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December is the most wonderful time of the year for most people, but for political journeyman Martin Lukato, this month signifies his personal fiefdom.It was during December 1960 t ... If you are an active subscriber and the article is not showing, please log out and back in. Free access to articles from 12:00.By Ojoma Akor Many Nigerians debating tax reform bills haven’t read them –Babangida Aliyu Nigeria’s tax administration system due for reform –FG Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. NEWS UPDATE: Nigerians have been finally approved to earn Dollars from home, acquire premium domains for as low as $1500, profit as much as $22,000 (₦37million+). Click here to start. COVID variant XEC detected FG Nigeria No evidence'It's a big thrill': Campbell Love to play for Victoria Country at carnivalHATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Cobie Montgomery had 21 points in Southern Miss' 81-64 win over Alabama State on Thursday. Montgomery shot 6 for 10 (6 for 9 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Golden Eagles (4-4). Denijay Harris scored 20 points and added 20 rebounds. Neftali Alvarez shot 4 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points, while adding six rebounds. The Hornets (3-6) were led in scoring by CJ Hines, who finished with 18 points. Amarr Knox and Shawn Fulcher each had 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
John Healey said that the Government’s “interest” in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is “that they live up to their promises to protect” rights, when he spoke to reporters after a Cobra meeting on Thursday. HTS is banned in the UK because of its past association with al Qaida, the terrorist organisation once led by Osama bin Laden. But its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, cut ties with al Qaida years ago and has sought to present his group as a more moderate and inclusive organisation, leading some to suggest the group should no longer be proscribed. When asked whether the Government was considering the status of the group, Mr Healey said: “Proscription is not a matter for now. “It doesn’t stop us talking to all the parties, and our interest in HTS is that they live up to their promises to protect the rights of all individuals and all groups, to respect international law and to prevent Syria becoming a base for a fresh terrorist threat.” Mr Healey said that Thursday’s meeting was “about making sure we have, as a Government, a laser focus on the role that we can play with allies to see a stable, peaceful transition. “So that the Syrians get the government they need for the future, and the region can see the stability in the future that it also needs.” Cobra meetings are called when ministers or officials need to respond to urgent matters. Following the toppling of the Bashar Assad regime over the weekend, the UK has paused decisions on asylum applications from Syria. Thousands of Syrians have been granted asylum in the UK but, earlier this week, the Home Office said decisions on applications would be paused while events unfold in Damascus. When asked how long the system would be paused for, and whether the move was fair, Mr Healey said on Thursday: “This is early days. “It’s a measure in response to rapidly changing developments, and the most important thing for us now is that the UK plays and will continue to play a full role with allies to see a stable, peaceful, orderly transition and that requires a political process. “It requires dialogue at the heart of it, and today’s ministerial meeting, the Cobra meeting, was about making sure that we do just that.” Earlier on Thursday, G7 leaders said that they “stand with the people of Syria” and “denounce terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms”. In a statement, Sir Keir Starmer and his counterparts said: “The G7 will work with and fully support a future Syrian government that abides by those standards and results from that process.” It went on: “After decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, we stand with the people of Syria. We denounce terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms. “We are hopeful that anyone seeking a role in governing Syria will demonstrate a commitment to the rights of all Syrians, prevent the collapse of state institutions, work on the recovery and rehabilitation of the country, and ensure the conditions for safe and dignified voluntary return to Syria of all those who were forced to flee the country.”Merck Recommends Rejection of TRC Capital’s “Mini-Tender” OfferA look back at 2024 in photosMerck Recommends Rejection of TRC Capital’s “Mini-Tender” Offer
