Cousins Properties Announces Pricing of Senior Notes OfferingLetter: Foul ball
Chargers punch ticket to playoffs with easy win over PatriotsYOU could lose out on a £1million Lotto jackpot due to a hidden rule in the small-print. Sub-postmaster Gerald Lowery, 67, has warned scratchcard players over the little-known mistake. Gerald sells National Lottery scratchcards at his Post Office branch in the Cumbrian village of Millom. Earlier this year a customer came in to claim a £5 prize on their scratchcard. But Gerald spotted the scratchcard had been accidentally sold after its expiry date. A baffled Gerald refunded the customer himself - saying it was lucky they hadn't won the £1million jackpot. Most read in Money If you scratched off the maximum £1million Scratchcard prize, you could lose out if your winning ticket expired before sale. Gerald was puzzled why the out-of-date ticket had slipped through and flagged the problem with lotto operator Allywn. The firm told him that he had missed the deadline to sell the scratchcard pack - and could not get a refund for unsold cards. Gerald told The Sun: "I haven't done anything wrong, but I'm out of pocket." Most read in Money He put the pack on sale in September 1 last year, two months before the deadline for "activating" them. The last day where he could officially sell the cards was January 29 this year, and the deadline for players to claim their prizes was July 27. Gerald kept the cards on sale on the understanding Allwyn would not send a new pack until the old one had sold out. He said he must have accidentally sold a scratchcard after the January 29 deadline, but is confused how it could have happened. The sub-postmaster said he was used to the old system where Post Office middlemen dealt with longtime Lotto operator Camelot. Under the old system, Post Office officials would refund shopkeepers for any unsold cards. But new operator Allwyn deals with shopkeepers directly - and Gerald likely fell foul of the small print while adjusting. He said the rule changes have left him out of pocket even though he has done nothing wrong. Gerald said: " I am just disappointed in Allywn and very wary of them. "They've had people come to visit my shop and they were of no help whatsoever. It's gone on long enough now." Allwyn said it will send someone to Gerald's shop to help him figure out any issues and get used to the system. The operator said Gerald doesn't owe any money - but isn't due a refund for unsold scratchcards either. By Ethan Singh Anonymous winner - £195,707,000 A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time. The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket. Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10 Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite. The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies. Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news. As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping. Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children. Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000 Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019. They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck. But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m . He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported. Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years. He left money for their children Carly and Jamie. Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000 Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million. But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win. The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021. After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge. She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought. It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year. Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775 Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot. They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019. She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family. Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000 The couple from Colne, Lancashire , took home £61 million on January 30 2024. Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win. Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account. Other eye-watering anonymous winners: 2019 - £123million Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover. 2021 - £122million Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April. The successful participant chose to remain anonymous. 2018 - £121million Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187. An Allwyn spokesperson said: "This pack of 60 Scratchcards was activated for sale on September 1 last year. "The game closed for sale on 29 January 2024 – over four months later. "Once the pack was activated, the Scratchcards became the retailer’s property. "To be clear, Mr Lowery doesn't owe anything, and he isn't due anything either. "We don't offer refunds for activated partial packs, nor did the previous National Lottery operator. "This is because retailers are given plenty of time to sell through the packs. "Full, unactivated Scratchcard packs should be returned, free of charge. "The retailer would've previously contracted directly with Post Office Limited in relation to his National Lottery account." READ MORE SUN STORIES Allwyn