "Ageist and sexist!" Tonight, Jane Moore was slammed on social media. On X, one fan posted: "Jane comes across a bit of a martyr. She isn't the only one on dishes duty. Why is she acting like it is her sole responsibility #imaceleb". Another simply said: "We need to vote for Jane to do a trial next". Someone else commented: "GK said it, vote Jane (more important because she had a strop at Danny and Barry and ruined their night!)". Last night on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here On Sunday (24 November), Coleen Rooney and Dean McCullough faced a gruesome Bushtucker Trial, winning nine stars for the camp. However, McCullough was again voted to face Monday’s trial “Jack the Screamstalk,” much to the frustrations of Ant and Dec (and the public). Elsewhere, Jane Moore and Barry McGuigan argued over chores. McGuigan and Danny Jones were voted by the public to become the new camp leaders. The pair set about upsetting the jungle apple cart by selecting Moore and Tulisa to wash up, and Coleen Rooney and Maura Higgins to act out the duties of camp maintenance. Despite Jones’s initial worry that women were being asked to do less physical tasks and that it could be taken negatively, McGuigan brushed it off. Moore accused McGuigan of “misogyny” and later “ageism” when he used her age as a justification for his and Jones’s decisions.
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:49 p.m. EST
Kalen DeBoer met with the media this week ahead of Alabama’s game with Oklahoma. The Sooners need to win one of their final two games to remain bowl eligible. The Alabama Head Coach spoke about the matchup in Norman. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setupTerrell Owens’ remark about Deebo Samuel being more focused on his pre-game attires than the game brewed up rumors of a beef between them. The SF 49ers star even told Owens to “cut it fam” in response. However, after the brief online back-and-forth, the two cleared the air, as shown by the conversation Deebo shared during his latest media appearance. “Me and T.O. had a phone call after that,” Deebo shared on Cleats & Convos. “Talking to him, it was just, what do you call it? Cheeks and giggles.” The 49ers wide receiver revealed how Owens explained that his comment was just a joke, and the media had blown it “ out of proportion. ” He also admitted that he “understands” the former athlete’s perspective, acknowledging how rumors and speculations can often “flip” an athlete’s narrative. The receiver clarified that both of them were now “ cool ” and had a constructive conversation to clear up the misunderstanding surrounding the issue. Samuel and Owen’s conversation wasn’t just cool, though. It also involved the legend offering some football advice to the currently struggling receiver. Terrel Owens’ advice to Deebo Samuel The 28-year-old hasn’t been playing up to his standard this season, leaving him on the receiving end of criticism recently. On being asked if he discussed his “ frustrations ” with the former 49ers receiver, Deebo shared that he had indeed talked “ a little bit ” about his performance. He explained how Owens had mentioned that, while he only gets to “catch” the game here and there, he firmly believes the team can “flip” their season around. Owens also encouraged the WR, saying the team still has all the “tools” they need to make a comeback, and all isn’t lost yet. That said, Deebo still has enough time to ball out, prove himself, and silence the critics. San Francisco’s next chance to make it to the playoffs race comes on Monday against the Bills.
