Houston's Al-Shaair apologizes for hit on Jacksonville's Lawrence that led to concussion HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the field with a concussion. Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. In the long post, Al-Shaair says "To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.” Jets are sticking with struggling Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will remain the New York Jets’ starting quarterback despite speculation the team could bench him in what has been a disappointing season. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said during a video call that he still believes Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, gives the Jets their best chance to win. Rodgers was 21 of 39 for 185 yards and touchdown passes to Davante Adams and Isaiah Davis but also had an interception returned 92 yards for a touchdown by Leonard Williams in the Jets’ 26-21 loss to Seattle on Sunday. Hall of Famer Randy Moss reveals he's 'battling something' internal and asks for prayers Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss revealed he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made the announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying for any particular illness. Moss explained why he’s been wearing tinted sunglasses, saying, “I’m battling something, man, and it’s something internal, your boy is going to get through it.” College playoff bracket offers last dress rehearsal and one more chance to see where the SEC stands The next set of College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday night under heavy scrutiny before the final bracket is set on Sunday. It will be one last chance to see just how much the selection committee loves the Southeastern Conference. The best gauge will be whether Miami, which suffered its second loss over the weekend, is placed behind any or all three SEC teams with three losses — Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina, all of which are coming off wins. Whatever happens, the SEC is likely to have at least five teams in the 12-team field when the final bracket comes out. Mollie Marcoux Samaan stepping down as LPGA commissioner after 3 1/2 years of record prize money Mollie Marcoux Samaan is leaving after more than three years as LPGA commissioner. In a surprise announcement Monday, Marcoux Samaan says she will step down in January, just three weeks before the LPGA starts its 75th season. Liz Moore is the chief legal and technology officer. She'll be serving as interim commissioner until a search committee can find a permanent replacement. Marcoux Samaan was the athletic director at Princeton when she took over the LPGA in May 2021. Prize money has soared during her tenure. She also has faced criticism for the LPGA not gaining in popularity during a rise in women's sports. Kansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in AP Top 25 as SEC grabs 3 of top 4 spots; UConn slides to No. 25 Kansas continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Auburn is pushing the Jayhawks in the latest poll after winning the Maui Invitational and checked in at No. 2. Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly fell out entirely after an 0-3 week at Maui, falling from No. 2 to 25th. The Southeastern Conference had three of the top four teams with No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Kentucky behind the Tigers. The poll featured six new teams, headlined by No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Memphis and No. 18 Pittsburgh. TCU, Duke climb into top 10, Notre Dame drops in women's AP Top 25; UCLA and UConn remain 1-2 TCU has its best ranking ever in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll after a convincing win over Notre Dame. The Horned Frogs jumped eight spots to No. 9, the first time the school has ever been in the top 10. The Fighting Irish, who were third last week, fell seven spots to 10th after losses to TCU and Utah. UCLA remained No. 1, followed by UConn, South Carolina, Texas and LSU. USC, Maryland and Duke are next. USC QB Miller Moss enters transfer portal after losing starting job to Jayden Maiava LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans’ starting job last month. Moss started the Trojans’ bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. Moss signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year’s Holiday Bowl. Michael Andretti's Formula 1 dream comes to bittersweet fruition without his involvement Michael Andretti has been sidelined from his namesake motorsports organization and won’t have any role with the Formula 1 program he spent the last four years desperately trying to launch. His effort to get a program partnered with General Motors into F1 was approved last week, a month after he stepped aside from his teams. F1’s decision to expand its grid for Cadillac F1 came amidst a federal antitrust investigation into why Liberty Media refused to admit Andretti Global and after Andretti partners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter claimed controlling interest of the fledgling effort. Ryan Poles to remain Bears general manager and lead search for new head coach LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren said Ryan Poles will remain the general manager and serve as the point person in the search for a head coach to replace the fired Matt Eberflus. He says Poles will have the “final say” if the two have differing opinions on who should get the job. Chicago had never fired a coach during a season. But a six-game losing streak marked by questionable coaching decisions spurred the founding NFL franchise to change course. The Bears let Eberflus go Friday and replaced him on an interim basis with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.
STANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. Cardinal alum Andrew Luck, left, watches a Feb. 2 game between Stanford and Southern California on Feb. 2 in Stanford, Calif. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws a pass during the first quarter of a Nov. 27, 2010 game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career. Before the 2023 National Football League season started, it seemed inevitable that Bill Belichick would end his career as the winningest head coach in league history. He had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and 298 regular-season games, plus 31 playoff games, across his career. Then the 2023 season happened. Belichick's Patriots finished 4-13, the franchise's worst record since 1992. At the end of the year, Belichick and New England owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways. And now, during the 2024 season, Belichick is on the sideline. He's 26 wins from the #1 spot, a mark he'd reach in little more than two seasons if he maintained his .647 career winning percentage. Will he ascend the summit? It's hard to tell. Belichick would be 73 if he graced the sidelines next season—meaning he'd need to coach until at least 75 to break the all-time mark. Only one other NFL coach has ever helmed a team at age 73: Romeo Crennel in 2020 for the Houston Texans. With Belichick's pursuit of history stalled, it's worth glancing at the legends who have reached the pinnacle of coaching success. Who else stands among the 10 winningest coaches in NFL history? Stacker ranked the coaches with the most all-time regular-season wins using data from Pro Football Reference . These coaches have combined for 36 league championships, which represents 31.6% of all championships won throughout the history of pro football. To learn who made the list, keep reading. You may also like: Ranking the biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 30 years - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1969-91 - Record: 193-148-1 - Winning percentage: .566 - Championships: 4 Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers were synonymous with success in the 1970s. Behind his defense, known as the Steel Curtain, and offensive stars, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann, Noll led the squad to four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979. Noll's Steelers remain the lone team to win four Super Bowls in six years, though Andy Reid and Kansas City could equal that mark if they win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Noll was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, two years after retiring. His legacy of coaching success has carried on in Pittsburgh—the club has had only two coaches (Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) since Noll retired. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 25 - Years active: 1946-62, '68-75 - Record: 213-104-9 - Winning percentage: .672 - Championships: 7 The only coach on this list to pilot a college team, Paul Brown, reached the pro ranks after a three-year stint at Ohio State and two years with the Navy during World War II. He guided the Cleveland Browns—named after Brown, their first coach—to four straight titles in the fledgling All-America Football Conference. After the league folded, the ballclub moved to the NFL in 1950, and Cleveland continued its winning ways, with Brown leading the team to championships in '50, '54, and '55. He was fired in 1963 but returned in 1968 as the co-founder and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His other notable accomplishments include helping to invent the face mask and breaking pro football's color barrier . - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1921-53 - Record: 226-132-22 - Winning percentage: .631 - Championships: 6 An early stalwart of the NFL, Curly Lambeau spent 29 years helming the Green Bay Packers before wrapping up his coaching career with two-year stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington. His Packers won titles across three decades, including the league's first three-peat from 1929-31. Notably, he experienced only one losing season during his first 27 years with Green Bay, cementing his legacy of consistent success. Born in Green Bay, Lambeau co-founded the Packers and played halfback on the team from 1919-29. He was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach and owner in 1963, two years before his death. You may also like: Countries with the most active NFL players - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1991-95, 2000-23 - Record: 302-165 - Winning percentage: .647 - Championships: 6 The most successful head coach of the 21st century, Bill Belichick first coached the Cleveland Browns before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. With the Pats, Belichick combined with quarterback Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls in 18 years. Belichick and New England split after last season when the Patriots went 4-13—the worst record of Belichick's career. His name has swirled around potential coaching openings , but nothing has come of it. Belichick has remained in the media spotlight with his regular slot on the "Monday Night Football" ManningCast. - Seasons coached: 40 - Years active: 1920-29, '33-42, '46-55, '58-67 - Record: 318-148-31 - Winning percentage: .682 - Championships: 6 George Halas was the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and coached the team across four separate stints. Nicknamed "Papa Bear," he built the ballclub into one of the NFL's premier franchises behind players such as Bronko Nagurski and Sid Luckman. Halas also played for the team, competing as a player-coach in the 1920s. The first coach to study opponents via game film, he was once a baseball player and even made 12 appearances as a member of the New York Yankees in 1919. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 as both a coach and owner. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1963-95 - Record: 328-156-6 - Winning percentage: .677 - Championships: 2 The winningest head coach in NFL history is Don Shula, who first coached the Baltimore Colts (losing Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the New York Jets) for seven years before leading the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons. With the Fins, Shula won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973, a run that included a 17-0 season—the only perfect campaign in NFL history. He also coached quarterback great Dan Marino in the 1980s and '90s, but the pair made it to a Super Bowl just once. Shula was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. You may also like: The 5 biggest upsets of the 2023-24 NFL regular season Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Adam22 Compares Kendrick Lamar To Donald Trump With Their “Cult” Fanbases
Subscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . On December 7, Pope Francis attended the opening of Nativity of Bethlehem 2024, a nativity scene exhibition in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. One scene featured olive wood sculptures of Mary, Jesus, and Joseph designed by Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, two Palestinian artists from Bethlehem. Nestled between a genuflecting Mary and standing Joseph was Jesus swaddled in a keffiyeh , a black-and-white scarf symbolizing Palestinian heritage and resilience. He lay below a circular mother-of-pearl starburst symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, inscribed with the words “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to all people” in Latin and Arabic. After photos of Pope Francis visiting the nativity scene circulated online and a flood of outrage ensued, news outlets reported this week that the manger and keffiyeh-swaddled baby Jesus have been removed from the Vatican’s exhibition. Keffiyehs themselves have similarly garnered widespread support and been the target of censorship over the last year amid what human rights organizations have deemed a genocide in Gaza. Some social media users on platforms including X decried the nativity scene as “outrageous” and a “blasphemous” insult to Christmas, disparaging it as little more than a political stunt. To decry the nativity scene, however, is to deny the centuries-long history of artists depicting the Holy Family in Bethlehem — located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in Palestine — as marginalized, forcibly removed, and diasporic peoples. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities The location of Jesus’s birth and the people present became deeply meaningful in early Christian paintings by Byzantine artists depicting baby Jesus with a donkey and ox under a “turugium,” or tiled roof structure inside the Cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem, such as Duccio di Buonisegna’s “ The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel ” (1308–11). However, Renaissance and Baroque artists began to situate Jesus’s birth among Greco-Roman ruins — the same ruins, scholar Andrew Hui explains , of religious and political systems into which Jesus was born and would doctrinally overturn. Similarly, the ethnicities of the Magis, the three kings who follow the Star of Bethlehem to adore Jesus and bring three gifts, and the clothing and behavior of shepherds reflected Christianity’s increasing ubiquity through colonialism and forced conversion. And over the last century, artists have often used both the Magis and the shepherds as tools to reimagine the nativity in times of war, bigotry, and genocide. During World War I, artists reimagined the nativity in the contexts of nationalism and large-scale destruction — soldiers as shepherds in military uniform and Jesus, Mary, and Joseph taking shelter in bombed-out stables or trenches . German artist Sella Hasse’s linocut “Kriegsweihnacht” (1914) reimagines the Nativity as a scene of mourning, explains Claudia Siebrecht in her 2013 book The Aesthetics of Loss: German Women’s Art of the First World War . A Medieval knight bows his head to Mary’s left, as the naked bodies of dead soldiers rise to an afterlife behind them. World War II likewise saw displaced artists, including Polish artist Stanisław Przespolewski, reimagining Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in their traditional folk costumes. Przespolewski crafted his 1943 Nativity scene with a Mary clothed in Polish folk patterns and a winged hussar, a 16th-century Polish soldier clad in armor, protecting the family. A