added: "Post Office Limited may have had different processes to follow. "We'll get a member of our team to arrange a visit with Mr Lowery to offer him further support." EVERYONE wants to know how to beat the odds and win the lottery. But unfortunately, the lottery is a game of luck and there are no tips or tricks that can guarantee you'll take home a top prize. The odds show how likely you are to win any particular prize - the lower the number, the better the odds. For example, odds of 1 in 10 are better than odds of 1 in 100 or 1 in 1,000. There are several major lottery games in the UK including Lotto by the National Lottery, Camelot's EuroMillions and Thunderball. Chances of winning the Lotto Lotto by the National Lottery is a game where you pick six numbers from 1 to 59. You can play up to seven lines of numbers on each slip. The game costs £2 to play per slip. The odds of winning any prize on the Lotto are 1 in 9.3. But to win the jackpot on the Lotto, the odds are considerably slimmer. To bag the top prize , you need to have six matching balls. The odds of doing this and scooping the jackpot are currently 1 in 45,057,474. The next highest prize of £1,000,000 is for getting five main matching balls plus the bonus ball. The odds of taking home the million pound prize are 1 in 7,509,579 - far higher than the jackpot, but still unlikely. The odds of taking home £1,750 for getting five main numbers without the bonus ball are 1 in 2,180, while you have a 1 in 97 chance of bagging £140 for getting four main numbers. Your chances of taking home £30 for getting 3 main numbers are much better at 1 in 97. And you have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of getting a free lucky dip for 2 matching numbers. Chances of winning the EuroMillions The EuroMillions costs £2.50 to play and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays. To play, you must pick five numbers from 1-50 and two "Lucky Stars" from 1-12. Players with the most matching numbers win the top prizes. Your chance of bagging the EuroMillions jackpot is even slimmer than winning the top Lotto prize. This is because it generally has higher jackpots on offer, meaning it attracts more attention . Currently, the odds of matching five numbers and two lucky stars - the top win - stand at 1 in 139,838,160. The average jackpot prize is £57,923,499, according to EuroMillions. The odds of winning the second top prize for matching 5 balls and a lucky star, which is typically around £262,346, are 1 in 6,991,908. The chances of taking home the third prize for five matching balls, with an average payout of £26,277, are 1 in 3,107,515. For four matching balls with two lucky stars, it's 1 in 621,503, and for four balls with one lucky star, it's 1 in 31,076. These come with an average prize of £1,489 and £95, respectively. Chances of winning the Thunderball Thunderball is another game run by National Lottery where you pick five numbers and one "Thunderball". It costs just £1 to play and you can enter up to four times a week. The jackpot of £500,000 for matching five balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 8,060,598. Your odds of bagging the next highest prize of £5,000 for matching five balls is currently 1 in 620,046, while the chances of winning £250 for four balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 47,416. You have the best chance of winning £3 for matching the Thunderball, with odds of 1 in 29.
Minutes after the University of North Carolina announced it had hired Bill Belichick as its next head football coach, the Tar Heels’ Instagram account posted a photo of the legendary NFL coach — at no more than 3 years old — sitting in the UNC bleachers. “Welcome home, Coach,” the post reads , dredging up the memory of when the young Belichick shadowed his father, Steve, who was a UNC assistant from 1953 to 1955. As news of his hiring spread around the NFL world, the reaction ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. The most decorated coach in NFL history after earning six Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, and two more as the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, Belichick is officially making his next challenge college football after agreeing to a five-year deal with UNC. “I will have to see him on the sideline to believe that’s happening,” Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury joked Thursday. “We’ll see how the NFL job search goes and all that. I will have to see him on the sideline coaching in Chapel Hill to believe that’s happening." While Belichick’s knowledge of the sport, and his success, are unquestioned, there has been debate among those who have played for the 72-year-old coach during his 40-plus years in football about how well his style will translate to the college game. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. That list apparently includes Tom Brady, the quarterback during all six of Belichick’s Super Bowl wins with New England. “Congrats, coach. The Tar Heel way is about to become a thing,” Brady posted on Instagram on Thursday, referencing “The Patriot Way” that he popularized in New England. Some cautioned that the players he brings into the UNC program should prepare to have their limits tested like never before. “I think he’s going to do good,” said Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne, who played under Belichick during his final three years in New England. “Bill does a good job of developing players, developing young men. I think it will be a challenge for the young man. He’s a tough coach, which we all know. But I think it will be good for certain players that have the right mindset.” Bourne's advice? Always stay locked in mentally. “Just stay tough,” Bourne said. “Have a gritty mindset because it’s not going to be easy, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it." Though some have questioned why the Tar Heels would even consider hiring Belichick after parting ways with 73-year-old Mack Brown this season, current Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said good coaching is ageless. “To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a young man or a 10-year vet in the league, he’s a great teacher,” said Mayo, who played eight seasons under Belichick, winning a Super Bowl during the 2014 season, and then succeeded him as head coach after last season. "I wish him nothing but the best. It doesn’t really matter what level, I think he’ll be successful.” NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is a relative newcomer to the college game himself. He spent three seasons at Jackson State before going to Colorado in 2023. In a message posted to the X social media platform, he welcomed Belichick as a competitor. “Coach Bill Belichick is a coaches coach to all us Coaches along with my man coach (NIck) Saban,” Sanders posted. “They’re game changers and they know how to move people forward. I know this is a great thing for College Football & for North Carolina. God bless u Coach, if you’re happy I am 2.” But former Patriots defensive back Je’Rod Cherry wonders how well Belichick’s old-school coaching style will be received in an era in which in-your-face methods don't always fly as well as they did when Belichick began his career. “You can’t coach hard anymore,” Cherry said during an appearance on ESPN GameNight. “You can’t yell at guys, curse at guys and that’s what he does. You are going to have to find guys who are going to accept that brand of coaching and will accept someone constantly getting on them." New York Jets safety Jalen Mills, who played for Belichick with the Patriots from 2021 to 2023, said he was surprised by the news. “I thought he definitely was going to try to wait it out until after the season and come back to the NFL,” Mills said. "But I think it’s gonna be a good thing for him because now you get a guy who has won and, of course, he’s going to try to turn that program around. But he also gets to connect with the younger generation and kind of modify and adjust to this younger generation of football on top of what he already knows. So I think that’ll just help him as far as coaching. And then, of course, he’ll give those guys, those young guys, structure as far as what the NFL looks like, too.” Just how much the Belichick on the college sidelines will resemble the one in the cutoff hooded sweatshirt who patrolled NFL sidelines is unclear. Belichick hinted they will be one and the same. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN prior to agreeing to the UNC job, Belichick laid out what his approach at the college level would be. “The program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players than have the ability to play in the NFL,” Belichick said. “It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques — that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level.” ___ AP National Writer Howard Fendrich and Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Kyle Hightower, The Associated Press
A number of shoppers around the UK have complained after finding Easter eggs on supermarket shelves in December. Easter Sunday is four months away, falling on April 20 in 2025 but some supermarkets already have seasonal stock out on their shelves. Chocolate eggs and hot cross buns have already been spotted for sale in shops including Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. As reported by Sky News , Gary Evans, 66, from Margate, shared a picture of Creme Eggs on display at his local Morrisons on Boxing Day. I’m a very liberal person but seeing Morrisons selling #Easter eggs right after #Christmas is where I draw the line 🥲 pic.twitter.com/RZR4gsvanx "I just think it's crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial... [there's] something quite frantic about it," he said. Meanwhile, Joseph Robinson, saw themed Kit-Kat and Kinder Surprise products at his local Morrisons in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday evening (December 27). He said: "It's funny as they've not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they're already stocking for Easter. "I wish that supermarkets weren't so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period." (function (d, s, n) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; js = d.createElement(s); js.className = n; js.src = "//player.ex.co/player/0084d5d5-f19a-4bbe-9679-95eb945383ff"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); js.setAttribute('programmatic', 'true'); js.onload = function () { const playerApi232038 = ExCoPlayer.connect('0084d5d5-f19a-4bbe-9679-95eb945383ff'); playerApi232038.init({ "autoPlay": false, "mute": true, "showAds": true, "playbackMode": "play-in-view", "content": { "playFirst": [ { "title": "Discontinued UK