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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos' usually stout defense has been rocked ever since losing second-year cornerback Riley Moss to an MCL injury against Las Vegas in Week 12. Without Moss there to capitalize on opponents shying away from star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos (9-6) have had to largely abandon their preferred man coverage in favor of zone strategies and the results haven't been pretty. They allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Only Jonathan Taylor's fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. They couldn't stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week that prevented the Broncos from ending their eight-year playoff drought. It also put more pressure on the Broncos to win Saturday at Cincinnati, where the Bengals (7-8) cling to hopes of catching the Broncos and denying Denver a wild-card berth. Moss returned to practice last week and the Broncos will determine this week whether he’s ready to return to the field or if it’s better to keep him out until their season finale against Kansas City. But all signs point to Moss being on the field to help thwart Cincy's offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. “It's great to have him back,” Surtain said after practice Tuesday. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team, as well. So, it's good to see him back out there in action, for sure.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 12 starts. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. “We were and have been super excited" about the third-round pick out of Iowa, coach Sean Payton said. "Obviously, the guy that plays opposite of Patrick is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, he really rose to the occasion, battled, competed and throughout really a good portion of the season. “He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton added. "The sooner the better when we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it can happen this weekend.” In Moss' dozen starts, the Broncos allowed 16.8 points per game. Without him, they've been allowing 26.3 points a game. Burrow and Chase pose a bigger challenge to the Broncos than Jeudy and Jameis Wiston did for Cleveland or Herbert and Ladd McConkey did for the Chargers. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee and allow it to rotate. It typically takes a month to recover from an MCL sprain and the Broncos had their bye week earlier this month, meaning Moss might only have to miss three games. If the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's last start, they'll likely need to have a healthy Moss opposite Surtain to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a one-and-done appearance. The Broncos got a scare when Surtain injured an ankle against Indianapolis two weeks ago and limped off the field in the closing minutes. However, he was a full-go at practice last week and had no issues against the Chargers. NOTES: The Broncos waived veteran CB Levi Wallace, who had been inactive the past two weeks after giving up several big plays to Jeudy on Dec. 2. Denver also designated RB Tyler Badie to return from a back injury he sustained against the Jets in Week 4. Payton said he hopes to sign Wallace to the practice squad if he clears waivers. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflJD Vance: Focus Must Be on Transition, but I'll 'Move Heaven and Earth' if I Can Block Biden's NomineesWorld reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29
New Orleans Pelicans star center Zion Williamson has started the conditioning phase of his rehab from a left hamstring strain and is expected to return to practice next week, the team announced Tuesday. Williamson, who is considered week-to-week, has been sidelined since Nov. 6. The two-time All-Star has played in just six games this season, averaging 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. New Orleans selected Williamson with the top overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. His time with the Pelicans has been marked by multiple injuries, starting with a torn meniscus during the preseason of his rookie year. Williamson has played in just 190 career games over five seasons, while also missing the entire 2021-22 campaign. He has averaged 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.
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Three signs Lily Allen has 'split' from husband David Harbour amid 'solo Christmas'Netanyahu pushes ceasefire plan to end 14-month conflict with Hezbollah, vows 'We will attack with might if breached'The BJP and Congress remain locked in a heated exchange over their respective stances on Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and recent comments allegedly made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the late leader. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and BJP state president Madan Rathore addressed a joint press conference at the party headquarters on Tuesday evening. Advertisement They criticized the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for their alleged failure to respect Ambedkar’s legacy and accused the opposition of indulging in baseless politics. Advertisement In response, the Congress organized protest marches across districts and submitted memoranda to the President through district collectors, demanding Shah’s dismissal over his remarks in Parliament concerning India’s first law minister. Chief Minister Sharma lashed out at the Congress, stating, “What the Congress is doing in Rajasthan and New Delhi highlights their inability to function as a meaningful opposition.” “Their actions are nothing more than political gimmicks and falsehoods concerning a leader of Ambedkar’s stature. The Congress has historically failed to honor Dr Ambedkar’s legacy.” Sharma further alleged that during Ambedkar’s time, the Congress compelled him to resign as a minister and consistently overlooked his contributions. “Unlike the Congress, our government has ensured due recognition for Baba Saheb. Prime Minister Narendra Modi constructed a grand memorial in Delhi soon after assuming office, and the Bharat Ratna was conferred upon him during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure,” Sharma added. The Chief Minister demanded a public apology from the Congress for what he termed as “consistent disrespect” toward Ambedkar. He also condemned Rahul Gandhi for allegedly misbehaving with a ruling coalition MP in the Parliament premises, calling it a “shameful act.” Meanwhile, as per Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasara’s instructions, party workers staged demonstrations at district headquarters and submitted memoranda demanding Amit Shah’s dismissal. The Congress accused Shah of making derogatory remarks about Ambedkar and labeled his comments as unacceptable. In some districts, the protests witnessed minor clashes between Congress workers and the police, further intensifying the ongoing political tussle. AdvertisementSyrian Christians abandoned by the West – mother superior
For a quarter of Americans, keeping their home clean is more difficult than their full-time job, according to a recent survey. The survey of 2,000 Americans looked at their cleaning habits and challenges, especially when it comes to hosting, and found that keeping a tidy house is harder than their nine-to-five for nearly one in four (24%). How Much Time People Spend Prepping for Guests When having guests over, people will spend an hour, on average, straightening up just before they arrive. Forty-one percent said they worry that guests will notice grimy nooks and crannies while they’re over and almost half (48%) confessed that they don’t notice how dirty their home is until they have guests over, but once company is in the house, they can’t unsee their cleaning blindspots. The majority (57%) disclosed that they’re embarrassed when visitors come over and their home is less clean than they’d like, and most (80%) admitted they want to impress their visitors with how tidy their house is. In fact, 29% went so far as to say they’d forgo buying new clothes for a year in exchange for a squeaky-clean home without any dust or grime and a third (34%) admitted that their social schedules revolve around their cleaning schedules. Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by BISSELL for the launch of the Steam Shot OmniReach Handheld Steam Cleaner & Sanitizer, the study found that parents will spend four hours per week cleaning up their homes while non-parents will spend three hours doing so, on average. Uncovering a few of their cleaning blindspots, the study found the least-cleaned places in the house are window blinds (29%), baseboards (27%), fans (23%) and windowsills (24%). And although a quarter (24%) have yet to perfect their cleaning routine, 71% said it’s important to them to sanitize and clean their house without harsh chemicals. According to the results, it’s even more important to parents than non-parents (72% vs. 69%). Nearly a fifth of parents (19%) reported they already used all-natural cleaning products prior to having kids and another 38% said they began to do so after becoming parents. “The best cleaning session is fast, satisfying and effective,” said Vana Kokkinos, brand manager of steam cleaning at BISSELL. “If you haven’t perfected your cleaning routine already, start fresh in 2025 with tools that make the job a breeze. To help with this, look for cleaning brands and products that prioritize your time and health as much as you do, are environmentally friendly and can quickly eliminate germs and bacteria.” When deciding which cleaning products to use in the home, 83% of parents said the health of their children is a major consideration. Other motivators for selecting one cleaning product over another include the efficacy (92%), ability to kill germs and bacteria (90%), versatility (86%) and environmental impact of the product (68%) according to respondents. The Financial Cost of Ineffective Cleaning Products Uncovering the price tag on ineffective cleaning products, respondents estimated they’ve wasted more than $600 on useless cleaning products and tools over the years, on average. And although most people (59%) are