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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. What’s working Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. What needs help Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. Stock up LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Stock down Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Injuries Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” Key number 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. What’s next The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Josh Dubow, The Associated PressJets Lineman Reveals Secret to Surprise SuccessFormer MP Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo Passes Away at 70
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G-SHOCK's Coolest Collab Is a Surprisingly Simple Surf-Centered WatchJapanese monkeys living in Launceston will be prevented from reproducing due to concerns of disease and inbreeding within the group. For more than 40 years, visitors to Launceston’s City Park have been able to view the macaques frolicking about in an enclosure. But by 20250 it is expected there will be no monkeys left in the park. In 2000, it was revealed the herpes B virus had spread through the monkeys, although previous discussions of euthanising the troop were politically unpopular. Now there are increasing concerns about a lack of genetic diversity within the group. The City of Launceston has decided to desex the male members of the macaque troop to prevent the animals from breeding. It is expected that the desexing of the troop will take two years to complete. The council said while it was grateful to receive the monkeys, by today’s standards they would not keep these animals in an enclosure. They also said it was important to take into consideration the needs of the monkeys and the greater community. On Thursday afternoon, a council meeting voted 10-1 in favour of sterilisation, after hearing there were signs of miscarriages and stillbirths in the troop. “We know the Launceston community cares very much about the welfare of the City Park monkeys,” Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said. “That’s a sentiment that’s also very much shared by both councillors and staff. “The inability to introduce new genetic stock and the serious impacts on their health and wellbeing means we need to begin to consider the future of the troop. “[The] decision was a difficult one, but it prioritises the welfare of the monkey troop so we can keep them as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible. A trip to the zoo took a shocking turn for one family after a troop of monkeys hijacked a pram. Mr Garwood said he would write to the mayor of Ikeda following the decision. Councillor Andrea Dawkins said if the city was offered this same opportunity today the city would be unlikely take it. “There is a lot of interest in these monkeys as there should be because there is so much interest in the way humans react with animals and we take it for granted they are a part of our lives,” she said. “Communities have changed and animals in captivity for the enjoyment of humans is some; thing we’ve moved through.”
When dockworkers walked the picket line in October, the strike lasted for 3 days. And if a new contract between their 45,000 member union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance isn't signed by mid-January — a longer strike could send inflation going in the wrong direction. Just months after a strike at Gulf and East Coast ports ended, operators and union members are now at an impasse — once again — over automation. Port operators say they need more technology to increase port efficiency, improve safety and to control costs. But union members say no, because some workers will lose their jobs. A new strike could come if an agreement isn't reached by January 15. And if that happens inflation could increase, when goods aren't flowing in an out of ports as quickly. Thursday union leaders met with President-elect Donald trump at Mar-a-Lago and walked away with his support. Writing about automation on Truth social, Trump said "the amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American workers," and that foreign countries "...shouldn't be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt." RELATED STORY | Billions of dollars of U.S. economic activity halted as port workers enter day two of their strike Professor Todd Belt of George Washington University called it Trump striking a different path than he did during his first term. "During the first Trump term you had Donald Trump, surrounded by a lot of people who were suggested to him by incumbent Republicans who had really a Republican orthodoxy on free trade. Donald trump now is going to be surrounded by a lot of people who support his ideas of interventionism and tariffs, as well as other trade policies that will protect working people at the expense of, of course, inflation," Belt said. The International Longshoremen's Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to "supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace — from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products." "To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains," said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. "For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries," Trump posted. "It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!" The Associated Press contributed to this report.
