MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was caught off guard by reports early Tuesday that linebacker Shaq Barrett wants to unretire. The two-time Super Bowl winner signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media in July, just days before the start of Miami's training camp. “Just to be candid, obviously there's a reason why you target and sign somebody," McDaniel said Tuesday afternoon. “I was fully caught off guard, or caught by surprise this morning as I found out.” McDaniel indicated the Dolphins have not had any conversations with Barrett recently. Miami holds the 32-year-old’s contractual rights. ESPN first reported the news. “It was kind of news as you guys got it,” McDaniel said. He also said he hasn't had a chance to think about Barrett potentially rejoining the team, and that his immediate focus is on Miami's Thursday night game at Green Bay. “The team is counting on me to think about the Packers,” he said. "I'll get with (GM) Chris (Grier), and we'll work through that. There's a ton of implications that go along with it in terms of team and roster stuff, so we'll work through that as we just got the news today.” Barrett has 400 tackles, 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and three interceptions in nine seasons — four with Denver and five with Tampa Bay. He was a second-team All-Pro with the Buccaneers in 2019, with a league-high 19 1/2 sacks. The Dolphins waived veteran safety Marcus Maye on Tuesday and activated rookie safety Patrick McMorris from injured reserve. Maye, who signed with the Dolphins in June, played in 11 games with three starts for Miami this season. He had 30 tackles and a tackle for loss. He could re-sign to the team's practice squad if he clears waivers. Maye previously played for New Orleans, but was cut in a money-saving move in March after two seasons with the Saints. Maye's release made room on the roster for McMorris, who was drafted in the sixth round by Miami in April. He began the season on injured reserve because of a calf injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Heart Hospital has expanded its use of surgical robots in coronary artery bypass grafting (Robotic CABG) surgeries. Robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries aim to enhance natural blood flow to the heart muscle and offer a less invasive and more precise alternative to traditional procedures, enabling faster recovery and reducing the risk of complications for patients. The advanced surgeries are performed under the supervision of a specialised surgical team that includes Dr Abdulwahid Al Mulla, senior consultant and head of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Heart Hospital, alongside Dr Ali Kindawi, consultant cardiothoracic Surgeon; Dr Mohamed Latif Wani, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon; and Dr Mohamed AlKahlout, specialist cardiothoracic surgeon. Dr Mulla said, “Heart Hospital has introduced minimally invasive techniques for coronary artery bypass and mitral valve surgeries to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare services to patients in Qatar and to remain at the forefront of global surgical advancements. This aligns with HMC’s Healthcare Strategy 2024-2030, the National Health Strategy 2024-2030, and Qatar National Vision 2030.” “Integrating advanced technologies like robotics into cardiothoracic surgeries significantly improves patient experience, shortens the patient’s recovery time, and minimises complications. Patients are carefully selected for these procedures based on their health status to ensure suitability for this type of surgery and optimal patient outcomes,” he added. Dr AlKahlout highlighted the significance of introducing robotics in coronary artery procedures. This procedure is performed through a small incision, no longer than six centimetres, on the left side of the chest, replacing the traditional sternotomy.However, other surgical steps, such as placing the patient on a heart-lung machine and temporarily stopping the heart, remain unchanged. He added that robotic-assisted cardiac surgeries reduce recovery times and hospital stays by approximately one-third compared to conventional open-heart procedures. Heart Hospital initially began performing coronary artery surgeries on a limited scale about 15 years ago, focusing on single-artery bypasses. However, with advancements in surgical techniques, particularly in early 2024, the hospital expanded to multi-artery procedures. “In 2024, we successfully treated over 10 cases involving more than one bypass. We aim to increase this number to 25 cases in 2025. It is important to highlight that this is an exceptionally advanced procedure, performed by only a handful of specialised centres worldwide, which places Heart Hospital among the leading medical institutions in the field of cardiothoracic surgery,” said Dr AlKahlout. Copy 30/12/2024 10A three-goal performance from Arttu Hyry sealed the deal for the Texas Stars in their 6-2 win over the Manitoba Moose. Two other Stars players recorded three-point (1G, 2A) games. Manitoba got the early jump as they found themselves with a 4-1 shot advantage as the period started. A couple of notable plays from the Moose nearly gave them an early lead too, but Magnus Hellberg kept the game scoreless and gave Texas that extra advantage. Dmitry Kuzmin would fly up the left wing and make a couple of good moves to beat two Texas defenders, when he ran out of real estate, he passed the puck to Parker Ford right in front of Hellberg who made the pad save to keep Manitoba off the board. Texas continued to build momentum as time wound down and they ramped up their physicality. While Manitoba would get the only power play chance of the first period, Texas would prevent Manitoba from registering a shot for the last 12:09 of the first period. Arttu Hyry, who took a bad elbowing penalty, would redeem himself after the Moose would bobble the puck in front of the net and Hyry would bury the puck to put the Stars up 1-0. Closing out the first period, Manitoba trailed 1-0 and were outshot 10-4, including nine straight shots