7bit casino live chat
PARIS (AP) — France’s president and prime minister managed to form a new government just in time for the holidays. Now comes the hard part. Crushing debt , intensifying pressure from the nationalist far right, wars in Europe and the Mideast: Challenges abound for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou after an already tumultuous 2024. The most urgent order of business is passing a 2025 budget. Financial markets, ratings agencies and the European Commission are pushing France to bring down its deficit, to comply with EU rules limiting debt and keep France’s borrowing costs from spiraling. That would threaten the stability and prosperity of all countries that share the euro currency. France’s debt is currently estimated at a staggering 112% of gross domestic product. It grew further after the government gave aid payments to businesses and workers during COVID-19 lockdowns even as the pandemic depressed growth, and capped household energy prices after Russia invaded Ukraine. The bill is now coming due. But France’s previous government collapsed this month because Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and left-wing lawmakers opposed 60 billion euros in spending cuts and tax hikes in the original 2025 budget plan. Bayrou and new Finance Minister Eric Lombard are expected to scale back some of those promises, but the calculations are tough. “The political situation is difficult. The international situation is dangerous, and the economic context is fragile,” Lombard, a low-profile banker who advised a Socialist government in the 1990s, said upon taking office. “The environmental emergency, the social emergency, developing our businesses — these innumerable challenges require us to treat our endemic illness: the deficit,” he said. “The more we are indebted, the more the debt costs, and the more it suffocates the country.” This is France’s fourth government in the past year. No party has a parliamentary majority and the new Cabinet can only survive with the support of lawmakers on the center-right and center-left. Le Pen — Macron’s fiercest rival — was instrumental in ousting the previous government by joining left-wing forces in a no-confidence vote. Bayrou consulted her when forming the new government and Le Pen remains a powerful force. That angers left-wing groups, who had expected more influence in the new Cabinet, and who say promised spending cuts will hurt working-class families and small businesses hardest. Left-wing voters, meanwhile, feel betrayed ever since a coalition from the left won the most seats in the summer's snap legislative elections but failed to secure a government. The possibility of a new no-confidence vote looms, though it's not clear how many parties would support it. Macron has repeatedly said he will remain president until his term expires in 2027. But France's constitution and current structure, dating from 1958 and called the Fifth Republic, were designed to ensure stability after a period of turmoil. If this new government collapses within months and the country remains in political paralysis, pressure will mount for Macron to step down and call early elections. Le Pen's ascendant National Rally is intent on bringing Macron down. But Le Pen faces her own headaches: A March court ruling over alleged illegal party financing could see her barred from running for office. The National Rally and hard-right Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau want tougher immigration rules. But Bayrou wants to focus on making existing rules work. “There are plenty of (immigration) laws that exist. None is being applied," he said Monday on broadcaster BFM-TV, to criticism from conservatives. Military spending is a key issue amid fears about European security and pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for Europe to spend more on its own defense. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who champions military aid for Ukraine and ramping up weapons production, kept his job and stressed in a statement Tuesday the need to face down ‘’accumulating threats'' against France. More immediately, Macron wants an emergency law in early January to allow sped-up reconstruction of the cyclone-ravaged French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off Africa. Thousands of people are in emergency shelters and authorities are still counting the dead more than a week after the devastation. Meanwhile the government in the restive French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia collapsed Tuesday in a wave of resignations by pro-independence figures — another challenge for the new overseas affairs minister, Manuel Valls, and the incoming Cabinet. Associated Press writer David McHugh in Frankfurt contributed.( MENAFN - Kashmir Observer) This is an AI-generated image. By Abid Hussain Rather In recent months, the stories of many Ph. D. scholars from various regions of our valley selling dry fruits, juices and other commodities on carts have surfaced and made waves in various circles, especially in the media and on social platforms. These cases have been portrayed as tales of resilience and hard work, framing the young scholars' choices as an inspiration. However, beneath the veil of this heroism lies a sobering reality: a stark failure of the government to harness and utilize human resources effectively as these scholars have not opted for such so-called 'menial' blue-collar services by choice but due to certain compulsions. Instead of becoming a parable of individual determination, this situation raises critical questions about systemic inefficiencies, economic mismanagement, and the lack of opportunities for educated youth, especially people with research background and expertise in teaching at a