contemporary World War II Polish soldier also stands with a rifle at the ready on the outskirts of the manger. In 1968, a group of American artists led by Joey Skaggs constructed a Vietnamese Nativity scene in Central Park, with a Vietnamese Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger covered with bamboo shades and a nearby paper pig adorned with a police hat, gun, and badge. While dressed as American soldiers, they attempted to burn the pig to the ground in protest of the war. Skaggs and several other protesters were ticketed for the “Vietnamese Christmas Nativity Burning.” Skaggs told the New York Times , “I want to make it clear that it’s not a beautiful Christmas in Vietnam.” Politically and socially potent nativity scenes have only multiplied over the last decade. In 2019, Banksy unveiled a crèche in Bethlehem depicting the Holy Family beside Israel’s West Bank separation barrier, pierced by a star-shaped bullet hole. The piece was titled “Scar of Bethlehem.” California’s Claremont United Methodist Church staged metal cages containing statues of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph that same year, whom the pastor said represent “the thousands of nameless families separated” in United States Border Patrol detention centers. Artist Kelly Latimore’s “Tent City Nativity” (2022) depicts Jesus, Mary, and Joseph inside an unhoused tent community, barred from the bustling city behind them by a metal fence. Last Christmas, the Vatican displayed more than 100 crèches, including a scene by a Ukrainian artist with bomb shrapnel embedded in the statue. Much like the long history of nativity scenes themselves, Pope Francis’s recent plea for an end to the war on Gaza is neither new nor surprising. Just last month , he called for an investigation into the Israeli military’s bombardment over the last year, telling author Hernán Reyes Alcaide that “according to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide.” What is powerful is the Pope’s visible interaction with the nativity, seen praying in front of the swaddled Jesus and sharing a message of peace. It calls to mind the nativity scene at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem last year: Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh , his cradle a pile of debris. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, unveiled a similar display this year. “This is beyond symbolism,” wrote the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church pastor Munther Isaac on December 8, as Gazans mark a second holiday under the Israeli military’s unabated siege. “Once again, we find ourselves reflecting on the meaning of Christmas through the image of Christ in the Rubble.” We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn FacebookLocal roundup: Boston Fleet fall in 2024-25 season opener
The government has blocked 128 prisoners trapped under cruel indefinite jail terms from moving to open conditions in the past 12 months, The Independent can reveal. Figures show the justice secretary has refused to allow scores of inmates serving abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) jail terms to progress to an open prison despite the Parole Board recommending their transfer. Politicians and campaigners have hit out at the “scandalous” number of prisoners being stopped from progressing to a lower category prison where they may be eligible for day release, warning it reinforces the sense that IPP is the sentence of “no hope”. More than 2,600 are languishing under the “torture sentences” with no release date 12 years after the indefinite terms were abolished amid human rights concerns. These include shocking injustices highlighted by The Independent such as James Lawrence , who is still in prison 18 years after he was handed an eight-month jail term; Thomas White , who set himself alight in his cell after serving 12 years for stealing a phone; and Abdullahi Suleman , who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery. At least 90 IPP prisoners have taken their own lives as they lose hope of ever being freed. The government has come under fire for refusing to resentence IPP inmates , with prisons minister James Timpson last month telling the House of Lords it was “right” that release decisions are made by the independent Parole Board. Instead, he said IPP inmates must focus on progressing towards being approved for release by the Parole Board despite more than 700 having served at least 10 years longer than their minimum term. However, in answer to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Kim Johnson, justice minister Sir Nicholas Dakin said that the secretary of state is free to accept or reject the Parole Board’s recommendations to move someone to an open prison. And figures reveal that the government has refused to follow Parole Board recommendations to progress IPP prisoners in 61 per cent of cases in the past year. In the first four months of 2024, under the previous Tory government, every single IPP prisoner recommended for progression was denied a move to open prison. The numbers allowed to transfer have increased since the Labour government was elected in July, although 45 per cent were still blocked from transferring in the last six months of 2024. The figures come as a former justice secretary called for thousands of prisoners to be moved to open prisons to tackle overcrowding and help prepare inmates for release, David Gauke, who has been commissioned by the government to lead a review of sentencing policy, believes the move would save money and help reduce reoffending. Urging ministers to look to Spain where one in four prisoners are allowed to leave prison walls during the day, he told The Times : “We don’t make as much use of open prisons as we might do.” Lord Woodley, who has tabled a private member’s bill for IPP prisoners to be resentenced, said the figures of those blocked from moving to open prisons were “scandalous”. “Without wishing to sound cynical, some might say the government seem happy to hide behind the Parole Board when it suits them, but to ignore their advice when it doesn’t,” he said. Reformed IPP prisoner Marc Conway, who was one of the heroes of the Fishmongers’ Hall terror attack, said the shocking figures only serve to reinforce the feeling that IPP is the sentence of no hope. “It is concerning that people have done everything that the Parole Board has asked and they have said they are in a good position to move to open conditions, then the government stepped in to override it,” he said. “Rulings like this actually reinforce that IPP is the sentence of no hope. It will enforce their feeling that no one cares about them. “It’s the people at the top who have got the power. When you feel like you are fighting a whole establishment rather than an individual process you start to feel dehumanised. You start to feel like you are not worthy. These are all factors as to why people attempt suicide and self-harm.” Last year Nicholas Bidar , 36, became the first IPP prisoner to have his parole hearing held in public. He described himself as a political prisoner after he was recommended for transfer to open conditions in 2021, but this was blocked by Dominic Raab, the home secretary. He remains in maximum security HMP Long Lartin. A family member said the refusal to move him, despite the panel of parole board experts advising he was ready, was “devastating”. “His words to us afterwards were literally, ‘I don’t want to wake up, I don’t want to be here,’” they told The Independent . “He said, ‘I am not coming home, I’m going to die here.’ That’s how he has felt since that happened.” Bernadette Emerson, co-founder of IPP Committee in Action, has been fighting for her husband Abdullahi Suleman, who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery. She said the figures show why IPPs feel like they have “no chance whatsoever”. “They are trapping IPPs either way,” she said. “Without resentencing going ahead what’s going to happen for IPPs if the government is doing these blocks all the time? “They need to drastically improve the situation for IPPs and give them the chance to progress to release and be given their life back.” A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “It is right that IPP sentences were abolished. We recently terminated the lifetime licences of more than 1,700 rehabilitated offenders, and are improving the rehabilitation and mental health support for those still in prison. “The Lord Chancellor considers the recommendations from the independent Parole Board as to whether to place IPP prisoners in the open estate and public safety is at the heart of any decision.”HALIFAX - Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston named an expanded 21-member cabinet Thursday during a ceremony in downtown Halifax that excluded reporters in a departure from a long-standing tradition of open coverage. In an address that was livestreamed, Houston said his newly re-elected government would continue to deal with issues that matter to Nova Scotians, including health care, housing and affordability. “This term will also be very focused on growing our economy and continuing to lower taxes,” the premier said. “We have to grow our economy to be better able to support the services that Nova Scotians have a right to expect.” Before the election, in which the Tories won 43 of the legislature’s 55 seats, Houston led a 17-member cabinet. The government allowed only one television outlet to have a pool camera at the ceremony held at the Halifax Convention Centre, citing “limited capacity” inside the building that occupies a full city block. Journalists who tried to enter Thursday were turned away by building security. Houston was asked by reporters as he arrived why the media were not being given access to the new cabinet members. “It’s all live streamed ... It’s a really exciting day, you guys have lots of access, and you guys know that,” he said. Reporters were allowed to attend the swearing-in ceremony held at the same venue after the Tories were first elected in 2021, although it was during the COVID-19 pandemic and they were placed in a separate room to monitor the event before interviewing ministers. In the new cabinet, Houston will be joined by veterans John Lohr, who becomes finance minister, Becky Druhan, who moves from education to justice, and Michelle Thompson, who continues as minister of health. There are five new members, including political newcomer Leah Martin as minister of Communications Nova Scotia and L’ nu affairs and Fred Tilley, a former Liberal who crossed the floor just before the Nov. 26 election and becomes minister of public works. The other new ministers are Dave Ritcey in the tourism portfolio, Nolan Young, who is minister of labour, and Scott Armstrong as minister of opportunities and social development — formerly the Department of Community Services. In another