Chargers will be without running back J.K. Dobbins for at least a weekLegion Go S spotted after Lenovo teases new AMD Ryzen gaming handhelds before CES 2025 eventJammu, Nov 21: The much-anticipated Basmati Fest 2024, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO) in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu, was held today at SKUAST Jammu Campus. The event celebrated Jammu’s globally renowned Basmati rice, highlighting its unique qualities and fostering discussions on enhancing its market potential and cultivation practices. The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries with Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, as the Chief Guest and Vice Chancellor of SKUAST Jammu Dr BN Tripathi as the Guest of Honour. Prominent attendees included Khalid Jahangir, Managing Director JTTPO, Rajinder Kumar Sharma Director JKEDI, Rahul Sahai Chairman of PHD of Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Prof. J.P. Sharma, Former Director Research of SKUAST and Ruchika Gupta, Chairperson of FICCI FLO JKL. In his inaugural address, the Commissioner Secretary emphasised the importance of organic certification for Basmati rice to make it globally competitive. He highlighted the Industries & Commerce Department’s efforts under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative and proposed creating an annual calendar for such events to promote J&K’s flagship products. He also lauded the collaborative efforts of JKTPO and SKUAST Jammu in organizing the Fest and cited the success of similar initiatives like the Saffron Fest. Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Jammu in his address, acknowledged the historical and economic significance of Basmati rice in the region. He stressed the need for adopting modern farming techniques and enhancing export strategies to empower local farmers economically. He appreciated the government’s initiatives in promoting Basmati rice and highlighted SKUAST’s commitment to supporting these efforts. In his welcome address, Managing Director, JKTPO, warmly welcomed the dignitaries, farmers, buyers and exporters, emphasising the importance of Basmati Fest as a significant initiative to showcase Jammu’s rich agricultural heritage. He highlighted the role of such events in strengthening the region’s economy by creating direct market linkages and enhancing export opportunities for local producers. The event concluded with vote of thanks by Rajinder Kumar Sharma (JKEDI, Jammu). He highlighted the event’s significant impact on farmers and other stakeholders. He noted how the Fest provided a much-needed platform for market expansion and knowledge sharing, leaving a lasting impression on all participants. The Basmati Fest 2024 brought together farmers, exporters, buyers and industry experts to promote and strengthen the region’s agricultural and economic prospects. The event showcased the heritage, aroma and exceptional quality of Jammu’s Basmati rice. The Buyer-Seller Meet facilitated by JKTPO enabled 15 national-level buyers, including representatives from the All India Rice Exporters Association, to interact with local Basmati producers. These engagements paved the way for promising trade collaborations. The exhibition featured 18 local exhibitors showcasing a diverse range of Basmati-related products, reflecting the vibrancy of the sector.From Noah Ebije , Kaduna As Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged them to pray for God’s intervention against nepotism, insecurity, corruption, which it noted are bedeviling the nation’s polity. ACF, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, called on all Nigerians to pray for economic prosperity, improvement in socio-political challenges of the nation. The Forum lamented that major communities in the North has continued to bear the burden of the negative effects of the aforementioned challenges without hope of redemption at sight. “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) wishes happy celebrations to the multitudes of Nigerian and other Christians across the world as the 2024 Christmas is observed. As well, ACF wishes all a very happy and prosperous New Year, which comes up a week after Christmas. “ACF rejoices with all and prays for God’s Grace and Mercies for Nigeria as the people celebrate the Christmas and New Year occasions amid daunting existential economic, social and political challenges as well as a state of debilitating insecurity, corruption, nepotism in the polity, disappointing political representation, etc. As has sadly become all too familiar, communities in Nigeria’s North continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the negative effects of the aforementioned challenges. “This is not to downplay the effects of the problems on people in other parts of the country but the situation in the North remains dire, even as people fervently look forward to a better future. “In spite of or, in fact, because of the challenges that the people face ACF, surrendering to despair and hopelessness are not options. Therefore, in the spirit of the season, calls on the Christians, and indeed all Nigerians to pray for peace, security and economic recovery for Nigeria; God Almighty’s intervention to see that Nigeria’s leaders are re-endowed with faith, strength, divine love, wisdom and righteousness in intentions and deeds as they pilot Nigeria’s affairs; God Almighty to endow and guide Nigeria’s security agencies with the needed strength and bold resolve with which to crush all agents of terrorism, criminality, insecurity, corruption, social and political destabilisation and all other evils against Nigeria and its people. “That the fear of God Almighty enters to change the evil minds of all manner of terrorists and criminals so that they repent and refrain from their culture of criminality; and for God Almighty to restore hope for a better, prosperous, more equitable, prosperous and more hospitable Nigeria, ruled by justice, fairness and justice for all citizens.”