higher level for many years. When Ph.D. scholars, individuals who have spent years mastering a specialized field of knowledge, are seen selling dry fruits and other commodities on carts for their survival, the initial public reaction often oscillates between surprise and misplaced admiration. Many laud the perseverance and grit of such scholars, labelling them as inspirational for not giving up despite the odds. However, the true narrative is far more disconcerting. The stories of academic scholars forced into so-called 'menial' 'blue-collar' works are not inspirational but rather a glaring failure of the system that has wasted valuable human resources and failed to provide opportunities to its most educated citizens. Pursuing a doctorate degree is no small feat. It demands rigorous academic commitment, years of research, and an unrelenting dedication to the pursuit of knowledge. The scholar often works in a highly specialized field, producing original research that adds to the collective understanding of a discipline. In many cases, Ph.D. scholars make significant sacrifices-financial and personal-delaying family life, accumulating student debt, and enduring the uncertainty of academic research. Given this backdrop, the expectation is that these scholars, once equipped with their hard earned expertise, will contribute significantly to the society. They could become researchers expanding the boundaries of innovation, policy analysts, government decision makers, professors educating future generations, or skilled experts working in diverse sectors like healthcare, technology, or social sciences. The investment a nation makes in these scholars-often in the form of subsidized education or research grants-should ideally yield economic and social returns. However, when Ph.D. holders are found selling dry fruits, juices and other commodities on carts, it exposes a grim reality: the system has failed to integrate them meaningfully into the workforce. This situation underscores several critical issues. It shows that unemployment crisis has been a persistent and chronic problem in Jammu and Kashmir from a long time and its rate is rising with every passing day. According to various reports, the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir has consistently remained among the highest in India. The latest Periodic Labour Force Survey has revealed that J&K has a 32 percent unemployment rate among youth and a heart-stopping 53.6 percent joblessness among females – both unemployment rates are the highest in India. It is estimated that 25 lakh youngsters are seeking jobs in the UT. The promises of economic development and job creation has not materialized for many. Instead, the reality is different, with thousands of well educated individuals either underemployed or entirely unemployed. The most troubling aspect of this story is the paradox of education without opportunity. The number of Ph.D. scholars being churned out far exceeds the available positions in academia and other government departments. This scenario raises a question mark on the system which fails to provide employment opportunities to highly educated individuals. Education, especially at the doctoral level, is intended to foster skills that can advance society, whether through research, development, or teaching. When those skills are not utilized or supported, society as a whole suffers. Regions that waste their human resources in this manner also risk brain drain. The case of these Ph.D. scholars is a stark reminder of a system that is misaligned and inadequate for meeting the needs of its most capable individuals and the basic reason for this crisis is the lack of strategic investment in employment generating sectors. There has been little effort to create industries that can absorb the educated workforce of our UT. Though the local and central government has, on multiple occasions, promised a new era of development for Jammu and Kashmir. But unfortunately these promises are yet to be fulfilled and the ground reality remains bleak. Job schemes and employment initiatives have either been too few or poorly implemented, though there are thousands of posts lying vacant in the various departments of the UT. We are yet to see any mega recruitment drive by the local government though it was promised to common masses before the assembly elections of 2024 that they will be provided with many job opportunities after the formation of government. This situation is also a broader reflection that Kashmir is aggravated by decades of conflict, which has made development and employment opportunities more challenging. Further, it is pertinent to mention here that our universities and research institutions often focus on theoretical knowledge and academic publications while neglecting the need to align research with industry requirements. As a result, many Ph.D. holders find themselves with expertise that does not translate into employability outside of academia. The stories of these Ph.D. scholars on the streets are cautionary tales which warn us that this loss is not limited to these individual scholars only but It is a collective failure that affects society at large. Each Ph.D. scholar represents an opportunity to innovate, improve governance, or advance scientific understanding. When these scholars are reduced to menial jobs, society loses out on the potential innovations they could have driven, the policies they could have shaped, or the students they could have mentored. Besides the economic argument, there may be psychological and social consequences of this alarming situation. It can lead to frustration, disillusionment, and mental health challenges among the highly educated individuals in our society when they will find their aspirations unmet. It