VICTORIA - A Vancouver Island First Nation whose people were the first to greet European explorers in the region almost 250 years ago is taking British Columbia to court, seeking title to its traditional territories and financial compensation. The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation filed a claim Thursday in B.C. Supreme Court seeking a return of decision-making, resource and ecological stewardship, said Chief Mike Maquinna, a descendent of the former Chief Maquinna who met British explorer Capt. James Cook in 1776. Crown-authorized forest industry activities approved by the province without the consent of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation have resulted in cultural, economic and environmental impacts, he said at a news conference on Thursday. “Our people, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht, have endured many hardships since first meeting Capt. Cook, who was the explorer who first came into our territory,” said Maquinna. “As a result of the explorations of our territory, the natural resources of our lands have been taken. We want to correct rights and wrongs here and hopefully as time goes on this will show that Mowachaht/Muchalaht has been infringed upon since time of contact.” Capt. Cook and Chief Maquinna met in March 1776 at the traditional Mowachaht/Muchalaht whale-hunting village of Yuquot, later named Friendly Cove by Cook. The Parks Canada website says Yuquot was designated a national historic site in 1923 as the ancestral home of the First Nation, which was continuously occupied for more than 4,300 years and the centre of their social, political and economic world. The Parks Canada website says the village became the capital for all 17 tribes of the Nootka Sound region. Maquinna said the province has been acting as the sole decision-making authority in the Gold River-Tahsis areas of northern Vancouver Island, especially with regards to the forest resource, without the consent of his nation. Hereditary Chief Jerry Jack said the claim seeks title to about 430,000 hectares of land on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island and an amount of financial compensation to be determined by the court. “It is common knowledge we were here long before Capt. Cook and now we have to go to court and definitively prove that,” he said. “I don’t like that we have to prove that we owned it before he showed up to my territory, to my beach.” The land title case does not make any claims against private land owners, homeowners or recreational hunting and fishing operators, said Jack. Premier David Eby said the B.C. government prefers negotiated land-claims settlements rather than become involved in lengthy, expensive court cases, but the Mowachaht/Muchalaht have the right to take that route. “We have no problem with them doing that,” he said at an unrelated news conference in Langley. “We’d rather sit down and find a path forward.” The 15-page notice of claim seeks declarations that the First Nation has Aboriginal title to its lands and that B.C.‘s Forest Act and Land Act will no longer apply to Mowachaht/Muchalaht lands once title is declared. Jack said the nation decided against pursuing formal treaty talks with the federal and provincial government years ago and has been planning the land title court case “for many decades.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. The Mowachaht/Muchalalaht First Nation previously said it sought title to about 66,000 hectares of land. The First Nation now says it is seeking title to about 430,000 hectares of land.Defensive captain heading toward sad ending to Jets' tenure | Sporting News
China pledged on Thursday to increase the budget deficit, issue more debt and loosen monetary policy to maintain a stable economic growth rate as it girds for more trade tensions with the US as Donald Trump returns to the White House. The remarks came in a state media readout of an annual agenda-setting meeting of China’s top leaders, known as the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC), held on December 11-12. “The adverse impact brought by changes in the external environment has deepened,” national broadcaster CCTV said following the closed-door CEWC. This year’s meeting came with the world’s second-largest economy stuttering due to a severe property market crisis, high local government debt and weak domestic demand. Exports, one of the few bright spots, face the threat of higher US tariffs. A separate readout from state news agency Xinhua, watched by financial markets for references to the yuan currency, kept a pledge to “maintain the basic stability of the exchange rate at a reasonable and balanced level”. CEWC summaries from 2020, 2022 and 2023 also contained this line, which was not included in those from 2019 and 2021. Reuters reported on Wednesday that China’s top leaders and policymakers are considering allowing the yuan to weaken next year to mitigate the impact of punitive trade measures. The CEWC pledges match the tone of one of the Communist Party leaders’ most dovish statements in more than a decade, which was released on Monday after a meeting of the Politburo, a top decision-making body. The Politburo said China would switch to an “appropriately loose” monetary policy stance and “more proactive” fiscal levers, as well as stepping up “unconventional counter-cyclical adjustments”. In the same vein, the CEWC summary flagged a higher budget deficit and more debt issuance at a central and local government level. Leaders also vowed to reduce bank reserve requirements and cut interest rates “in a timely manner”. “The direction is clear, but the size of stimulus matters, which we probably will find out only after the US announces the tariffs,” said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. This dovish shift in messaging shows China is prioritising growth over financial risks, analysts said. At CEWC, Beijing sets targets for economic growth, the budget deficit, debt