MI5 forced to ‘pare back’ counter-terror focus due to hostile states, boss says
Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Wemby at The Garden. LeBron vs. Steph. The NBA's Christmas Day lineup, as always, has star power LeBron James made his Christmas debut in 2003. Victor Wembanyama was born 10 days later. That’s right: James has been featured on the NBA’s big day for longer than Wembanyama has been alive. And on Wednesday the league’s oldest player and brightest young star will be big parts of the holiday showcase. It’s another Christmas quintupleheader, with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, Minnesota going to Dallas for a Western Conference finals rematch, Philadelphia heading to Boston to renew a storied rivalry, James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, and Denver playing at Phoenix. Pro Picks: Chiefs will beat the Steelers and Ravens will edge the Texans on Christmas Day Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host the Seahawks on Thursday night and there are three games on Saturday, making Sunday’s schedule light at nine games. Falcons drafting Penix no longer a head-scratcher with rookie QB shining in place of benched Cousins It was the most surprising first-round pick in a long time when the Atlanta Falcons chose Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall selection in the NFL draft last April. That came just six weeks after the Falcons had signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million in guarantees. But that move is no longer a head-scratcher after Penix's solid starting debut in place of a benched and turnover-prone Cousins. Several teams have fared well with new quarterbacks this season including the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings and Commanders. Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could start a trend in skiing. And pro sports in general ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could be the start of a trend in ski racing. The 40-year-old American standout had replacement surgery in April and returned to the World Cup circuit after nearly six years last weekend. She says her knee feels “amazing" and that "it’s something to seriously consider for athletes that have a lot of knee problems.” Her surgery was the first of its kind in World Cup skiing. Vonn had a robot-assisted surgery in April with part of the bone in her right knee cut off and replaced by two titanium pieces. She was planning her comeback a month later. Boise State's legacy includes winning coaches and championship moments No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for its third trip to the Fiesta Bowl. This time it's in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year’s Eve. Boise State's first appearance on the national stage was in a memorable victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007. But former coach Chris Petersen said the victory in that bowl three years later over TCU was even more meaningful for the program. Players have mixed feelings about being on the road on Christmas as NFL adds more holiday games OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Games on Christmas aren’t new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL’s longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. That's been met with mixed feelings among the players. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley says there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum’s house. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s plan is to celebrate on Thursday. Embiid ejected after drawing 2 technicals in game against Wembanyama and Spurs PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was ejected in the first half of Monday night’s game against San Antonio after drawing two technical fouls. Referee Jenna Schroeder ejected Embiid with 2 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star received the first technical for arguing with Schroeder, and received another technical — and ejection — from Schroeder before any more game time elapsed. Embiid was close to Schroeder, but it wasn’t clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. An enraged Embiid charged toward the officials after the ejection and was restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, head coach Nick Nurse and several assistants. Nikki Glaser uses Prime Video's NFL postgame show appearances to help prepare for Golden Globes INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikki Glaser has become a familiar face to football fans this season. Her breakthrough performance at the Tom Brady Roast on May 5 paved the way for five appearances on Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” postgame show. Glaser said before last Thursday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers that doing her “Late Hits” segment was a no-brainer following her success at the Brady roast. Leaving Thunder, Bucks off the NBA's Christmas game list has those teams feeling snubbed Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference and has a MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Milwaukee has the NBA’s leading scorer in Giannis Antetokounmpo. They were the teams that made their way to the NBA Cup final. By any measure, they’re both very good teams. And neither will play on Christmas Day this year. Bah, humbug. The NBA faces the same challenge every summer, figuring out which 10 teams will get the honor of playing on Christmas Day. But the Bucks and Thunder are right to feel snubbed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Following is a summary of current world news briefs. Global hunger monitor says famine in war-torn Sudan is spreading By Ryan McNeill, Nafisa Eltahir, Lena Masri, Khalid Abdelaziz, Deborah Nelson and Giulia Paravicini LONDON/CAIRO/DUBAI, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Famine in Sudan has expanded to five areas and will likely spread to another five by