departmental change, veteran minister Colton LeBlanc will head the new Department of Growth and Development, which was formerly known as economic development and will now also oversee housing. Composed of 14 men and seven women, the cabinet will see Barbara Adams return as minister of seniors and long-term care and serve as deputy premier. Tim Halman retains the environment portfolio and Tory Rushton stays on in natural resources, while Kim Masland moves from public works to the Department of Emergency Management. The former community services minister, Brendan Maguire, takes over education and also assumes the duties of advanced education from Brian Wong, who was dropped from cabinet along with Susan Corkum-Greek, the former minister of economic development. Alex Marland, a political scientist at Acadia University, said the government could have found room for reporters had it wanted to. “This isn’t a new government, so there are some experienced hands who at a minimum could have been made available,” Marland said. He added that in general, there are governments that feel the need to control their message, and that also tend to be cautious with newer ministers who lack media training. “If this is a pattern and it persists, that’s going to be a problem for the Houston government,” he said. “But if this is a one off and by January things are a little different because people have gone through media training, then a lot of it will be forgotten.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. — With files from Lyndsay Armstrong
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 22, 2024-- Today, the BlackRock closed-end funds listed below (each a “Fund,” and collectively the “Funds”) have announced changes to their monthly distribution amounts per share under their managed distribution plans (each, a “Plan”), as applicable, and declared their December distributions early. Each Fund has adopted a Plan to support a level monthly distribution of income, capital gains and/or return of capital. The Funds’ monthly distribution rates for December can be found below: Key Dates: Declaration- 11/22/2024 Ex- 12/16/2024 Record- 12/16/2024 Payable- 12/23/2024 Fund * Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution ($) Change From Prior Distribution (%) BlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund, Inc. CII $0.141000 $0.041500 42% BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust BDJ $0.061900 $0.005700 10% BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust BOE $0.082700 $0.019700 31% BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust BGY $0.042600 $0.008800 26% BlackRock Health Sciences Trust BME $0.262100 $0.049100 23% BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust BGR $0.097300 $0.021900 29% BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust BCX $0.069700 $0.017900 35% BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust BUI $0.136000 $0.015000 12% BlackRock Science and Technology Trust BST $0.250000 - - * In order to comply with the requirements of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), each of the Funds above posted to the DTC bulletin board and sent to its shareholders of record as of the applicable record date a Section 19 notice with the previous distribution payment. The Section 19 notice was provided for informational purposes only and not for tax reporting purposes. This information can be found in the “Closed-End Funds” section of www.blackrock.com . As applicable, the final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions in 2024 will be made after the end of the year. The fixed amounts distributed per share are subject to change at the discretion of each Fund’s Board of Directors/Trustees. Under its Plan, each Fund will distribute all available investment income to its shareholders, consistent with its investment objectives and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If sufficient income (inclusive of net investment income and short-term capital gains) is not available on a monthly basis, a Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return capital to its shareholders in order to maintain a level distribution. The Funds’ estimated sources of the distributions paid as of October 31, 2024 and for their current fiscal year are as follows: Estimated Allocations as of October 31, 2024 Fund Distribution Net Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital CII $0.099500 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.099500 (100%) $0 (0%) BDJ $0.056200 $0.017422 (31%) $0 (0%) $0.038778 (69%) $0 (0%) BOE 1 $0.063000 $0.014884 (24%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.048116 (76%) BGY 1 $0.033800 $0.003015 (9%) $0 (0%) $0.030785 (91%) $0 (0%) BME 1 $0.213000 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.213000 (100%) $0 (0%) BGR 1 $0.075400 $0.015903 (21%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.059497 (79%) BCX 1 $0.051800 $0.011095 (21%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.040705 (79%) BUI 1 $0.121000 $0.001188 (1%) $0 (0%) $0.060793 (50%) $0.059019 (49%) BST $0.250000 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.250000 (100%) $0 (0%) Estimated Allocations for the Fiscal Year through October 31, 2024 Fund Distribution Net Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital CII $0.995000 $0.059966 (6%) $0 (0%) $0.935034 (94%) $0 (0%) BDJ $0.562000 $0.329298 (59%) $0 (0%) $0.232702 (41%) $0 (0%) BOE 1 $0.630000 $0.170921 (27%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.459079 (73%) BGY 1 $0.338000 $0.085258 (25%) $0.023488 (7%) $0.207532 (62%) $0.021722 (6%) BME 1 $2.130000 $0.077558 (4%) $0 (0%) $0.890031 (42%) $1.162411 (54%) BGR 1 $0.666700 $0.263985 (40%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.402715 (60%) BCX 1 $0.518000 $0.199609 (39%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.318391 (61%) BUI 1 $1.210000 $0.253187 (21%) $0 (0%) $0.627127 (52%) $0.329686 (27%) BST $2.500000 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $2.500000 (100%) $0 (0%) 1 The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net-realized capital gains in the current fiscal year; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholder’s investment is paid back to the shareholder. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will reduce the Fund’s net asset value per share. The amounts and sources of distributions reported are only estimates and are being provided to you pursuant to regulatory requirements and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon each Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information: Fund Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5-year period ending on 9/30/2024 Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of 9/30/2024 Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through 9/30/2024 Cumulative fiscal year distributions as a percentage of NAV as of 9/30/2024 CII 12.91% 5.54% 13.90% 4.16% BDJ 9.41% 7.14% 13.76% 5.36% BOE 9.36% 5.93% 13.91% 4.45% BGY 9.07% 6.21% 11.08% 4.66% BME 10.37% 5.65% 12.22% 4.24% BGR 10.01% 6.34% 5.69% 4.14% BCX 11.53% 5.81% 6.53% 4.36% BUI 9.80% 5.94% 13.80% 4.46% BST 13.30% 7.94% 15.86% 5.96% Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s current distributions or from the terms of the Fund’s Plan. The amount distributed per share under a Plan is subject to change at the discretion each Fund’s Board. Each Plan will be subject to ongoing review by the Board to determine whether the Plan should be continued, modified or terminated. The Board may amend the terms of a Plan or suspend or terminate a Plan at any time without prior notice to the Fund’s shareholders if it deems such actions to be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders. The amendment or termination of a Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares. About BlackRock BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate Availability of Fund Updates BlackRock will update performance and certain other data for the Funds on a monthly basis on its website in the “Closed-end Funds” section of www.blackrock.com as well as certain other material information as necessary from time to time. Investors and others are advised to check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Funds. This reference to BlackRock’s website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Funds and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release, and other statements that BlackRock or a Fund may make, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to a Fund’s or BlackRock’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. BlackRock cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and BlackRock assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Funds, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Funds or in a Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of a Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to a Fund or BlackRock, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities, health epidemics and/or pandemics and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or BlackRock; (9) BlackRock’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of BlackRock electing to provide support to its products from time to time; and (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Funds with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on BlackRock’s website at www.blackrock.com , and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Funds. The information contained on BlackRock’s website is not a part of this press release. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122587141/en/ 1-800-882-0052 KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: BlackRock Closed-End Funds Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/22/2024 05:23 PM/DISC: 11/22/2024 05:23 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122587141/enIngram Micro Takes Strategic Action to Position Company for Long-Term Growth
Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. ( NYSE:HASI – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 7th, Zacks Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 30th will be given a dividend of 0.415 per share by the real estate investment trust on Friday, January 10th. This represents a $1.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.06%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 30th. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital has raised its dividend payment by an average of 221.2% annually over the last three years. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital has a payout ratio of 62.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital to earn $2.43 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.66 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 68.3%. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Stock Down 0.9 % Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital stock opened at $27.38 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $30.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.67. The firm has a market cap of $3.24 billion, a PE ratio of 15.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.93. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital has a twelve month low of $21.77 and a twelve month high of $36.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 13.55 and a current ratio of 13.55. Insider Activity Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts recently issued reports on HASI shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set a “buy” rating and a $39.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital from $36.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, September 27th. Bank of America initiated coverage on Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital in a report on Monday, November 25th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $40.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital from $32.00 to $31.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $40.50. View Our Latest Research Report on HASI About Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital ( Get Free Report ) Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure markets in the United States. The company's portfolio includes equity investments, commercial and government receivables, real estate, and debt securities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Politics / Donald Trump Has Not Won a Majority of the Votes Cast for President Donald Trump Has NOT Won a Majority of the Votes Cast for President Former president Donald Trump speaks after being declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images) "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," Donald Trump declared in the early morning hours of November 6, 2024, after all the polls had closed. Indeed, he claimed that he had won "a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this." Trump was excited by the numbers showing him with well over 50 percent of the popular vote and establishing a wide lead over his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. Unfortunately, for the president-elect, the United States takes time to count 155 million votes—give or take a million—and the actual result will rob Trump of his bragging points. Trump can no longer claim that powerful mandate. By most reasonable measures, the beginning point for such a claim in a system with two major parties is an overwhelming majority vote in favor of your candidacy. Trump no longer has that. Over the weekend, as California, Oregon, Washington, and other Western states moved closer to completing their counts, Trump's percentage of the popular vote fell below 50 percent. And his margin of victory looks to be much smaller than initially anticipated. In fact, of all the 59 presidential elections since the nation's founding, it appears... https://www.thenation.com/authorsThe Left Didn't Sink Kamala Harris. Here's What Did.Laura Woods was ecstatic about a charming present from Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta as she anticipates the birth of her first child. The expectant mum and TNT Sport host was proposed to by partner Adam Collard in September, following their pregnancy announcement in July. Laura gushed over her engagement in an Instagram post: "And just like that... You make me happy @adamcollard. Thank you @carbisbayestate – the place we fell in love and now the place we got engaged, you made it so special. What a summer x." Woods received an endearing surprise from her beloved Arsenal . She posted a video capturing a heart-warming interaction with Arteta after a significant victory for Arsenal over Monaco, where he presented her with a red, team-branded bag. She expressed her excitement on Instagram with the caption "my club," adding, "this was amazing, thank you". Woods unveiled the contents—an Arsenal onesie adorned with the team's emblem—which she found "too cute". Laura and Collard initially revealed their relationship in October 2023. Collard, who previously appeared on Love Island, shared his aspirations to build a future with Laura, aged 37, stressing his instinctive desire to care for those close to him: "I'm protective, whether it's Laura, or my family, my friends. "I want to get married. I want to have kids as well. I've always thought, what type of person will I be? How can I protect my kids? "Obviously I've never had a kid, but I don't think I'll be plastering it all over [social media]. I want them to have a fair fight and a chance not to be judged straight away. "As long as my really close circle knows exactly who I am, I don't care. I think you have to take everything with a pinch of salt." Woods is also keenly anticipating another 'present' from Arsenal this weekend: three points against Everton. The team will head back into Premier League combat at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, aiming for a victory that would be monumental in their pursuit of the title. With Arteta's squad currently sitting third, they find themselves six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool . An Arsenal win coupled with favourable results elsewhere could see them significantly close the gap on the top spot as Chelsea host Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.