for the Stars. The second period didn’t get any easier for Manitoba as they added another 1:24 to their total without a shot on goal. Manitoba found themselves on the power play again, which would fall flat again. As soon as Kyle Capobianco got out of the penalty box, he would find Matej Blumel with a nice cross-ice feed for Blumel’s first of the game. The 2-0 insurance marker gave Texas some extra breathing room against the Moose who were pushing heavy in the early going of the second frame. Just seconds after Blumel’s goal, Tyrel Bauer would get called for interference, and Alex Petrovic took exception to the hit. Both players engaged in a lengthy fight that evened the momentum between both teams. Here’s the full fight and the play that led up to the Tyrel Bauer and Alex Petrovic fight. #MBMoose #ITR pic.twitter.com/LvLpFpZKfX Manitoba and Texas kept going back and forth, but the Moose found themselves on the penalty kill. They kept Texas at bay, and a 2-on-1 shorthanded break presented itself for Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Dominic Toninato. Anderson-Dolan was unable to find the stick of Toninato and the play shot back the other way. Minutes after the Moose’s successful penalty kill, Arttu Hyry got his second of the game after a back-and-forth passing sequence between Cameron Hughes and Hyry. Hyry buried it for his second of the game to put the Stars up 3-0. Just 1:01 later, Mason Shaw shot up the right wing and had more than enough time and space. His first shot was blocked by a Stars defender, but the puck bounced right back to him and Shaw fired it low for his fifth goal of the season. Manitoba closed the second period trailing 3-1 and being outshot 21-12, but they had more offensive zone rushes and more momentum in their favour after Shaw’s goal. The third period was the final dagger for the Moose as Arttu Hyry scored the hat-trick goal to make it 4-1 for Texas. Following some more back-and-forth play, Cameron Hughes took a tripping penalty and seconds after he got out of the box, he would score top shelf to put Texas up 5-1. The Moose didn’t go away quietly as Toninato got behind the net and found Simon Lundmark who got the initial shot off for Simon Lundmark to pick up the rebound and make it 5-2. However, the Moose’s celebration wouldn’t last long as Antonio Stranges scored 47 seconds later to make it a final score of 6-2 Texas. Both teams are back in action on Tuesday, December 31st with a 4:00 pm CST puck drop for the Manitoba Moose’s annual New Years Eve game. This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.
Far-right streamer Nick Fuentes charged with battery in alleged attack of Berwyn womanTrump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying U.S. Steel
By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70ATLANTA , Dec. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity joins the world in mourning the death of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter . A champion for affordable and decent housing, he and Rosalynn Carter donated their time and leadership each year to build and improve homes with Habitat around the world. President Carter died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29 , at his home in Plains, Georgia , surrounded by his family. "We are deeply saddened by President Carter's passing, and our prayers are with the Carter family," said Jonathan Reckford , CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "President and Mrs. Carter began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity near their home in southwest Georgia more than 40 years ago, and soon brought worldwide attention to the need for decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for the incredible impact the Carters have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example. The Carters put Habitat for Humanity on the map, and their legacy lives on in every family we serve around the world." After leaving the White House, the Carters sought out meaningful ways to continue their commitment to social justice and basic human rights. They first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia , near their home of Plains , in March 1984 . Later that same year, the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City's Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. That trip marked Habitat for Humanity's first Jimmy Carter Work Project (later renamed the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project) . Each year since then until 2019, the Carters volunteered with Habitat to build or improve houses alongside homeowners in communities across the United States and around the world. President Carter also served as a member of the organization's board of directors from 1984-1987. "I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need," President Carter has said. "What's opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side by side with the homeowner who's never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven't been on a Habitat project that I wasn't thrilled and inspired and wept." Over the last three decades, the Carter Work Project has touched lives around the world by inspiring more than 108,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,447 Habitat homes. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served more than 62 million people around the world. In 2016, Habitat named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat's vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity will be celebrating President Carter's life of service with local observances. To learn more or to share a tribute, visit habitat.org . For photos and videos of President and Mrs. Carter volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, visit habitat.ngo/cwpphotos . About Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia . Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., Puerto Rico , and more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org . SOURCE Habitat for Humanity InternationalDolphins coach Mike McDaniel says he was surprised by reports of Shaq Barrett's unretirement plan