May, the global hunger monitor reported Tuesday, while warring parties continue to disrupt humanitarian aid needed to alleviate one of the worst starvation crises in modern times. On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world Pope Francis said the story of Jesus' birth as a poor carpenter's son should instil hope that all people can make an impact on the world, as the pontiff on Tuesday led the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas. Francis, celebrating the 12th Christmas of his pontificate, presided at a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and opened the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which the Vatican expects will bring some 32 million tourists to Rome next year. Global hunger crisis deepens as major nations skimp on aid It's a simple but brutal equation: The number of people going hungry or otherwise struggling around the world is rising, while the amount of money the world's wealthiest nations are contributing toward helping them is dropping. The result: The United Nations says that, at best, it will be able to raise enough money to help about 60% of the 307 million people it predicts will need humanitarian aid next year. That means at least 117 million people won't get food or other assistance in 2025. Analysis-Mexico's president may be toughening fight with drug cartels Amid a fresh wave of violence, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has sent her security chief and thousands of troops to stem a bloody escalation of drug cartel crime in Sinaloa state, signaling a shift in security strategy in the Latin American nation. On the campaign trail, Sheinbaum had promised to largely continue the security policy of her mentor and predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, which prioritized addressing the root social causes of crime rather than attacking the cartels - an approach nicknamed "hugs not bullets" after a catchphrase of the former president. French officials raise Mayotte death toll to 39 after Storm Chido French officials raised the death toll in Mayotte to 39 from 35, about 10 days after the islands were battered by a devastating cyclone. Authorities have said thousands may have died in Storm Chido when it hit the islands, a French overseas region off the coast of East Africa. They have said efforts to count the dead may be complicated by people burying their loved ones quickly, per religious custom, and by the fact that many of the deceased may have been undocumented migrants. Ousted Bangladesh PM Hasina's son denies graft in $12.65 billion nuclear deal Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son and adviser on Tuesday described allegations of corruption involving the family in the 2015 awarding of a $12.65 billion nuclear power contract as "completely bogus" and a "smear campaign". Bangladesh's Anti Corruption Commission said on Monday it had launched an enquiry into allegations of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, backed by Russia's state-owned Rosatom. Looting cripples food supply in Gaza despite Israeli pledge to tackle gangs, sources say Israel has failed to crack down on armed gangs attacking food convoys in Gaza, despite a pledge to do so in mid-October to help ward off famine in the Palestinian enclave, according to three U.N. and U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The commitment, made behind closed doors, seemed like a breakthrough because, since the beginning of the war in October 2023, the international community has struggled to enlist Israel's support to improve the dire humanitarian situation in the war-ravaged territory, the three senior officials said. Canada condemns China's steps against Canadian institutions over Uyghurs, Tibet The Canadian government condemned China on Tuesday for taking steps against two Canadian institutions and 20 people involved in human rights issues concerning the Uyghurs and Tibet. China announced the measures, which included asset freezes and bans on entry, on Sunday. Its targets included the Canada-based Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada-Tibet Committee, China's foreign ministry said. Uncertainty clouds fate of Syrians in Egypt after Assad ouster Syrian refugees and residents in Egypt face an uncertain future as new regulations may jeopardise their right to remain in the country after Bashar al-Assad's ouster earlier this month. European countries quickly suspended Syrian asylum applications after the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham swept into Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after a 13-year civil war. Israeli military actions had 'influence' on Hamas' killing of six hostages, report finds The actions of the Israeli military had a "circumstantial influence" on a decision by Hamas militants to kill six hostages in Gaza in August, according to a military investigation published on Tuesday. The recovery in September of the bodies of six Israeli hostages, including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, triggered deep shock in Israel, prompting half a million people to stage street protests demanding the government enter a hostage deal with Hamas. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A pair of conservative groups on Friday challenged a Maine law that limits donations to political action committees that spend independently in candidate elections, arguing that money spent to support political expression is "a vital feature of our democracy.” Supporters of the referendum overwhelmingly approved on Election Day fully expected a legal showdown over caps on individual contributions to so-called super PACs. They hoped the referendum would trigger a case and ultimately prompt the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the matter of donor limits after the court opened the floodgates to independent spending in its 2010 Citizens United decision. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.