can also discourage our younger generation from pursuing higher education, especially research, seeing that it may not lead to better job prospects and in the near future we may find the dearth of research scholars in our society. Socially, the phenomenon can create a sense of collective disillusionment. When our society finds its brightest and most hardworking individuals end up in struggles despite their efforts, it may lead to distrustfulness in institutions and authorities. Looking at the aforementioned ill effects of this phenomena, the crisis needs to be addressed with a multidimensional approach. First and foremost, there needs to be a focus on creating quality jobs in Kashmir which can be achieved by encouraging the establishment of industries that can absorb the educated workforce and the government should encourage the companies willing to invest in the region by offering tax subsidies and other incentives. Local governments should also develop various sectors which can absorb these highly educated individuals, especially research scholars. Secondly, there should also be stronger collaboration between universities and industries to align academic research with market needs, creating a pathway for Ph.D. holders to transition into industry roles. Thirdly, creating an ecosystem of entrepreneurship suitable to the skill set of highly educated individuals could be transformative. While selling dry fruits or juices on a cart might be a last resort, entrepreneurship rooted in research and development has the potential to create jobs and foster economic growth. Fourthly, looking at the weak and impotent economic setup and high unemployment rate in our UT, our research scholars should try to find job prospects and avenues in other developed regions of the country and abroad. Fifthly, as most of these scholars have already spent many years teaching in various colleges and higher secondary schools of the UT and gained a vast experience in teaching, the government should frame a suitable job policy for these scholars to end their struggles for survival. Lastly, there needs to be a cultural shift in our perspective towards our scholars and how our society views education and labour. Valuing all types of work is important, but equally, our society should have a practical understanding regarding the fact that an individual's educational investment must yield proportionate job opportunities to him and our highly educated youth especially our scholars should not have to fight for their survival in a society that should be rewarding their hard work, steadfastness, dedication and advancing human knowledge. The author can be reached at [email protected] MENAFN30112024000215011059ID1108941995 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Donald Trump said Saturday that a surprise meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida was "very productive," days after the incoming US leader rattled Ottawa with a vow to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. Trudeau, on an unannounced visit, had been seen smiling Friday as he exited a hotel in West Palm Beach to head to a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Afterward, Trump posted on his Truth Social website that he had had "a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau." He said the two men had discussed issues including "the Fentanyl and Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration." He added, "Prime Minister Trudeau has made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of U.S. Families." Trudeau told journalists that he had had an "excellent conversation" with Trump, but did not elaborate. Trump has blamed Canada and Mexico for not stemming an influx of undocumented migrants and he blames them, and China, for drug problems in the United States. Trudeau's trip came after Trump sent shockwaves through the region Monday when he announced 25 percent import tariffs against Canada and Mexico and 10 percent against China if they failed to address the drug and migration problems. Such tariffs could have a devastating impact if imposed. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports, or Can$592.7 billion ($423 billion), went to the United States last year, and nearly two million Canadian jobs are dependent on trade. A Canadian government source had told AFP that Canada was considering possible retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Trudeau was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect. But on Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke to Trump by phone and later ruled out a trade war with the United States. "There will not be a potential tariff war," she told reporters Thursday. Trump later said that Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop migration through Mexico... effectively closing our Southern border." But she said that there would be no closing of the border, stating: "Of course we do not agree with that." Some have suggested Trump's tariff threat was bluster, or an opening salvo in future trade negotiations. But Trudeau rejected those views when he spoke with reporters earlier in Prince Edward Island province. "Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out," Trudeau said. "There's no question about it." amc/jgc/nro/bbk/bfmYear in Review: 4 Singapore Stocks to Keep Your Eye On in 2025