We always begin the calendar year with a degree of optimism. To live with hope is in the very nature of human existence. No matter how tough the challenges in the year ahead, the optimists outnumber the pessimists. No amount of gloom or doom prospects purveyed by dismal economists can deter the optimists. Their confidence in the future is undiminished. In that spirit here is a prognosis for the year 2025, full of tough challenges for the optimists to tackle and overcome. The year ahead is full of uncertainty. Making an accurate prediction is foolish and is sure to fail. The sources of global uncertainty are economic and geo-political. In the latter category are many factors. These include the outcome of the endless war in Ukraine, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and its spillover into the wider region of West Asia, and the ascendance of far-right parties in many countries, most prominently in Germany. One of the largest economies in the world, the German government lost the vote of confidence in Parliament this month, leading to mid-term elections which will be held early next year. The German economy will contract for a second year in a row, even as it grapples with a rising deficit, need for greater funding of the overseas wars, a shortage of skills and underfunded education. Then there is a rising anti-immigrant sentiment fueled by the far-right parties. Will Germany tilt closer to Russia or to NATO? How will it deal with Iran and its competitor China? Will its economy bounce back? Beyond geo-politics is the economic uncertainty that will be heightened by America’s new leader, Donald Trump who takes oath on January 20. He has promised higher import tariffs, slashing government funding, stronger anti-immigrant policies and a withdrawal from most global climate treaties. His government will be more protectionist. He is likely to engage in international diplomacy purely from an American transactional perspective. At the same time his government will have to fight inflation along with recessionary winds. Meanwhile the American government debt has reached a new peak of 35 trillion dollars. Feeding this debt mountain are higher deficits and an insatiable appetite by the government for borrowing. The interest on the debt alone is about 1 trillion dollars. The borrowing appetite keeps the American dollar currency strong, causing other currencies like the Indian rupee to fall. Weaker currencies cause inflation to worsen. Despite its economic woes, the American stock market clocked new highs during 2024 leading to the creation of more than 150 new billionaires. The twelve richest men in America are together worth 2 trillion dollars now. We thus have a cocktail mix of high inflation, high unemployment, a wild asset markets growth (stocks and real estate) and widening wealth and income inequality. The stock markets have a habit of an abrupt and sharp correction, when collective paranoia takes hold. That bubble burst could happen but is unpredictable. Not many saw the Lehman crash coming in 2008. China is also fighting a slowdown and a large debt with stress in its banking and real estate. It is also trying to transition into the new economy powered by renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and space technology. The other parts of East Asia and Japan are in relatively better shape and have better macroeconomic features. Rising inequality is a global concern and its removal or reduction is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. The rise of populist leaders, higher welfare spending is a response to rising inequality. How to manage the fiscal burden of welfare spending is a new challenge. In India too, welfare spending has expanded hugely, both by the Union governments and the States. A recent report by the Reserve Bank of India has cautioned against expanding subsidies and freebies indiscriminately. During 2024 sixty countries had national elections including India, and in most places rising inflation and inequality were big issues for voters. In many places incumbents were thrown out (such as in America) mainly due to inflation and economic hardships. In India too, the State assembly elections to Jharkhand and Maharashtra were swayed by promises of generous subsidies especially targeted at women. We will have two other States, Delhi and Bihar, electing new legislatures, and there is already talk of income subsidies to the poor, women and other sections of society. Who will pay for all of these is not a matter of debate, at least for now. On India’s domestic front there are many things to watch out. Two State assembly elections have been mentioned. The much-delayed national census is likely to be kicked off. A revamp of the consumer price index and the index of industrial production is on the cards. Discussion will begin on the delimitation exercise of readjustment of Parliamentary seats. The deadline is 2026. The sixteenth Finance Commission will finalise its recommendation later this year. Will it assign assured funding to the third tier of government? In many States election to local bodies like municipalities and panchayats have been long delayed, affecting local governance. The Indian rupee is expected to depreciate due to strong dollar policies of the Trump administration compounded by a wider trade deficit in India. The worry about how to increase foreign direct investment will remain. It has been falling for several years. The outflow of capital as well flight of rich people to other countries is also a matter of concern. Indians are expected to spend 70 billion dollars on the “import” of education, i.e. on students studying abroad. This is a major drain on the economy and reflects dissatisfaction with the quality of education in India, or of affordability and availability. On the technology front we will see the proliferation of electric vehicles, greater ethanol blending with petrol, and perhaps the initiation of pilot projects of small and modular nuclear reactors. One big economic development to watch for is the increase in private capital spending and the improvement in rural wages. The slowdown in urban consumption might call for a budgetary stimulus in the Union budget due to be presented in February. In summary a year filled with uncertainty about investment and growth, widening inequalities, the growing influence of geopolitics and conflicts, and ever surging asset markets guided by a loose monetary policy. (Dr. Ajit Ranade is a noted Pune-based economist ) ( Syndicate: The Billion Press )Incredible! We are welcoming 2025. While research, technology and leadership have changed much of our landscape, much remains the same. Once upon a time, we spoke on telephones with party lines. Rain disconnected calls. By the prefix, you knew which area the phone call was coming from. Once upon a time, we had KUAM and black & white television. Daniel Boone showed on Saturdays and The Ed Sullivan Show on Sundays. We didn’t lose remote controls because there were none. Once upon a time, we rented video tapes from Blockbuster. Once upon a time, teaching and learning transpired in brick and mortar settings. Face to face was the only option. There were the Islanders, Geckos, Friars and Cougars as high schools. Once upon a time, the Territorial College of Guam — the Tritons’ beginnings — had 123 students, five faculty, and 13 staff members. Once upon a time, Mad Mel’s sold vinyl records. Once upon a time, we boarded Pan American Airlines for the 13-hour trip to Hawaii with a fuel stop in Wake Island. Once upon a time, our airport was a Quonset Hut with a red coke machine at the door. We could keep our shoes on going through security. Open air was our gateway. Once upon a time, Guam directions were by bus stops, mom and pop stores, and carabao locations. Once upon a time, everyone dressed up for church and went to Grandma and Grandad’s after. Every village celebrated their patron saint with grand fiestas! Once upon a time, letters were handwritten. Once upon a time, meals were mostly homemade. Once upon a time, The Galleon Grill was the best restaurant on Guam. We enjoyed Kinney’s, Cool Spot, Snow White, Swenson’s, Sourgose’s, Fjord’s Smorgette. Once upon a time, we danced at Lights, The Globe, Daichi, Captain’s Table. We spent Sundays at Barney’s. Yet, so much remains the same. Perhaps, even gotten stronger in need. The need for human interaction is magnified. People are re-learning how to make eye contact. Standing next to a person takes a deep breath. Students are learning how to be with groups. So are adults. Pope Francis has proclaimed 2025 a Jubilee of Hope. We are being asked to be pilgrims of hope – where trust, love, faith are heightened. Nod. Smile. Laugh. Listen. Respond. Share. Be patient. Follow up. Collaborate. Connect others with others. Sing. Dance. Bake. Leave a note. Enjoy the sunrise and sunset. Walk together in the rain. Pray. If you are a new parent, rest when your baby naps. Organize. Set priorities. Enjoy. They grow very quickly. If your parents are in their sunset years, get help as you need. Caregiving is as trying as being a new parent. The difficulty is that they are our parents – who once upon a time did everything for us. Now it’s our turn – to feed, to change, to listen, to assure, to pray with, to sing to, to accept, to adapt. If you are a parent of a teenager, know that they are figuring out life. From hormones to a changing world, being an adolescent is a huge roller coaster ride. Remember your ride. If you are a parent of a person with a disability, take a break when you can. Use lists to help you remember. Reach out when you need to. Cry and laugh. If you are grieving, know that time strengthens coping. The acceptance of the void has a gentle touch as you still see, hear, smell, feel them. Memories help you continue with life. Be a pilgrim of hope. For others and for yourself. Happy, Healthy, Blessed New Year!