Sweets/Chocolates", "src": "https://large-cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/07e8370e-04f6-4f11-86d9-86c3c15c0e54/720p.mp4" } ], "playlistId": "649aeec15f10d80012517466" }, "sticky": { "mode": "persistent", "closeButton": true, "pauseOnClose": true, "desktop": { "enabled": false, "position": "bottom-right" }, "mobile": { "enabled": false, "position": "upper-small" } }}); }; }(document, 'script', 'exco-player')); On X (formerly known as Twitter) user @Jingle1991 shared an image of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury's on Christmas Eve and pointed out: "Easter chocolate already out. Jesus hasn’t even been born yet". Another added: "I’m a very liberal person but seeing Morrisons selling #Easter eggs right after #Christmas is where I draw the line". In an alternative view, marketing consultant Andrew Wallis, 54, admitted he was surprised to see Easter eggs in the Co-op in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire. However, he added it also illustrates "forward-thinking" from big businesses. Recommended reading: He explained: "It made me reflect on how big brands are always thinking ahead and planning early. "My message to retailers would be: while planning ahead is important, it's also essential to be mindful of consumer sentiment. "Some might feel it's too early for seasonal products like this but others might see it as a sign of forward-thinking. Striking the right balance is key to keeping customers happy."
Nicole Kidman was honored with a special award on Wednesday night, but all people could talk about was the mini-me by her side: her youngest daughter, Faith . The 13-year-old was the spitting image of her mother at The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women in Entertainment Gala, held in The Beverly Hills Hotel. Faith, whom Nicole shares with her husband Keith Urban , stunned in a chic white textured blazer and skirt set, which she paired with black stockings and black heeled shoes. She wore her long brown hair straight down and showcased her demure smile while embracing her mom. Nicole looked incredible in a black, long-sleeved gown with a light blue ruffled blouse underneath, paired with black pumps. Her iconic blonde hair was worn in a stylish blowout, and she accessorized with hoop earrings. The 57-year-old told Extra why Faith joined her at the event, where she was honored with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award. "She was really interested in this particular event," she shared. "Her oldest sister has gone to a lot of things, so she gets to come to this." Nicole also shares her 16-year-old daughter Sunday with Keith; the aspiring model joined her mom on a slew of red carpets this year and even strutted the runway during Paris Fashion Week for Miu Miu. The sisters made their red carpet debut together at the AFI Lifetime Achievement event in April 2024; Nicole was honored with the award and proudly showcased her teen daughters on the night. The Lioness actress revealed to Extra that Faith was excited to attend Wednesday's event as "It's about leadership and mentorship, and it's women." "It's exciting for them to come and see a different part of the work that we all do in this industry, " she continued. "They're both still looking at what they want to do. Being exposed to this is so good. " Nicole's award was presented by her Big Little Lies co-star and longtime friend Laura Dern , who gushed about the Aussie native's commitment to acting, friendship and motherhood. " Despite her endless commitments, Nicole is always showing up, not only as an actor and producer, but equally as mother, as wife, as daughter, as sister, as friend, as advocate and yes, this is true, as neighbor, " Laura said in her speech, according to THR. "She creates true home. She is at the ready with a cup of tea with open ears and an open heart, and nothing falls through the cracks with Nicole around. " Nicole spoke to Extra about her strong friendship with the Jurassic Park icon, explaining their sweet relationship. "We've become so close because we've shared so much, and we're just very, very close, way beyond anything to do with the industry...She's my confidant, far beyond any of this, " she gushed. She shared the love amongst her other Big Little Lies co-stars, saying, " Reese [Witherspoon] ... Zoe [Kravitz] , Shai[lene Woodley] . It's an incredible group and we can lean into each other. "
Forrest's 30 lead N.C. A&T past North Carolina Central 85-72
LONDON, Dec 29 — A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool in the UK is finding people with a heart condition before they even have symptoms, reported German news agency (dpa). The ground-breaking tool scours GP records to look for “red flags” which could indicate whether a patient is at risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). One former army captain who took part in the trial said he is “really grateful” that his AF was detected. John Pengelly said he now just takes a “couple of pills a day” to reduce his heightened risk of a potentially deadly stroke. AF is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate, and people with it have a significantly higher risk of having a stroke. For some, AF can lead to heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and tiredness. But others have no symptoms of the condition and the effected person is completely unaware that their heart rate is