sasha85ru Back in 2014, I penned an article titled “Blackstone Private Equity is Hitting All Cylinders.” In that article, I explained my reasoning for opening a position in the global real estate juggernaut, “I opened a position in Blackstone Introducing iREIT® Join iREIT® on Alpha today to get the most in-depth research that includes REITs, mREIT, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, ETFs, Builders, and Asset Managers. Our iREIT® Tracker provides data on over 250 tickers with our quality scores, buy targets, and trim targets. We recently added an all-new Ratings Tracker called iREIT Buy Zone to help members screen for value. Nothing to lose with our FREE 2-week trial . And this offer includes a 2-Week FREE TRIAL plus my FREE book . Brad Thomas has over 30 years of real estate investing experience and has acquired, developed, or brokered over $1B in commercial real estate transactions. He has been featured in Barron's, Bloomberg, Fox Business, and many other media outlets. He's the author of four books, including the latest, REITs For Dummies. Brad, along with HOYA Capital, lead the investing group iREIT®+HOYA Capital. The service covers REITs, BDCs, MLPs, Preferreds, and other income-oriented alternatives. The team of analysts has a combined 100+ years of experience and includes a former hedge fund manager, due diligence officer, portfolio manager, PhD, military veteran, and advisor to a former U.S. President. Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BX, EPRT, SKT, BRX, O, KRG, ARCC, PLD, REXR, DLR, AMT, CCI, MAA, KIM, REG, IRET either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Author's note: Brad Thomas is a Wall Street writer, which means he's not always right with his predictions or recommendations. Since that also applies to his grammar, please excuse any typos you may find. Also, this article is free: Written and distributed only to assist in research while providing a forum for second-level thinking. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to overtake Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a one-shot lead Saturday over golf's best player going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge. Thomas is trying out a 46-inch driver — a little more than an inch longer than normal — that he previously used for practice at home to gain speed and length. He blasted a 361-yard drive to 8 feet on the par-4 seventh hole and led the field in driving distance. But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69. Thomas was on the verge of falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he was in a nasty spot in a sandy area and could only splash it out to nearly 50 feet. He made that one for a most unlikely birdie, while behind him Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole and made his lone bogey of a windy day. Scheffler never caught up to him, missing birdie chances on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas hit his approach to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to close within one. Scheffler missed birdie chances on the last two holes from the 10-foot and 15-foot range, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt at the last. “I had a stretch at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a shot or two there, but outside of that I did a lot of really good things today,” Scheffler said. Thomas hasn't won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, and a victory at Albany Golf Club wouldn't count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress toward getting his game back in order. “I'm driving it great. I've had a lot of confidence with it,” Thomas said of his longer driver. “I feel like I've been able to put myself in some pretty good spots going into the green. I’m still not taking advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that’s golf and we're always going to say that.” Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group Sunday with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title. Tom Kim put himself in the mix, which he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim got back in the game with a 65 on Friday, and then followed with 12 birdies for a 62. He had a shot at the course record — Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 — until Kim found a bunker and took two shots to reach the green in making a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Even so, he was only two shots behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was four back. “Feel like I’ve been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that’s all I can do,” Thomas said. “I can’t control everybody else or what’s going on, I’ve just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it’s enough come Sunday.” ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.The best cozy games of 2024 ranked
Certified Refurbished Kindle Scribe Gets Discounted by 25%Light icing could make for slick roads in isolated areas of New Hampshire on Saturday. After a dry and chilly night, clouds lower and thicken on Saturday across New Hampshire. Some very light spotty showers could develop at any time on Saturday, but with surface temperatures below freezing, some light icing is possible in parts of southern and central New Hampshire. >> Interactive Radar Any precipitation that falls looks to be extremely light, but if it does occur, be aware of the chance of slippery travel on any untreated surfaces. Temperatures should climb above freezing on Sunday, with rain showers possible. More rain is likely late Sunday night into Monday before it dries out for Tuesday. Then, the next system approaches late New Year's Eve into New Year's Day, with rain for southern areas and some mixing farther north, mostly well after midnight Tuesday night. Be weather-aware! Download the WMUR app for Apple or Android devices and turn on push notifications. You can choose to receive weather alerts for your geolocation and/or up to three ZIP codes. In addition, you can receive word when precipitation is coming to your area. Get storm coverage through the free Very Local app on your smart TV. Follow the Storm Watch 9 team on social media:Trudeau, on an