Clintons urge voters agitated by today's politics to remain involved in public serviceSecular and Hindu nationalist historians are furiously fighting over the ideology and actions of Tipu Sultan, an 19th century Indian Muslim ruler of the South Indian State of Mysore. The fight has wide political significance given the rise of aggressive Hindu nationalism in India since 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, and the Opposition Congress party retaliated by putting up arguments in favour of secularism and Hindu-Muslim unity rather than Hindu-Muslim division. Tipu Sultan (1751-1799) is glowingly described by his admirers as the “Tiger of Mysore” because he died bravely fighting the British on the battlefield in Srirangapatnam on May 4, 1799. In fact, Tipu was the first Indian ruler to die fighting the British. The only other Indian ruler to die fighting the British was the 19th century ruler Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi in North India. She was slain on the battlefield near Gwalior in Central India in 1858 during the first Indian war of Independence. But in the eyes of British colonial and Hindu nationalist historians, Tipu was a “furious Muslim fanatic” who indulged in the forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam. Hindu nationalist historians are presently on a vigorous campaign to remove Tipu from the pantheon of Indian freedom fighters. They have already stopped the celebration of his birthday (Tipu Jayanthi) in Karnataka State where Mysore is located. Between 2016 and 2018, the secular Congress Government in Karnataka had celebrated Tipu Jayanthi with a grand procession on November 10 every year. But since the BJP saw Tipu as a ‘tyrannical, anti-Hindu ruler’, the observance of Tipu Jayanthi was stopped in 2019 after it came to power. Hindu Nationalist view In his recently-released book entitled: Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore’s Interregnum (1760–1799), Banglaore-based historian Vikram Sampath said that in 1761, Tipu’s father, the “Machiavellian” Haidar Ali, overthrew his employer and benefactor, the Hindu Maha rajah of Mysore, and assumed power. “In a war-scarred life, the father and son led Mysore through four momentous battles against the British, termed the Anglo-Mysore wars. The first two, led by Haidar Ali, brought the English East India Company to its knees. Chasing the enemy to the very gates of Madras, Haidar Ali made the British sign such humiliating treaties that sent shockwaves back to London,” Sampath said. “In a diabolical war thirst, after he succeeded his father, Tipu launched lethal attacks on Malabar, Mangalore, Travancore, Coorg, and left behind a trail of death, destruction and worse, mass-conversions and the desecration of religious places of worship,” Sampath added. “While he was an astute administrator and a brave soldier, the strategic tact with opponents and the diplomatic balance that Haidar Ali had sought to maintain with the Hindu majority were both dangerously upset by Tipu’s foolhardiness on matters of faith.” “The social report card of this eighteenth-century ruler was anything but clean. And yet, one simply cannot deny his position as a renowned military warrior and one of the most powerful rulers of Southern India,” Sampath said. Mohibbul Hasan’s contrary view However, Sampth’s assessment of Tipu contrasts sharply with that of Prof. Mohibbul Hasan, who had taught history in the Calcutta University and the Jamia Millia University in Delhi. Citing original sources, Prof.Hasan shows that Tipu was in fact a secular and progressive ruler who made Mysore the most prosperous principality in 18th century India. According to him, the derision of Tipu now is actually based on “malicious propaganda” carried out by British chroniclers and historians. Those observations are now being regurgitated by Hindu nationalist historians as part of a larger campaign to demolish Marxist/ Nehruvian and secularist Indian historiography. Prof. Hasan recalls that in his 1811 publication Select Letters of Tippoo Sultan, W. Kirkpatrick, describes Tipu as an “intolerant bigot and a furious fanatic” who indulged in forcible conversions, mass circumcisions, destruction of temples and confiscation of temple lands. Kirkpatric’s views were later echoed by M. Wilks (1864), and H. H. Dodwell in his Cambridge History of India (1929). According to Prof.Hasan, if the British chroniclers painted