irregular. Around 1.6 million people across the UK have been diagnosed with AF. But leading heart charity the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said there are likely many thousands of undiagnosed people in the UK who are unaware they’re living with the condition. When AF is identified and treated early, it can be managed and the stroke risk reduced. The new AI tool is being assessed in a trial, called Find-AF, which is being funded by BHF and Leeds Hospitals Charity. The algorithm was developed by scientists and clinicians at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, with funding from the BHF. They created the tool using anonymised electronic health records of over 2.1 million people, training the algorithm to find warning signs that could indicate a person is at risk of developing AF. The tool was validated with medical records from a further 10 million people. Experts are assessing how effective it is at finding people who are at risk of developing AF in the next six months, with those identified then offered further testing. The algorithm is examining GP records at several surgeries in West Yorkshire. The algorithm works out someone’s risk based on a number of factors including age, sex, ethnicity and whether or not they have other medical conditions, including heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes ischaemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If people involved in the study are identified as high risk, they will be offered a handheld electrocardiography (ECG) machine to measure their heart rhythm twice a day for four weeks as well as any time they feel heart palpitations. If the ECG machine readings indicate that a patient has AF, their GP is informed and they can discuss treatment options. Experts hope that the West Yorkshire study will pave the way for a UK-wide trial, which would hopefully prevent a number of avoidable strokes. Estimates suggest that AF is a contributing factor in around 20,000 strokes every year in the UK. Chris Gale, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Leeds and honorary consultant cardiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “All too often the first sign that someone is living with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation is a stroke. “This can be devastating for patients and their families, changing their lives in an instant. It also has major cost implications for health and social care services — costs which could have been avoided if the condition was spotted and treated earlier.” Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation and consultant cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital, said: “We have effective treatments for people with atrial fibrillation who are at high risk of having a stroke. “But right now, some people are missing out because they don’t know that they may be living with this hidden threat to their health. “By harnessing the power of routinely collected health care data and prediction algorithms, this research offers a real opportunity to identify more people who are at risk of atrial fibrillation and who may benefit from treatment to reduce their risk of a devastating stroke.” Ramesh Nadarajah, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Data are collected about patients in every interaction they have with the NHS. “These data have huge potential to make early identification of and testing for conditions like AF easier and more efficient. “If it’s successful, this study will be the launchpad for a larger nationwide trial to determine whether our algorithm could become part of everyday clinical practice. “Ultimately, we hope that this approach will lead to an increase in the number of people diagnosed with AF at an early stage who get the treatment they need to reduce their risk of stroke.” — Bernama
Ubisoft's Xdefiant Will Shut Down in 2025, Along With 2 Entire Studios - IGN Daily Fix10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania Trump
Aston Villa return to winning ways by blowing away BrentfordSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers activated linebacker Dre Greenlaw to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams for his first action since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl . Greenlaw had been practicing the past few weeks and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday. San Francisco placed offensive lineman Ben Bartch on injured reserve with an ankle injury to make room on the roster. Greenlaw was one of the emotional leaders of San Francisco's defense before the freak injury in the first half of the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Greenlaw bounced up and down on the sideline and then started to run onto the field with a few teammates when he collapsed holding his left leg. He was then helped off in a cart. Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and emerged as one of the key defenders for San Francisco in 2022. He started 30 games the past two seasons with 247 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways. The Niners have missed his intensity and physical play this season, especially against the run. The Rams and 49ers both promoted players from the practice squad for the game with Los Angeles adding defensive back Charles Woods and San Francisco promoting running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL