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Often undervalued and ignored even more than their film counterparts, animated shows have always been a television staple. But the confines of both the kids’ and adult animation subgroups have often unfortunately homogenized these series. After all, for those that turn their noses up at animation, how is the crude humor of Family Guy any different from the slapstick comedy of The Simpsons ? How does Rebecca Sugar’s impactful Steven Universe stand apart from the equally moving She-Ra and the Princesses of Power or The Owl House ? But when Arcane debuted in 2021, with the confident audacity to be released in a three-week “act” structure on the typically binge-or-bust Netflix, animated television’s magnum opus dared audiences to try to look away. But, for Netflix, going all in on Arcane was a no-brainer , having a long history of creative, risk-taking animation projects under its belt (and Riot Games footing a lot of the bill, comparatively ). However, the important difference between Arcane and the series that have come both before and since is that Netflix actually let creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee tell the story they set out to tell in its entirety, with little concession. While Netflix has undeniably had its fair share of animated hits over the years ( Bojack Horseman and Big Mouth immediately spring to mind), its animation offerings beyond those standouts are, frankly, scattershot, resulting in a proverbial graveyard of creative animated triumphs and misses that all ultimately failed to stake a strong foothold in the overcrowded catalog of the world’s biggest streamer. Much like everything on Netflix, its animation offerings are mostly a mishmash of “content” thrown at the wall to see what will stick, produced solely to drive subscriptions. The second a series fails to bring new eyes to the service, it becomes expendable. Blue Eye Samurai might be a bona fide hit for now, but it will only become less valuable to the growth-driven streamer over time, likely to result in an untimely cancellation. But unlike abandoned projects like The Midnight Gospel and under-promoted masterpieces like Scott Pilgrim Takes Off , Netflix (uncharacteristically — again, likely with a strong push from collaborator Riot Games) believed in Arcane , enough to propel the series to a number of Emmy wins, consistent viewership from season 1 to season 2, and a stunningly executed story from beginning to end. And, truly, the tale Arcane spins across those paltry 18 episodes is nothing short of brilliant. Following the tragedy of two doomed sisters, Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell) , this series takes the lore of League and transforms it into a moving examination of the basest human emotions contrasted against the most bastardizing, hellish abominations. Where anger and lust and love and grief take center stage, those beacons of mankind battle against greed, warmongering, fear, and artificial homogenization, morphing into a meticulously animated love letter to the messiness and beauty of humanity in a stunning package. The series’ first season opened with heartache and tragedy, and the anguish these central characters endure never truly stops until the credits roll on season 2. But Arcane admirably never becomes wholly masochistic, with the final act of the season allotting as much time to the poignant, moving connections between these complex characters as it does for bloodshed and battle. In the first of Arcane ’s three-episode finale, titled “Pretend Like It’s the First Time,” Ekko (Reed Shannon) and Heimerdinger (Mick Wingert) find themselves trapped in an alternate reality where Vi died during the sisters’ ill-conceived heist, preventing the deaths of their father and their friends, as well as ensuring Powder never morphed into Jinx. What follows is a beautiful dance between Ekko and Powder, as they flirt and bicker within the confines of their working relationship and this odd predicament Ekko has found himself in. The episode as a whole acts as a reprieve, contrasting this pulsating, heartwarming expression of connection and love against Jayce’s (Kevin Alejandro) trek through a hell of his own creation. Arcane has always been about the mystifying power of the Arcane and the larger whims and machinations of war, separation, and greed, but more than that, this series’ voracious commitment to these quiet, humanizing moments between its central players brings this beautifully untouchable world within tangible reach. Like Caitlyn (Katie Leung) states in her final monologue in the aftermath of their hard-fought battle, “With every loss, we found some light, some good worth fighting for.” And it’s Arcane ’s hope and belief in the power of humanity and connection that bleeds into the art that lights up the screen. Much like Ekko and Powder’s endearing dance, Vi and Caitlyn are allowed their own electric moment, once again contrasted against the act’s brutality and nervous anticipation. War-torn tension is replaced by teasing banter as these two are finally able to shed their armor and simply be with one another after outside forces kept them apart. While it may seem like blatant fanservice to toss a sex scene in the middle of the preparation for all-out war, the scene’s meticulous intimacy provides yet another example of what all this bloodshed, heartache, and war is truly for — what’s the point of risking life and limb to protect the sanctity of human connection and emotion if you don’t get to tug on those threads with someone you love? While some dubbed this season “self-indulgent,” throwing digs at the music video-esque moments and the languid pacing of this unavoidable, bloody conflict, Arcane ’s penchant for transforming universal emotions into large, bombastic sequences or heart-wrenching slow-motion tributes is exactly why this series is as captivating as it is. Episode 4’s “Paint the Town Blue” sequence is the distillation of hatred, rebellion, hope, and fear, communicating so much through splashes of blue spray paint and riotous stylization. Caitlyn transforms into a revenge-fueled leader; Isha fans the flames of hope in a newly invigorated people; Jinx becomes a larger-than-life figurehead of a rebellion she never expected — all communicated with no dialogue and a barrage of black-and-white images. And two episodes later, when Isha sacrifices herself to save her newly formed family, the watercolor fluidity of her short life with Jinx backdropped by the aptly titled “Isha’s Song” captures the fleeting beauty of life’s most precious moments. Arcane allots time for these breaks and pauses in its propelling story because they are the series’ most important. Sure, it’s interesting and fun to learn more about the mysterious Arcane, to dive deeper into Zaunian politics or watch as Piltover crumbles to violent regimes. But Arcane ’s insistence on making its audience sit with its characters’ innermost emotions splashed with color and illustrated to perfection showcases this series’ commitment to humanity more than any moving bit of dialogue or lore dump ever could. For every painstakingly animated twitch at the corner of every mouth that graces the screen, for every eyeball that flickers with emotion beneath the painterly, captivating style that has become synonymous with this series, Arcane posits that art itself is humanity, and emphasizes that through the clear love injected into every animated frame. While the three years between seasons 1 and 2 were nothing short of tortuous, the end result is too stunning and too moving to argue with. From the brutality of battle to the tearjerking weight of empathy and sacrifice, Arcane ’s beauty, success, and perseverance — both within its fictional world and beyond — is nothing short of a miracle, delivering unto us blessed viewers a tale combatting the increasing threat of AI and callousness, reminding us all that humanity and kindness is just around every bend for those with keen eyes to see. From beginning to end, Arcane utilized its animated prowess to tell a comparatively small, human story about two sisters who band together and fall apart while trying to make the world a better place, and its artful commitment to its characters, its style, its substance, and its heart transformed it into a singular miracle unmatched by anything else on TV. No matter what comes next for Netflix’s collaboration with Riot Games and the League of Legends lore, Arcane has cemented its place as a genre-defining project, changing animation on television for the better by daring to dream in vibrant, resounding colors. Animation Entertainment Polygon Picks Reviews TVAP News Summary at 5:42 p.m. ESTITV I'm A Celebrity fans in hysterics as Jane Moore turns into 'debt collector'A day after President Joe Biden took his oath of office, the Department of Education issued its first press release under the new administration. “At the request of President Biden, Acting Secretary Will Extend Pause of Federal Student Loan Payments,” read the headline of a Jan. 21, 2021, announcement. Under the president’s watch, the Department of Education issued more public statements touting student loan forgiveness than any other topic, according to The Epoch Times’ review of 958 news releases, media advisories, and speech transcripts. Earlier this year, the agency announced that Biden, “through more than two dozen executive actions,” has approved $138 billion in student debt cancellation for 3.9 million borrowers. State courts across the country and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Biden overextended his authority with those actions, so most borrowers may still be on the hook for student loans as the status of how and when those debts are to be repaid remains in limbo nearly four years after the president’s promise. The Department of Education also frequently issued media releases about the amended Title 9 provisions, which allow students to participate in sports according to their desired, not biological, gender. Announcements regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have also been commonplace in the past four years, including multilingual classroom initiatives, elevated funding for historically black colleges and universities, Pride Month, “Transgender Day of Visibility,” and a program to help prison inmates obtain Pell grants and federal student loans or reduce debts with existing student loans. “You reap what you sow, and it is very clear that this administration’s Department of Education has been incentivizing the advancement of far-left ideologies in place of rigorous, proven methods of education,” Rhyen Staley, PDE researcher, said in a Dec. 12 public statement. “The only people or groups to benefit from the enormous amount of grant funding are the universities, administrators, and DEI consultants, at the expense of children’s education. This needs to change by placing children’s learning at the forefront of education instead of prioritizing race-based policies and DEI.” Announcements regarding American Rescue Plan funding to help schools across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic and guidance for reopening schools were also frequent, as were releases identifying civil rights violations in school districts and higher learning institutions across the nation. There were also releases promoting career and technical education initiatives, rural education programs, teacher recruitment efforts, gun violence awareness, and social-emotional learning. “I visited a high school last year where every student had a learning period dedicated to social-emotional well-being or mental health supports in their daily schedule. Let’s see more of that,” Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said during a Jan. 27, 2022, speech outlying his vision for education in America, according to the agency website. “And let’s work together to meet the president’s goal of doubling the number of school counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals in our schools.” “We can’t lose this moment—this chance to reset education—by going back to the same pre-pandemic strategies that did not address inequities for Latino, black, and native students; students from low-income backgrounds; students from rural communities; students with disabilities; students experiencing homelessness,” he said during the same speech. Items recognizing high academic achievement (Blue Ribbon Schools) or acknowledging low performance in reading and math (Nation’s Report Card) were less frequent but still emphasized. On Oct. 27, 2022, Cardona acknowledged significant drops in average test scores for reading and math in Grade 4 and Grade 8 nationally. “I want to be clear: The results are appalling and unacceptable,” he said. “They are a reminder of the impact this pandemic had on our learners and the important work we must now do for our students.” The Department of Education was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. Its scope was and still is limited: to ensure equal educational opportunities; to share research and information that can help state and local education agencies; to provide additional funds to very low-income schools that cannot get by with just state aid and local property tax dollars; and to administer federal grant and loan programs for higher education. The federal agency cannot mandate curriculum, graduation requirements, or teacher and administrator credentials. Those decisions are made at the state and local levels, where governments provide most school funding. Special education funding, civil rights investigations, and guidance on technology and artificial intelligence education are more recent tasks taken on by the Department of Education. Still, all of those functions—new and old—could easily be absorbed into other federal agencies with massive savings to taxpayers, says Jonathan Butcher, senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation Center for Education Policy. “Washington is paying an administration to do the work that state departments of education should already be doing,” Butcher told The Epoch Times, adding that federal aid to poor districts only amounts to less than 10 percent of per-student allocations. “Abolishing the U.S. Department of Education provides more authority for states and districts to make decisions for themselves.” Given the unsuccessful attempts to provide student debt relief, the continuation of low test scores, and the lack of support for allowing males to compete in female sports, Butcher said, the U.S. Department of Education “certainly did not advance policy in any meaningful way.” Butcher said he expects that the Department of Education in the next administration will work to cut redundant administrative costs, emphasize academic improvement, empower state and local education administrators to lead better, and promote universal school choice nationwide. The Epoch Times contacted the Department of Education with a request to interview officials or respond to an inquiry by email, but no information was provided. The Brookings Institution and the Learning Institute Policy also did not respond to inquiries. The National Education Association (NEA) teacher’s union, which endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, issued a public statement expressing disappointment with the election results but also claiming victory in that the referendum to end the taxpayer-funded private school voucher program in Nebraska passed, while referendums to codify school choice into the state constitutions in Colorado and Kentucky were defeated. David Ardrey, interim executive director for the National Rural Education Association, which represents schools in small communities across 48 states, said the past four years have been especially challenging because so many positions within the Department of Education specific to serving rural districts remained unfilled for long periods, perhaps due to pandemic disruptions. Regardless of administrations, not knowing if and when federal assistance will come through is “business as usual” for poor rural schools. Regardless of how the Department of Education changes, Ardrey’s biggest concern is preserving the federal liaisons who help district leaders in the smallest communities secure enough money and guidance to keep their schools open. “Kids don’t stop going to school because we’re going to transition the president,” he told The Epoch Times.
NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — Dayle Haddon, a Canadian-born actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found Haddon, 76, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man police later identified as Walter J. Blucas of Erie was hospitalized in critical condition. Responders detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property and township police said Saturday that investigators determined that “a faulty flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak.” Two medics were taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and a police officer was treated at the scene. As a model, Haddon appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in about two dozen films from the 1970s to 1990s, according to , including 1994’s “Bullets Over Broadway,” starring John Cusack. Haddon left modeling after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, but then had to reenter the workforce after her husband’s 1991 death. This time she found the modeling industry far less friendly: “They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,’” in 2003. Working a menial job at an advertising agency, Haddon began reaching out to cosmetic companies, telling them there was a growing market to sell beauty products to aging baby boomers. She eventually landed a contract with Clairol, followed by Estée Lauder and then L’Oreal, for which she promoted the company’s anti-aging products for more than a decade. She also hosted beauty segments for CBS’s “The Early Show.” “I kept modeling, but in a different way,” she told The Times, “I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organization aimed at advancing educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalized communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan.’ Haddon was born in Toronto and began modeling as a teenager to pay for ballet classes — she began her career with the Canadian ballet company Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, . Haddon’s daughter, Ryan, said in a social media post that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.” “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she said.Abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund 5.25% Series A Perpetual Preferred Shares Declare Quarterly DividendMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold tossed aside his stoic demeanor for a moment after realizing he was on the videoboard, aggressively twirling a towel to further stoke the crowd's fire after the Minnesota Vikings had pulled away from Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons late in the game. “I just felt the buzz. That was pure passion, pure joy, man,” Darnold said. Darnold added yet another highlight to his brilliant first season with the Vikings, passing for 347 yards and five touchdowns, both career highs, in a 42-21 victory over the foundering Falcons on Sunday to stretch their winning streak to six games. “It just felt like it was one of those days to keep the gas pedal down,” said coach Kevin O'Connell, who enjoyed his team's first 40-point game in three seasons on the job. Darnold passed for 250 yards after halftime to help the Vikings (11-2) break a 21-all tie early in the fourth quarter and stay one game behind NFC North-leading Detroit with a final-week matchup looming with the Lions. Jordan Addison had eight catches for 133 yards and three scores and Justin Jefferson racked up seven receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns after going the past six games without scoring. “This is something that we want to do and we can do every single week,” Jefferson said. Cousins, whose departure in free agency for Atlanta prompted Minnesota to sign Darnold as a bridge to currently injured rookie J.J. McCarthy, threw two more interceptions without a touchdown in this unhappy homecoming following a mixed six-year run with the Vikings. Booed as he took the field, Cousins and the Falcons (6-7) left with a fourth consecutive loss to tumble out of first place in the NFC South and fall one game behind Tampa Bay. “When you’re playing well you usually aren’t as good as people are telling you when they’re patting you on the back, and if you’re in a rut you’re usually not as bad as people kind of leaving you for dead,” Cousins said. “The reality’s usually somewhere in the middle. You just have to keep playing and see where the dust settles in January.” Cousins went 23 for 37 for 344 yards for the Falcons, who crossed midfield on all nine of their possessions and finished with 496 total yards. He overthrew Ray-Ray McCloud III on fourth down in the first quarter, and the Falcons settled for short field goals just before and right after halftime. Their fate was sealed when McCloud fumbled the kickoff at the 32 after the Vikings went 70 yards in six plays for the go-ahead touchdown pass to Addison, who scored again seven plays later. The Falcons handed the Vikings an earlier touchdown when Kentavious Street was called for defensive holding during a field-goal attempt late in the second quarter, giving Darnold a fresh set of downs before a 12-yard laser to Jefferson on a post route on third-and-6. “You just can’t have the self-inflicted wounds and expect to win football games like we had today,” coach Raheem Morris said. Bijan Robinson had 22 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown and Tyler Allgeier rushed nine times for 63 yards and a score for the Falcons against the NFL’s leading run defense. Cousins, who was picked off four times last week, hesitated as he wound up to throw on first down from the Minnesota 47 in a tie game early in the second quarter and then inexplicably fired a pass straight to Josh Metellus as he sat in a zone in front of Drake London. Cousins has a NFL -most 15 interceptions. Byron Murphy snagged an overthrow for the second one near the goal line with a 35-21 lead and 6:26 left. Darnold, who went 22 for 28 without a turnover-worthy play despite heavy first-half pressure, then directed a seven-play, 98-yard drive to seal it. “I think we grew up a lot today offensively,” O'Connell said. Addison and Jefferson became the first duo in Vikings history to each have 100-plus receiving yards and two-plus touchdown catches in the same game. Addison also became the first Vikings player with three receiving touchdowns in a game since Stefon Diggs caught three from Cousins in 2019. Murphy has six interceptions this season, the most for the Vikings since Jimmy Hitchcock had seven in 1998. Falcons: CB Mike Hughes (knee) was back in the lineup after missing two games. Minnesota's 2018 first-round draft pick returned an interception for a touchdown against Atlanta in his NFL debut here. Vikings: CB Stephon Gilmore (hamstring) and backup OLB Patrick Jones (knee) were out. TE Josh Oliver (wrist/ankle) returned from a two-game absence, and LS Andrew DePaola (hand) and PK Will Reichard (quadriceps) were back from four-game injured reserve stints. Both teams play next Monday night, Dec. 16: Atlanta visits Las Vegas, and Minnesota hosts Chicago. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling
EC3 Recalls ‘Cheating’ With Bryan Danielson During NXT RunATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold tossed aside his stoic demeanor for a moment after realizing he was on the videoboard, aggressively twirling a towel to further stoke the crowd's fire after the Minnesota Vikings had pulled away from Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons late in the game. “I just felt the buzz. That was pure passion, pure joy, man,” Darnold said. Darnold added yet another highlight to his brilliant first season with the Vikings, passing for 347 yards and five touchdowns, both career highs, in a 42-21 victory over the foundering Falcons on Sunday to stretch their winning streak to six games. “It just felt like it was one of those days to keep the gas pedal down,” said coach Kevin O'Connell, who enjoyed his team's first 40-point game in three seasons on the job. Darnold passed for 250 yards after halftime to help the Vikings (11-2) break a 21-all tie early in the fourth quarter and stay one game behind NFC North-leading Detroit with a final-week matchup looming with the Lions. Jordan Addison had eight catches for 133 yards and three scores and Justin Jefferson racked up seven receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns after going the past six games without scoring. “This is something that we want to do and we can do every single week,” Jefferson said. Cousins, whose departure in free agency for Atlanta prompted Minnesota to sign Darnold as a bridge to currently injured rookie J.J. McCarthy, threw two more interceptions without a touchdown in this unhappy homecoming following a mixed six-year run with the Vikings. Booed as he took the field, Cousins and the Falcons (6-7) left with a fourth consecutive loss to tumble out of first place in the NFC South and fall one game behind Tampa Bay. “When you’re playing well you usually aren’t as good as people are telling you when they’re patting you on the back, and if you’re in a rut you’re usually not as bad as people kind of leaving you for dead,” Cousins said. “The reality’s usually somewhere in the middle. You just have to keep playing and see where the dust settles in January.” Cousins went 23 for 37 for 344 yards for the Falcons, who crossed midfield on all nine of their possessions and finished with 496 total yards. He overthrew Ray-Ray McCloud III on fourth down in the first quarter, and the Falcons settled for short field goals just before and right after halftime. Their fate was sealed when McCloud fumbled the kickoff at the 32 after the Vikings went 70 yards in six plays for the go-ahead touchdown pass to Addison, who scored again seven plays later. The Falcons handed the Vikings an earlier touchdown when Kentavious Street was called for defensive holding during a field-goal attempt late in the second quarter, giving Darnold a fresh set of downs before a 12-yard laser to Jefferson on a post route on third-and-6. “You just can’t have the self-inflicted wounds and expect to win football games like we had today,” coach Raheem Morris said. Bijan Robinson had 22 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown and Tyler Allgeier rushed nine times for 63 yards and a score for the Falcons against the NFL’s leading run defense. Cousins, who was picked off four times last week, hesitated as he wound up to throw on first down from the Minnesota 47 in a tie game early in the second quarter and then inexplicably fired a pass straight to Josh Metellus as he sat in a zone in front of Drake London. Cousins has a NFL -most 15 interceptions. Byron Murphy snagged an overthrow for the second one near the goal line with a 35-21 lead and 6:26 left. Darnold, who went 22 for 28 without a turnover-worthy play despite heavy first-half pressure, then directed a seven-play, 98-yard drive to seal it. “I think we grew up a lot today offensively,” O'Connell said. Addison and Jefferson became the first duo in Vikings history to each have 100-plus receiving yards and two-plus touchdown catches in the same game. Addison also became the first Vikings player with three receiving touchdowns in a game since Stefon Diggs caught three from Cousins in 2019. Murphy has six interceptions this season, the most for the Vikings since Jimmy Hitchcock had seven in 1998. Falcons: CB Mike Hughes (knee) was back in the lineup after missing two games. Minnesota's 2018 first-round draft pick returned an interception for a touchdown against Atlanta in his NFL debut here. Vikings: CB Stephon Gilmore (hamstring) and backup OLB Patrick Jones (knee) were out. TE Josh Oliver (wrist/ankle) returned from a two-game absence, and LS Andrew DePaola (hand) and PK Will Reichard (quadriceps) were back from four-game injured reserve stints. Both teams play next Monday night, Dec. 16: Atlanta visits Las Vegas, and Minnesota hosts Chicago. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Russian President Vladimir Putin extended an apology to his Azerbaijani counterpart after a tragic airliner crash in Kazakhstan, which resulted in 38 fatalities. However, he did not explicitly acknowledge Russian responsibility in the incident. Speculations have emerged, indicating Russian air defenses might have mistakenly downed the jet amid efforts to counter a Ukrainian drone threat near Grozny. A Kremlin statement noted defense activities near the plane's proposed landing site but carefully avoided confirming any direct hits. Both Russia and Azerbaijan have launched an investigation into the disaster, aiming to uncover the events leading to the crash, as attention converges on whether the catastrophe was linked to escalating geopolitical tensions in the area. (With inputs from agencies.)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a TV address on Nov 26 that he was ready to implement a ceasefire deal with Lebanon. Netanyahu ready to implement Israel-Lebanon ceasefire Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Nov 26 he was ready to implement a ceasefire deal with Lebanon and would respond forcefully to any violation by Hezbollah, declaring Israel would retain “complete military freedom of action”. In a television address, Mr Netanyahu said he would put the ceasefire accord to his full Cabinet later in the evening. Israeli TV reported that the more restricted security Cabinet had earlier approved the deal. The accord, clearing the way for an end to a conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war in 2023, was brokered by the United States and France and was expected to take effect on Nov 27. READ MORE HERE US Air Force says drones seen over its Uk military bases A number of unidentified drones have been spotted over three United States Air Force bases in England over the last six days, US officials said on Nov 26. “Small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell from Nov 20 to Nov 26,” a spokesperson said, in an emailed response to Reuters. The three bases, two in Suffolk and one in Norfolk, are leased by the USAF from Britain. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it did not appear that the drones were the work of hobbyists and appeared to be coordinated, but added that the US military would continue to investigate. READ MORE HERE HK tycoon Jimmy Lai’s court case a ‘show trial’, says son The son of the Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai said on Nov 26 that his father’s trial in the Chinese territory was a “sham” but that he was “proud” of how he was handling himself in court. The 76-year-old media tycoon has been testifying for three days in Hong Kong about claims that he colluded with foreign forces, an offence carrying up to life in prison under the sweeping national security law Beijing imposed on the financial hub in mid-2020. The founder of the now-shuttered tabloid Apple Daily is also accused of “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. READ MORE HERE Paris airport shuts runways in search of runaway dog Two runways were closed at Paris’ Charles-de-Gaulle airport on Nov 26 as officials tried to capture a dog a week after it escaped from an aircraft, Air France and airport sources said. Since the dog, a female, slipped out of a carrier cage on Nov 19 during an unloading operation, there has been an intense search for the pet, owned by an Austrian tourist who came to France on Air France from Vienna. Airport police needed to deploy a search drone on Nov 26, requiring the closures. The plan, added airport officials, is to get close enough to tranquilise the animal with a hypodermic needle. READ MORE HERE President welcomes home victorious Taiwan baseball team Taiwan President Lai Ching-te feted the island’s baseball team on Nov 26 after their victory at an international championship in Japan, a rare sporting achievement which has brought a surge of pride in being Taiwanese. Taiwan competes at global sports events as “Chinese Taipei” to avoid political objections from Beijing which views the island as its own, but its athletes are widely referred to by the president, his government and many Taiwanese as just being from “Team Taiwan”. The team took part in a thronged ticker tape parade through central Taipei to the presidential office on the back of military jeeps and trucks, all wearing black hoodies with the word “Taiwan” in English printed on the front. READ MORE HERE Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowNEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's he's preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