Tipu in dark colours, it was because he had refused to pay tribute; tried to set the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas against them; and sought an alliance with their European rivals, the French. Non-communal That Tipu was non-communal is evident in the fact that a number of top officials in his Government were Hindus. Purnaiya was the Mir Asaf (in charge of Revenue and Finance). Krishna Rao was his Treasurer. Shamaiya Iyengar was Minister of Police and Postal Department. Subba Rao was his chief Peshkar (Chief Secretary). Srinivas Rao and Appaji Ram were his close confidantes. His agents in the Moghul Court in Delhi were Mool Chand and Sujan Rai. The Faujdar of Coorg was Nagappayya, a Brahmin. The Asafs (revenue officers) at Coimbatore and Palghat were Brahmins. The chief of Tipu’s irregular cavalry was Hari Singh. Rama Rao and Sivaji, a Maratha, commanded his regular cavalry. Tipu sent one of his Hindu Generals, Sripat Rao, to quell the Nair rebellion in Malabar. Aided Hindu temples In 1916, the Mysore Government’s Director of Archaeology, K. Narasimhachar, discovered a bunch of letters in the Sringeri Sankara Math (monastery), which showed that Tipu had greatly helped the monastery and its head the Sringeri Sankaracharya. In 1791, the monastery was raided and pillaged by a Maratha chieftain, Raghunath Rao Patwardan, and the Sankaracharya had asked Tipu for help to restore it. Deeply grieved, Tipu wrote back saying: “People who have sinned against such a holy place are sure to suffer the consequences of their misdeeds at no distant date” and asked his officials to send cash and grain so that the idol of Goddess Sarada could be consecrated. He also donated a palanquin to the Sankaracharya and requested him to pray for the prosperity of his domain. Tipu had contributed to the Lakshmikanta Temple at Kalale in Nanjangud taluk; the Narayanaswami Temple at Melkote; the Srikantheswara Temple at Nanjangud and to the Ranganathaswami temple at Srirangapatnam all in Karnataka. The greenish Shivalinga at the Nanjandeswara temple is known as Padshalinga because it was donated by Tipu, the Padshah or ‘ruler’. According to a Sanad, Tipu “ordered” the continuation of worship at the Tirupathi Venkatachalapathi temple. Biographer Hasan wonders if Tipu would have allowed the Ranganatha, Narasimha and Gangadhareswara temples to function in the Srirangapatnam Fort if he was an Islamic bigot. Tipu was also an ardent believer in astrology and consulted astrologers daily, first thing in the morning. Tipu is widely accused of indulging in forcible conversions in Kerala and Coorg. But according to Prof. Hasan, Tipu told his French General, Cossigny, that he ordered the forcible conversion of Nairs and Coorgis because these communities had staged rebellions repeatedly. It was reported that 70,000 were converted in Coorg, but this could not be true because the total population of Coorg was not that much, Hasan said. Punganuri Ramachandra Rao, in his Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo (1849) states that only 500 were converted in Coorg. Hasan said that Catholics in Kanara were converted forcibly, but this was because they had helped the British defeat Tipu at Mangalore. Tipu never tried to convert loyal subjects, Hasan asserts. Administrative innovations Hasan said that Tipu gave Mysore a progressive administration and added that J. Mill in his History of British India (1848), acknowledged that as a ruler, Tipu sustained an “advantageous comparison with the greatest princes of the East”. Tipu’s country was “the best cultivated and the most flourishing in India,” Mill said. Tipu rationalised the administrative system; got rid of private middlemen; encouraged local industries; sought French industrial technology and tried to send one of his sons to France for a modern education. He set up a rocket regiment in his Army. After his defeat in 1799, the British discovered 600 launchers, 700 serviceable rockets and 9,000 empty rockets at Tipu’s fort, some of which were shipped to Britain to replicate them. The Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich in the UK houses some of them. Tipu sought military aid from Afghanistan and Iran to fight the British in South India. He was also the first Indian ruler in the 18th century to promote international trade, having sent trade delegations to Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Myanmar.