planning to keep their homes cleaner than ever in the new year, 79% wish they had a cleaning magic wand to help them out. But without such a tool, respondents shared some of their best cleaning tips and tricks such as “clean as you go,” “don’t let small jobs pile up,” “always dust and sweep before you polish and mop,” “steam clean the microwave, wash windows, iron out carpet stains” and “always have music playing.” “The survey results demonstrate the motivations for keeping a clean house go beyond just peace of mind. According to the study, health and wellness along with social perceptions and community building are also top of mind when tidying up,” said Kokkinos. “There are ways to make sure cultivating a healthy, clean home isn’t so daunting, and having the right tools can really make the difference when tackling some of the toughest messes. “Things like using a hand-held steamer make it easy to quickly clean and sanitize buildup and grime on appliances, windowsills, baseboards and other tough-to-tackle places, giving you more time back in your day to spend with loved ones.” Survey Methodology: Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by BISSELL and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Dec. 10 and Dec. 13, 2024.FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Looking for hard-to-find bottles of Kentucky bourbon to toast the holidays or add to a collection? Get your bids ready as the Bluegrass State launches its first online auction of confiscated alcohol. Whiskeys up for sale include two bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle, a Blanton’s Single Barrel Gold in box with Japanese markings and a bottle of Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Strength 2011. The sale is the result of a new Kentucky law, which allows alcohol confiscated from closed criminal investigations by the state's alcoholic beverage control agency to be auctioned. Online bidding opens Wednesday and closes at midnight on Dec. 11. Proceeds will support programs promoting responsible alcohol use by adults and awareness programs for youths. “This is a really good auction,” Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, said by phone Tuesday. “There are some hard-to-find and rare bottles on there.” No estimate has been given on how much the auction might raise. “We look forward to seeing the response to this auction and have started planning additional auctions for 2025,” said Allyson Taylor, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The auction features 32 bottles of alcohol and includes a “stock the bar” bundle with bottles of wine, vodka, rum and whiskey, the agency said. But the stars are the hard-to-find and rare bourbons up for sale. “It’s not every day you go to a liquor store and find a bottle of Blanton’s Gold," Gregory said. “You never go to a liquor store and find a bottle of Four Roses 2011.” The lineup includes bottles of E.H. Taylor bourbon, Blanton’s Single Barrel, Eagle Rare 10 yr., Weller Antique 107, Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Rye, Michter’s, an Old Forester gift set and more. A link to the online auction is available at ABC.ky.gov . Auction items cannot be shipped, so winning bidders must pick up items in Frankfort, the state said. The auctions will become a “can't miss opportunity” for bourbon connoisseurs, Gregory said. Until this year's change in the law, Kentucky regulators were required to destroy confiscated alcohol once a case was closed, the agency said. “We don't like to see good bourbon poured down the drain,” Gregory said. Kentucky distillers produce 95% of the global bourbon supply, the Kentucky distillers’ group says.
A Republican senator has blocked the promotion of a general who oversaw troops in Kabul during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to a Senate aide. The move by Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin follows threats from President-elect Donald Trump to fire senior officers and officials who oversaw the chaotic pullout from Afghanistan in 2021. It also comes as Trump’s transition team weighs possible court-martial proceedings against current and former officers involved in the withdrawal, as NBC News previously reported. Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue was nominated for promotion to become a four-star general and to oversee U.S. Army forces in Europe. His nomination was among more than 900 proposed nominations sent to the Senate but Donahue’s was put on hold by Sen. Mullin, according to the Senate aide. Mullin’s office declined to comment. Donahue was the last American service member to board the final U.S. military plane out of Afghanistan in 2021. A night-vision photograph of Donahue boarding a cargo plane went viral, capturing the symbolism of the end of America’s 20-year-long war. After the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan fell to Taliban militants, Donahue — then commander of the 82nd Airborne Division — was ordered to Kabul to oversee the withdrawal of U.S. forces, American embassy staff and Afghans who fought alongside American troops. Retired Gen. Tony Thomas, former head of Special Operations Command, said in a social media post that the decision was a “disgrace” and that Donahue was being treated as a “political pawn.” Heather Nauert, who worked for the State Department in Trump’s first presidential term, said in a social media post that she is a Trump supporter and likes Sen. Mullin but disagreed with the hold put on Donahue’s promotion. “Unless there are facts I don’t know, holding up military promotions bc of our disgraceful Afghanistan withdrawal is wrong,” she wrote. Donahue is currently commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty in North Carolina. His promotion could now be at risk as the current Senate will soon go into recess and the new Republican-controlled Congress will start its work in 2025.