issuance and other variables for the year ahead. The targets are agreed at the meeting, but won’t be officially released until an annual parliament meeting in March. Reuters reported last month that government advisers had recommended that Beijing keep its growth target of around 5% unchanged next year. The CEWC readout said it was “necessary to maintain steady economic growth”, but did not mention a specific number. “Maintaining 5% will be quite challenging in 2025, given that the extra ‘Trump shock’ will hit exports” and capital expenditure, said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. “However, a good level of stimulus will prevent a freefall, and I don’t think growth will tank below 4.5%.” Trump’s tariff threats have rattled China’s industrial complex, which sells goods worth more than $400bn annually to the United States. Many manufacturers have been shifting production abroad to escape tariffs. Exporters say the levies will further shrink profits, hurting jobs, investment and growth in the process. They would also exacerbate China’s industrial overcapacity and deflationary pressures, analysts said. If exports take a hit, China needs to look internally for a new growth engine. But consumers feel less wealthy due to falling property prices and minimal social welfare. Low household demand poses a key risk to growth. Related Story Qatar-China linguistic, cultural exchange celebrated Beijing objects to EU's additional tariffs on Chinese EVsMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the was to bring in Sam Darnold as between and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold's performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. “He’s a baller," Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. "He can make stuff happen when he needs to. I know with the outside narrative on him and his path and everything, you might not think that, but ever since he got here, it felt like that was going to happen.” Having led the Vikings (10-2) to their with the go-ahead touchdown pass last week, one game after a stellar overtime drive , Darnold has become one of the darlings of this this season with his success in coach Kevin O'Connell's system after the third overall pick in the 2018 draft started his career in rather bleak fashion. His first year in Minnesota sure has been smoother than what Cousins has in his debut with the . Last week in a to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cousins matched his career high with four interceptions. “I don’t think anybody can put any more pressure on Kirk than he has for himself. He’s carried us through this season when we were figuring out a lot of things on defense,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’s just having a hard time right now. There’s nothing to say he can’t catch fire and light it up like he’s been doing.” The Falcons (6-6) take their three-game losing streak on the road to face the Vikings, with division races for both teams in full swing. The quarterback contrasts have made this matchup all the more intriguing, with Cousins coming back to the place where he spent the previous six seasons. Cousins has a $25 million salary cap hit this season, the 11th-highest among quarterbacks in the league. Even if the Falcons were to move on in 2026 and swallow the dead money for two more years with eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, Cousins will carry a $40 million charge in 2025. Darnold’s cap charge is $5 million this season, just 31st on the list. Though he will become a free agent in March, the Vikings structured his contract with void years to spread his cap hit into next season for another $5 million. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, won't be ready until next year after having surgery to repair the meniscus he tore in his right knee in his first preseason game. Though Darnold has had a couple of clunkers this year, the Vikings still won those games and he's bounced back strong without letting interceptions linger into future decisions. "He’s kind of found a little balance, at least the last few weeks, of ‘When is it too risky?’ and ‘When can I take my shot at something?’” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. The Falcons have seen as much on tape. “I think he’s playing free,” Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s not a lot of complicated throws or anything that he’s doing. I just think that he’s finally able to feel comfortable in himself.” Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to address the significance of Cousins’ homecoming with the team, bracing for the type of crowd reaction that will only intensify the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium that's already daunting for opponents. Minnesota's defense has thrived this season at home, using the fans to enhance the effectiveness of a disguise-based, aggressive scheme that leads the league with 18 interceptions and has also been adept at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. “The environment they create up in Minnesota is absolutely outstanding,” Morris said. Cousins isn't the only key figure from the Falcons who's well-known to Vikings coaches. Morris was the defensive coordinator in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when O'Connell was the offensive coordinator and Phillips was the tight ends coach on that Super Bowl champion team. Vikings running back Aaron Jones has fumbled three times in the last two games, losing two of them, but he hasn't lost the confidence of coaches or teammates as evidenced by the pass called for his go-ahead touchdown catch against the Cardinals. Family is a strong support system for him, too, but sometimes that means tough love. His mother, Vurgess Jones, let him have it after the game when they talked about the turnovers. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to learn from it,'” Jones said. “She was like, ‘You didn’t learn last week?'” He has matched his career high in 2024 with five fumbles and three lost, a fact not lost on a Falcons defense that's aggressive with dislodging techniques despite only four recovered fumbles in 12 games. “You can see it all over the tape: Those guys are coaching it," Phillips said. Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after racking up eight tackles for loss in November, carried his pass-rushing mojo into December with a in the final minute to preserve the victory over Arizona. Greenard has 10 of the team's 39 sacks. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked like last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays?” O'Connell said. “He’s done it time and time again.” Falcons running back Bijan Robinson set a career high last week with 26 carries. He had 102 yards rushing and was again a significant part of the passing attack with six catches against the Chargers. “I just do whatever I can to help us as a team,” said Robinson, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,277 combined yards from scrimmage. “I just trust whatever they have in the plan.” AP NFL:
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose to more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to add to what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s the 56th time the index has hit an all-time high this year after climbing in 11 of the last 12 days . The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock price of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, jumped 11%. Marvell Technology leaped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. All the optimistic talk helped Nvidia , the company whose chips are powering much of the move into AI, rally 3.5%. It was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&P 500 by far. They helped offset an 8.9% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of Thanksgiving week and other key selling periods. Retailers overall have offered mixed signals about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released Wednesday morning suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for higher tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , which could alter the Fed’s plans . Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank can afford to cut rates cautiously because inflation has slowed from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts haven't pulled down mortgage rates as much as hoped. Plus, “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s sank 6.2% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s Washington Commanders hired Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse as its team president. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It also said it’s benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 3.5%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 36.61 points to 6,086.49. The Dow climbed 308.51 to 45,014.04, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 254.21 to 19,735.12. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. He revoked the martial law declaration six hours later. In the crypto market , bitcoin climbed near $99,000 after Trump said he would nominate Paul Atkins , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.Maverick McNealy earned his first victory on the PGA Tour as he finished with a final-round 68 to edge out a trio of players by one shot at the RSM Classic in St Simons Island, Georgia. The 29-year-old sank a 5ft 5in putt on the 18th hole to finish at 16-under 266, just ahead of Luke Clanton (66), Nico Echavarria of Colombia (65) and Daniel Berger (67). The victory came in his 134th start as a professional, and it sends him to Maui to start the year at The Sentry and to The Masters in April for the first time. Berger missed a 20-foot birdie attempt on the 18th alongside Echavarria and Clanton, who both missed par putts from inside eight feet on the final hole that created the four-way tie. Clanton was a shot away from joining Nick Dunlap as amateur winners on the PGA Tour this year. He tugged his approach to the 18th into a bunker, blasted out nicely to seven feet and stooped over in disbelief when he missed his par putt and had to settle for a 66. Trending "It's going to be a tough one to definitely take, for sure, after bogeying the last," Clanton said. "But I think it's proven to me that out here I can win, so I'll be training for that." Henrik Norlander, who was No 126 in the FedExCup last year, had a 63-68 weekend and joined Berger as the two players who moved into the top 125. More from Pga Tour Zozo Championship: Nico Echavarria edges out Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman to claim second PGA Tour victory Shriners Children's Open: Taylor Pendrith remains in PGA Tour lead after wind-delays in Las Vegas Shriners Children's Open: Taylor Pendrith takes three-shot lead after 10 birdies as Joel Dahmen suffers penalty Jordan Spieth confirms intention to undergo surgery on injured left wrist after FedExCup playoffs exit Matt Kuchar sorry for solo Monday finish at Wyndham Championship and says he 'knows it stinks' PGA Tour: Hayden Springer shoots historic 59 at John Deere Classic JT Poston posted the round of the day with a seven-under 63, joining Lee Hodges (67) and Canada's Mackenzie Hughes (68) in a tie for fifth at 14-under 268. Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland Enter Course, City, or Postal Code Courses Locations No results found. Please try another search. Vince Whaley, who shared the lead with McNealy entering the final round, finished joint-eighth after shooting 71 on Sunday. Michael Thorbjornsen (69) and Patrick Fishburn (69) also tied for eighth at 13-under 269. Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV , streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app , giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.AP News Summary at 6:50 p.m. EST
With a little extra time off and more guests in your home, you may be looking for fresh entertainment to enjoy. Obviously, there’s no shortage of streaming services to choose from, but navigating overstuffed home pages can be overwhelming. Endlessly scrolling through movies and TV series is headache inducing. To save you from some of that stress, our highlight movies and TV shows you may have missed. Disney+ is a particularly interesting platform because it offers access to animated classics, the “Star Wars” universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fascinating National Geographic documentaries and even ESPN sports programming. There’s literally something for everyone. To that end, we’re helping you plan your next great binge with the hidden gems of Disney+. 2 / 17 ‘Dashing Through the Snow’ ‘Dashing Through the Snow’ “Dashing Through the Snow” is an adorable Christmas movie starring Lil Rel Howrey as Santa. It’s funny, heartwarming and full of good holiday vibes. 3 / 17 ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella’ ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella’ Brandy and Whitney Houston’s classic version of the fairy tale never goes out of style. It’s still as emotional now as it was then. 4 / 17 ‘How to Die Alone’ ‘How to Die Alone’ Natasha Rothwell is absolutely brilliant in this comedy about a woman trying to upgrade her life, even though she can’t seem to get out of her own way. 5 / 17 ‘I, Robot’ ‘I, Robot’ If you need a terrifying glimpse of our technological future, look nor further than this Will Smith action drama. 6 / 17 ‘The Acolyte’ ‘The Acolyte’ The “Star Wars” universe takes fans back to the High Republic in this drama. Amanda Stenberg is captivating as twins caught in a battle between the Jedi and the Sith. 7 / 17 ‘Luther’ ‘Luther’ Idris Elba is at the height of his leading man powers in this British thriller following detective John Luther as he chases the worst criminals in London. Fair warning: This is not an easy watch, as the cases are horrible. Do not try to binge “Luther.” 8 / 17 ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams’ ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams’ Serena Williams recalls the fascinating details of her groundbreaking career in this docuseries. If you want to know how to become a legend, here’s the answer. 9 / 17 ‘Reasonable Doubt’ ‘Reasonable Doubt’ “Reasonable Doubt” is one of Hulu’s most bingeworthy new series. Seriously, once you watch one episode of Jax’s chaotic life, you’ll be hooked. 10 / 17 ‘Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color’ ‘Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color’ This fascinating documentary finally gives the Black heroes of WWII their long overdue, well deserved thanks. 11 / 17 ‘Space Race’ ‘Space Race’ Black astronauts and scientists finally get the respect they earned for helping us get to space. 12 / 17 ‘The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat’ ‘The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat’ Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan and Uzo Aduba star as three best friends who stick together through turbulent times and personal battles. 13 / 17 ‘The Wonder Years’ (2021) ‘The Wonder Years’ (2021) The higly-acclaimed reboot was canceled way too soon. ABC never gave this series a real chance to shine, but the good news is you and your family can revist the ‘60s with the Williams family. It’s both hilarious and captivating, which is a balance a lot of shows can’t find. 14 / 17 ‘Doctor Who’ ‘Doctor Who’ You may think this classic British sci-fi series isn’t for you, but Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor has added a new element to the character and opened up new storytelling avenues. 15 / 17 ‘Black Panther’ ‘Black Panther’ Yes, we know “Black Panther” isn’t exactly hidden, but we’re always ready for a trip to Wakanda. 16 / 17 ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ As heartbreaking as this sequel is, it also features a huge dose a female empowerment, which is something we’ll always celebrate. 