Seahawks will be without RB Kenneth Walker III (calf) vs. Cardinals
Browns' Myles Garrett makes history with 2 sacks, but another loss leaves him frustrated'Malcolm in the Middle' to offer new episodes with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are reuniting for a new four-episode run of “Malcolm in the Middle” for Disney+ — 25 years after the beloved sitcom first launched. The show ran for seven seasons starting in 2000 and was hailed for looking at ordinary life through the eyes of an extraordinary youngster, now fully grown: Malcolm, played by Muniz, has a genius I.Q. The new four episodes will be crafted by original series creator Linwood Boomer. No air dates were announced. “Malcolm in the Middle” originally aired on Fox and ended its run in 2006. Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. The accusations made national headlines at the time, stirring tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast that she “made up a story that wasn’t true” about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper “because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s story fell apart under legal scrutiny. Sophia, a famous robot and global icon of AI, wins hearts at Zimbabwe's innovation fair HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Sophia, a world-renowned robot, has been the center of attention at an Artificial Intelligence and Innovation fair in Zimbabwe this week. Described as an AI global icon by the U.N., Sophia can hold human-like conversations with people and recognize their gestures. As a special guest at the week-long event at the University of Zimbabwe, she answered questions on academic topics from researchers. Children quizzed her about the bible, God and her birth. She also made clear her aversion to human food and romance. The United Nations Development Program said it brought Sophia to Zimbabwe as part of efforts to “inspire youth, policymakers, and innovators to embrace AI as a catalyst for development.” Stanley recalls millions of travel mugs over concerns the lids might fall off, causing burns Stanley is recalling approximately 2.6 million of its switchback and trigger action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the U.S. because of a potential burn hazard. The company said that the mug’s lid threads can shrink when exposed to heat and torque, causing the lid to detach during use, posing a burn hazard. Stanley has received 91 reports worldwide, including 16 in the U.S., of the recalled travel mugs’ lids detaching during use, resulting in 38 burn injuries worldwide, including two burn injuries in the U.S., with 11 consumers worldwide requiring medical attention. Miami Dolphins release veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday, ending the former Pro Bowler’s short tenure with the team. Beckham had missed the past two days of practice for what the team called personal reasons. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel indicated that the decision to part ways was mutual. Beckham signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in May, but started the season on the physically unable to perform list after offseason knee surgery. Since his Dolphins debut in Week 5 against New England, Beckham had just nine catches for 55 yards in nine games. Bird strike disables a jetliner engine and forces an emergency landing at JFK airport NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities say a bird strike involving an American Airlines jetliner disabled one of the plane’s two engines shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The plane was forced to turn around and land at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Airline officials say no one was injured. Flight 1722 took off from LaGuardia at 7:43 p.m. Thursday with a destination of Charlotte, North Carolina. Airport officials say it safely made an emergency landing at Kennedy at 8:03 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The agency received reports of 19,400 strikes at 713 airports across the U.S. last year alone. Rarely do they force jetliners to make emergency landings. 49ers LB De'Vondre Campbell refuses to enter game after losing his starting spot SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to enter the game in the third quarter after losing his starting job when Dre Greenlaw returned from an injury. Campbell played 90% of defensive snaps for the 49ers but was benched after Greenlaw came back for his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season’s Super Bowl. When Greenlaw left with soreness in the third quarter Thursday night against the Rams, Campbell told the coaches he didn't want to play and left the field. Coach Kyle Shanahan says he has never seen that before and the team will “figure out something” on how to deal with it going forward. 'Crown of Thorns' returns to Notre Dame Cathedral for public veneration PARIS (AP) — An ancient relic that many Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” has returned to Notre Dame, five years after it was saved from the flames of the cathedral’s devastating 2019 fire. The crown — a circular band of branches encased in a gilded golden tube — was brought back to its historic home Friday in a ceremony. The event was presided over by the archbishop of Paris and attended by knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, marking a key moment in the cathedral’s restoration journey. In 1239, it was acquired by King Louis IX of France, who brought it to Paris. 'Vanderpump Rules' star James Kennedy arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Police say “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. Police in Burbank, California, say officers investigated reports of an argument between a man and a woman at a residence late Tuesday night and arrested the 32-year-old Kennedy. He was released from jail after posting bail. A representative of Kennedy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Burbank city attorney will decide whether to file charges. Kennedy is a DJ and reality TV star who has appeared for 10 seasons on “Vanderpump Rules” — the Bravo series about the lives of employees at a set of swank restaurants. Dick Vitale says he's cancer-free after 4th bout with the disease in just over 3 years Dick Vitale said he’s cancer-free after his fourth bout with the disease in just over three years. The 85-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst posted Thursday on X that he got the news after a morning scan, saying: “SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER !” Vitale posted on X. “OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your (prayers). Yes I’m cutting the nets down baby it’s my National Championship!” Vitale had surgery in the summer to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck. The Basketball Hall of Famer was previously treated for melanoma and lymphoma, and had radiation treatments last year for vocal cord cancer.