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Taylor Swift doesn't know about you, but she's feeling #2. The singer has been named the second greatest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard magazine , which has been gradually unveiling its ranking in a series of articles. Billboard describes the list as consisting of "the artists who have most defined pop stardom for the last 25 years." Swift comes in immediately ahead of Rih a nna (#3), Drake (#4), Lady Gaga (#5), and Britney Spears (#6). She is also five spots higher than Ye, formerly Kanye West , with whom she has famously feuded for more than a decade. Other artists who Swift ranks ahead of include Justin Bieber , Ariana Grande , Ade l e and Usher . Swift was previously Billboard's top artist of 2023 . In a write-up explaining the choice, Billboard's Hannah Dailey said that Swift, "through honoring all the traits that made her different," was "able to forcefully, gravitationally bend culture to her will and become one of the world’s biggest undisputed pop stars, despite her eight-year late start in country music." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. But Dailey predicted backlash over Swift not being given the #1 slot. "The fact that controversy will likely tear through the internet over her being just one small space below No. 1 is just another testament to her power, but regardless, her placement shouldn’t leave Swifties upset for too long — especially considering how much later in the millennium she got her start, both in the genre and music in general." Taylor Swift wipes away tears during Toronto concert: 'It's not even the last show!' The honor comes near the end of another massive year for Swift, who in February made history by becoming the first person to win the Grammy for album of the year four times. She was named Time magazine's person of the year for 2023 , and as of October, Forbes estimated that she is the richest female musician with a $1.6 billion net worth. Swift is also wrapping up her hugely successful Eras Tour, the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. Her latest album "The Tortured Poets Department" dropped in April and became the first album to receive more than 300 million streams on Spotify in a single day. Watch: Taylor Swift plays mashup of two of her most tragic songs in Toronto Billboard's choice for #1 greatest pop star of the 21st century hasn't been revealed, but fans widely believe it will be Beyoncé , who has yet to appear on the list. As Billboard predicted, some Swifties took issue with the ranking on social media. "What a joke, she's the biggest," one reply on X said . Others, who presumed Beyoncé would be #1, were fine with the placement. "Taylor has been bigger in recent years but Beyoncé has been huge since the very beginning of this century," one person, who said they are a fan of both singers, wrote on Reddit . Who are Billboard's greatest pop stars of the 21st century? Here's the full list of Billboard's picks so far for the greatest pop stars of the 21st century: Contributing: Jay StahlChefs, don’t brine your Thanksgiving turkey in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, rangers warn
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. ® (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FULC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases, today announced that management will participate in the following conferences: Piper Sandler 36 th Annual Healthcare Conference December 3, 2024 Fireside Chat at 12:00 pm ET, Participation link: HERE New York, New York Citi 2024 Global Healthcare Conference December 4, 2024 Miami, Florida Evercore ISI 7th Annual HealthCONx Conference December 5, 2024 Miami, Florida The webcast of the Piper Sandler fireside chat will be accessible by visiting the "Events and Presentations" section of Fulcrum Therapeutics’ website at https://ir.fulcrumtx.com/events-and-presentations . A replay of the webcasts will be available on Fulcrum Therapeutics’ website for at least 30 days following the presentations. About Fulcrum Therapeutics Fulcrum Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases in areas of high unmet medical need. Fulcrum’s lead program in clinical development is pociredir, a small molecule designed to increase expression of fetal hemoglobin and in development for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Fulcrum uses proprietary technology to identify drug targets that can modulate gene expression to treat the known root cause of gene mis-expression. For more information, visit www.fulcrumtx.com and follow us on Twitter/X (@FulcrumTx) and LinkedIn. Contact: Chris Calabrese LifeSci Advisors, LLC ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com 917-680-5608