17 / 17MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the Minnesota Vikings was to bring in Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold’s performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. “He’s a baller,” Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. “He can make stuff happen when he needs to. I know with the outside narrative on him and his path and everything, you might not think that, but ever since he got here, it felt like that was going to happen.” Having led the Vikings (10-2) to their fifth consecutive victory with the go-ahead touchdown pass against Arizona last week, one game after a stellar overtime drive to beat Chicago , Darnold has become one of the darlings of this NFL this season with his success in coach Kevin O’Connell’s system after the third overall pick in the 2018 draft started his career in rather bleak fashion. His first year in Minnesota sure has been smoother than what Cousins has gone through in his debut with the Atlanta Falcons . Last week in a loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cousins matched his career high with four interceptions. RELATED COVERAGE Giants will try to snap a 7-game losing streak when they host the Saints Rookie Bucky Irving relishes opportunity to help Buccaneers any way he can against skidding Raiders The Titans have issues to fix and hope to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they host the Jags “I don’t think anybody can put any more pressure on Kirk than he has for himself. He’s carried us through this season when we were figuring out a lot of things on defense,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’s just having a hard time right now. There’s nothing to say he can’t catch fire and light it up like he’s been doing.” The Falcons (6-6) take their three-game losing streak on the road to face the Vikings, with division races for both teams in full swing. The quarterback contrasts have made this matchup all the more intriguing, with Cousins coming back to the place where he spent the previous six seasons. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . Cousins has a $25 million salary cap hit this season, the 11th-highest among quarterbacks in the league. Even if the Falcons were to move on in 2026 and swallow the dead money for two more years with eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, Cousins will carry a $40 million charge in 2025. Darnold’s cap charge is $5 million this season, just 31st on the list. Though he will become a free agent in March, the Vikings structured his contract with void years to spread his cap hit into next season for another $5 million. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, won’t be ready until next year after having surgery to repair the meniscus he tore in his right knee in his first preseason game. Though Darnold has had a couple of clunkers this year, the Vikings still won those games and he’s bounced back strong without letting interceptions linger into future decisions. “He’s kind of found a little balance, at least the last few weeks, of ‘When is it too risky?’ and ‘When can I take my shot at something?’” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. The Falcons have seen as much on tape. “I think he’s playing free,” Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s not a lot of complicated throws or anything that he’s doing. I just think that he’s finally able to feel comfortable in himself.” Acknowledging the moment Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to address the significance of Cousins’ homecoming with the team, bracing for the type of crowd reaction that will only intensify the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium that’s already daunting for opponents. Minnesota’s defense has thrived this season at home, using the fans to enhance the effectiveness of a disguise-based, aggressive scheme that leads the league with 18 interceptions and has also been adept at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. “The environment they create up in Minnesota is absolutely outstanding,” Morris said. Cousins isn’t the only key figure from the Falcons who’s well-known to Vikings coaches. Morris was the defensive coordinator in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when O’Connell was the offensive coordinator and Phillips was the tight ends coach on that Super Bowl champion team. Listen to your mother Vikings running back Aaron Jones has fumbled three times in the last two games, losing two of them, but he hasn’t lost the confidence of coaches or teammates as evidenced by the pass called for his go-ahead touchdown catch against the Cardinals. Family is a strong support system for him, too, but sometimes that means tough love. His mother, Vurgess Jones, let him have it after the game when they talked about the turnovers. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to learn from it,’” Jones said. “She was like, ‘You didn’t learn last week?’” He has matched his career high in 2024 with five fumbles and three lost, a fact not lost on a Falcons defense that’s aggressive with dislodging techniques despite only four recovered fumbles in 12 games. “You can see it all over the tape: Those guys are coaching it,” Phillips said. Greenard is going strong Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after racking up eight tackles for loss in November, carried his pass-rushing mojo into December with a couple of clutch plays in the final minute to preserve the victory over Arizona. Greenard has 10 of the team’s 39 sacks. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked like last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays?” O’Connell said. “He’s done it time and time again.” Bijan is busy Falcons running back Bijan Robinson set a career high last week with 26 carries. He had 102 yards rushing and was again a significant part of the passing attack with six catches against the Chargers. “I just do whatever I can to help us as a team,” said Robinson, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,277 combined yards from scrimmage. “I just trust whatever they have in the plan.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLLittler threatened to overturn an early deficit but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. World number one Luke Humphries retained his Players Championship Finals title with an 11-7 victory over teenager Luke Littler in Minehead. Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”
House votes to block immediate release ethics report involving Matt GaetzMajor motorway used by thousands of drivers everyday to close NEXT WEEK – check your journeyDonations will empower schools with accessible fitness solutions for students with disabilities SANDY, Utah, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain America Credit Union has donated seven Pumper Cars-interactive personal transportation vehicles-to schools across its footprint. These donations are specifically targeted at supporting schools to ensure students with disabilities have access to resources that promote physical activity and well-being. The Pumper Cars aim to offer students a fun and engaging way to stay active, encouraging physical fitness and coordination through an innovative and enjoyable exercise method. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. The Pumper Cars, provided by Mobility4Kids , are designed to offer a unique full-body workout through an innovative pump-action mechanism. Pumper Cars function similarly to a rowing machine on wheels, allowing children to propel themselves forward by pumping the handles back and forth. These vehicles are not only enjoyable but also promote physical fitness and coordination among children. "It is incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact these Pumper Cars provide for students' physical health and overall well-being,” said Sterling Nielsen, president and CEO at Mountain America. "These cars provide a fun way for children to stay active, and we hope they bring joy and benefits to the communities we serve. Supporting our local schools is a key part of our commitment to fostering strong, healthy communities.” These donations are already being delivered to schools, and the process will continue in the coming weeks. Faculty members are as enthusiastic as the students, recognizing the positive impact these Pumper Cars will have on students' physical health and overall well-being. "These Pumper Cars will help build strength and increase confidence amongst our students, as they can use them just like their peers," said a teacher from the Madison School District in Rexburg, Idaho. "We've been using these Pumper Cars to enhance strength for children in our preschool, and they are also popular during indoor recess." To learn more about Mountain America, visit macu.com . About Mountain America Credit Union With more than 1 million members and $20 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union helps its members define and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile banking technology, over 100 branches across multiple states; and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain America-guiding you forward. Learn more at macu.com . CONTACT: Contact: [email protected] , macu.com/newsroom
Falcons visit Vikings as a struggling Cousins returns to old home to find a thriving DarnoldBrampton Mayor Patrick Brown said foreign interference did not tip the scales in the Conservative party’s last leadership race that installed Pierre Poilievre at the helm. Brown, who was a candidate for the leadership at the time, was summoned to a House of Commons committee to answer questions on the 2022 race after a report from a committee on national security cited Indian interference in an unspecified Conservative leadership campaign. “I don’t believe foreign intervention affected the final outcome of the Conservative leadership race,” Brown told a House of Commons committee on Thursday. Brown said he believes it’s important to guard against foreign interference but that he does not want to get drawn into partisan debates on Parliament Hill. On Monday, Brown posted on social media about the committee’s summons to say that he had no new evidence to add, and that the public inquiry on foreign interference was the proper venue to evaluate the allegations. He said Thursday that no members of the Indian government reached out to him or his campaign workers during his leadership bid. Brown was not included as a witness in the public inquiry, which wrapped up hearings earlier this fall with a final report due in the new year. Brown was disqualified from the party’s 2022 leadership race due to allegations related to financing rules in the Canada Elections Act.