unannounced visit, had been seen smiling Friday as he exited a hotel in West Palm Beach to head to a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Afterward, Trump posted on his Truth Social website that he had had "a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau." He said the two men had discussed issues including "the Fentanyl and Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration." He added, "Prime Minister Trudeau has made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of U.S. Families." Trudeau told journalists that he had had an "excellent conversation" with Trump, but did not elaborate. Trump has blamed Canada and Mexico for not stemming an influx of undocumented migrants and he blames them, and China, for drug problems in the United States. Trudeau's trip came after Trump sent shockwaves through the region Monday when he announced 25 percent import tariffs against Canada and Mexico and 10 percent against China if they failed to address the drug and migration problems. Such tariffs could have a devastating impact if imposed. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports, or Can$592.7 billion ($423 billion), went to the United States last year, and nearly two million Canadian jobs are dependent on trade. A Canadian government source had told AFP that Canada was considering possible retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Trudeau was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect. But on Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke to Trump by phone and later ruled out a trade war with the United States. "There will not be a potential tariff war," she told reporters Thursday. Trump later said that Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop migration through Mexico... effectively closing our Southern border." But she said that there would be no closing of the border, stating: "Of course we do not agree with that." Some have suggested Trump's tariff threat was bluster, or an opening salvo in future trade negotiations. But Trudeau rejected those views when he spoke with reporters earlier in Prince Edward Island province. "Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out," Trudeau said. "There's no question about it." amc/jgc/nro/bbk/bfm
None
Kuwait Ministry of Health reaffirms commitment to affordable drug pricingAnge Postecoglou relishing Tottenham’s key run of fixtures before ChristmasThe Irving Law Firm Expands Legal Services In Arlington, VA
None
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Gary Gensler will resign in January, which would allow for President-elect Donald Trump to select a pro-crypto, anti-climate-change-policy chairman. Gensler inflamed controversy during his time as chair by pushing onerous climate change policies, targeting cryptocurrency companies, and other actions. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported in 2023 that the SEC’s proposed climate change disclosure rule would require companies to disclose a staggering amount of data: The proposed reporting rules would require public companies to include a raft of climate data in their audited financial statements. The mandated disclosures cover everything from costs caused by wildfires to the loss of a sales contract because of climate regulations, such as a cap on carbon emissions. Companies would have to analyze climate-related costs and risks for each line item of their financial statements, such as revenue, inventories or intangible assets. Any climate costs that are 1% or more of each line item total would have to be reported. Under current rules, companies are generally required to disclose only those climate costs and risks they judge to be material, or significant, for investors. SEC officials are concerned that too few companies are reporting such important climate costs and risks. As SEC chairman Gensler also had many contentious disputes with the crypto industry, which led to the regulatory agency suing several large digital asset companies and exchanges over how they handled and sold cryptocurrency. Gensler investigated Elon Musks’s Telsa for potential fraud surrounding his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, which he rebranded X. In January 2024, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said that Gensler’s investigation of free speech platform Rumble may have been interfering the site’s role in the 2024 presidential election. Trump can now choose a new chairman for the SEC. Two other commissioners’ terms will expire during Trump’s time in office as well. It is expected that he would nominate commissioners friendlier to the cryptocurrency industry and other financial technology industries. American-based digital exchange Coinbase described the fight against Gensler and the SEC as “existential.” In an interview with Breitbart News, Rep. French Hill (R-AR), who is running to be chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said he would seek to end the targeting and “debanking” of cryptocurrency companies happening under the Biden-Harris administration. “I want to increase competition, make community banking great again, and end the regulatory administrative state’s dominance of the regulatory system,” Hill remarked. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) wrote, “Good riddance,” referring to Gensler’s resignation. Sean Moran is a policy reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on X @SeanMoran3 .LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Broncos are 0-4 in Las Vegas, but in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions, Denver has more at stake than trying to end a series skid. A victory over the Raiders puts the Broncos that much closer to an unexpected playoff berth, playing with a rookie quarterback and just a year after they went 8-9. The Broncos are 6-5 and coming off a , and would be in the playoff field if the season ended entering Week 12. Not bad for a team given a win total of 5 1/2 games at BetMGM Sportsbook. “Everyone understands the significance of where we are at this point in the season,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. The situation is quite different for the Raiders. They are 2-8, on a six-game losing streak and decimated by injuries. Las Vegas could enter this game without its top two running backs and a reshuffled line on offense, and defensively, the Raiders could have two linemen, three cornerbacks and a safety out of action. “Just been having some bad breaks, but nobody feels sorry for us,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. "Nobody feels sorry for me. You’ve got to roll out there with 11 players, and that’s what we’re going to do come Sunday.” The Raiders are badly in a need of a franchise quarterback and are in a logjam for the top pick in next year's NFL draft. Denver showed with this year's draft how valuable landing such a QB can be to an organization. — one spot ahead of the Raiders — and he is pushing for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was this week's top AFC player and rookie after completing 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the rout of the Falcons. “I think as we’ve gone on, Coach (Sean Payton) and I have found a good rhythm of what we both like, what we can kind of put out there on the field and what we can execute," Nix said. "Then the guys have kind of adapted to it, found our roles within the offense and executed at a high level. It’s just all about slowing the game down and processing things in a manner that you can handle.” Nix's competition? Raiders tight end Brock Bowers also could have a say in who wins the season's top offensive rookie award. He is second in the NFL with 70 catches and his 706 yards receiving is 10th among all receivers. His numbers from a historical perspective are even more impressive. Bowers, the , is fourth all time among all tight ends in catches through the first 11 weeks and he and Jeremy Shockey in 2002 are the only rookies at that position to have more than one game with at least 10 receptions. “This week's a brand new week,” Bowers said. “I've always got something to prove.” Crowded backfield Payton still isn't entirely comfortable splitting carries between running backs Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. Asked how he determines the right balance in his rotation, Payton said, “That's the $6 million question. It’s difficult. We know kind of what we have with those three players. I think it’s always hard to feed three. "I'm used to — and it’s easy — to feed two. So we kind of do that a little bit. I thought Javonte had some really good runs (last week). Certainly the game ends and we’re like, ‘Gosh, we have to get Jaleel more touches.’ So it’s a tough, but a good problem to have.” Starting mindset With injuries to running backs Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps), 10-year veteran Ameer Abdullah could get the start for the Raiders this weekend. He has just 17 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown this season and started just one game his previous six seasons. “I see myself as a starter,” Abdullah said. “I think every guy in the room does. I consider myself the best back on this team just like every back does. This is my opportunity to go out there and put my best foot forward.” Certain Surtain Patrick Surtain II had a pair of interceptions, including one he returned for 100 yards and a touchdown, in the team's first meeting this season and that fueled the . Both of the passes were intended for Bowers, who caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Surtain isn't expecting the Raiders to avoid him Sunday, however. “You don't want to go into a game thinking they're not gonna throw it your way,” Surtain said, “because it's the pros at the end of the day, everybody's ready, everybody's capable.” ___ AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Englewood, Colorado, contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: Mark Anderson, The Associated Press
The Wild acquired 21-year-old defenseman David Jiricek from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, giving up their 2025 first-round pick in the process. Jiricek, a right-shot blueliner who has one goal and 10 assists in 53 NHL games, has been in six games this season for Columbus, which is led by former Wild coach Dean Evason. The first-round pick going to Columbus is top-five protected. In the unlikely event of the Wild picking in the top five in 2025, they’ll send their 2026 first rounder to the Blue Jackets. The Wild also gave up 22-year-old minor league defenseman Daemon Hunt, a second round pick in 2027, a 2026 third rounder (that previously belonged to Colorado) and a fourth round pick (originally Toronto’s) in 2026. Columbus threw in a fifth-round pick in 2025 in the deal as well. The sixth overall choice in the 2022 NHL draft, Jiricek is a native of the Czech Republic and played on the silver medal winning Czech team at the 2023 world junior tournament. He was chosen the best defenseman at that tournament. The 6-3, 210 pounder has split this season between Columbus and its AHL team in Cleveland. Hunt, a third round pick (65th overall) in 2020, played in 12 games for the Wild last season and skated in one with the big club this season. He had 29 points in 53 games for AHL Iowa last season.
Wisconsin 58, VCU 45It’s official: Dodgers sign Blake Snell for 5 years, $182 million
Trump calls meeting with Trudeau 'productive' after tariff threatBoursa Kuwait’s Sustainability Report crowned the best in the Middle East