A look back at 2024 in photos
Voting closed Saturday evening in most polling centers throughout Ghana, bringing to an end the presidential and legislative elections poised to be a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. The capital, Accra, was almost a ghost town for much of the day. Even vibrant Oxford Street, one of the city's commercial hubs, saw little activity on the day that Ghanaians went to the polls to elect a new president and 276 legislators. Some 18.7 million people are registered to vote in the West African country hit by one of the worst economic crises in a generation. However, the two main candidates offer little hope for change for the nation. Early results were expected late on Saturday. The first official results will be released by Tuesday. Ghana used to be a poster child for democracy in the region. At a time when coups threatened democracy in West Africa, Ghana has emerged as a beacon of democratic stability with a history of peaceful elections. It had also been an economic powerhouse, priding itself on its economic development. But in recent years, it has struggled with a profound economic crisis, including surging inflation and a lack of jobs. According to an opinion poll released earlier this year by Afrobarometer, a research group, 82 per cent of Ghanaians feel their country is headed in the wrong direction Although 12 candidates are running to become Ghana’s next president, Saturday’s election — like previous ones since the return of multiparty politics in 1992 — has emerged as a two-horse race. Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia is the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, or NPP, which has struggled to resolve the economic crisis. He faces off against former President John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the main opposition party National Democratic Congress, or NDC. He was voted out in 2016 after failing to deliver on promises for the economy. Election officials count the ballots after polls closed in the general elections in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Opinion polls point at a potential comeback for Mahama. A local research company, Global InfoAnalytics says he is projected to get 52.2 per cent of the vote, followed by Bawumia, with 41.4 per cent. After voting in the town of Bole in northern Ghana, Mahama praised the smooth election process and expressed confidence in his own victory. “In other elections, it had not been clear," he told reporters. “But (during) this election everyone sees where it is heading.” The NDC prides itself as a social democratic party, while the ruling NPP tags itself as leaning to the right. But in fact, analysts and voters said, the programs of their presidential candidates do not differ in a significant way. Members of parliament will also be elected Saturday. The ruling NPP party and the main opposition NDC each have 137 members in the 275-member legislature, with one independent member who has been voting mostly along with the ruling party. One more constituency will be added in this election, bringing the number of deputies to 276. In their final campaign rallies Thursday, both candidates made a last push to pitch their political parties as the answer to Ghana’s economic woes. Bawumia, 61, an Oxford-educated economist and former deputy governor of the country’s central bank, promised to build on the outgoing administration’s efforts and stabilize the economy. Mahama, 65, on the other hand, restated his promise to “reset” the country on various fronts. “We need to reset our democracy, governance, economy, finances, agriculture, infrastructure, environment, health sector, and all that we hold dear as a people,” the former president said. Election officials count the ballots after polls closed in the general elections in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Across the the capital, Accra, the mood for the election has been upbeat in posters and billboards with bikers displaying stunts, political rallies on the streets, election jingles and songs blasting from public speakers. But the concern for many is also palpable for the key thing at stake: The country’s ailing economy, which has been challenged on various fronts in recent years. The country defaulted on most of its foreign debt last year as it faced a worsening economic crisis that spiked the price of fuel, food and other essential items. The inflation rate had hit 54 per cent by the end of last year and though it’s been coming down since then, not many Ghanaians can still tell the difference when they go to the market. Ebenezer Kotey Dsane, a 69-year-old driver said he voted for Mahama because “he is a good man” who “set up much infrastructure when he was in office.” “The current regime hasn't done much,” he said, pointing to the La General Hospital in Accra, one of the capital's main medical facilities, pulled down in July 2020 by the current government with a pledge to reconstruct it. “Until today, nothing has happened.” Some chose not to vote at all. Ruth Mensah, 42, an unemployed resident of Nima, a working-class suburb in Accra, said she decided not to cast a ballot. “I don’t see how voting will bring about a change to my life,” she said. Patricia Seyram Hagbevor, 20, a first-time voter and student at Accra Technical University said she wished for a change. She didn't disclose whom she voted for, but said she “hoped for a change for the better that will help develop our future.” The chronic challenge of illegal gold mining — known locally as galamsey — has also been a major issue in the campaign and a source of concern for voters, triggering protests and criticism against the outgoing government. Ghana is Africa’s top gold producer and the world’s sixth largest, but the commodity has been increasingly mined illegally as people become more desperate to find jobs in an economy that has been crumbling. The mining has polluted rivers and other parts of the environment despite government actions to clamp down on the practice. __ Pronczuk reported from Dakar, Senegal.Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”
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