With Easter Sunday falling on April 20 next year, customers shared their confusion on social media after finding chocolate eggs and hot cross buns already for sale in shops including Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. One user, @Jingle1991, shared an image of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury’s on Christmas Eve and pointed out: “Jesus hasn’t even been born yet.” Meanwhile, Gary Evans from Margate shared a shot of Creme Eggs on display in Morrisons in Margate on Boxing Day. “I just think its crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial... (there’s) something quite frantic about it,” the 66-year-old told the PA news agency. No Shame.Morrisons.Easter eggs.Boxing Day. December 26th.Peace on Earth pic.twitter.com/slGoIjOpRq — Gary Evans (@GaryEva04679693) December 26, 2024 Joseph Robinson found Easter confectionary including Cadbury Mini Eggs, and themed Kit-Kat and Kinder Surprise products at his local Morrisons in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday evening. “It’s funny, as they’ve not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they’re already stocking for Easter,” the 35-year-old admin support worker told PA. “I wish that Supermarkets weren’t so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period.” @Morrisons It's not even a full 2025 and you're already stocking for easter.Kindly get in the bin pic.twitter.com/kLS7DGSRXt — Joseph (@stokegoblin) December 27, 2024 Asked if he was tempted to make a purchase, Mr Robinson added: “As a vegan it holds no appeal to me!” Mike Chalmers, a devout Christian from Chippenham, Wiltshire, was slightly less critical after spotting a display entitled: “Celebrate this Easter with Cadbury.” Easter is for life, not just for Christmas(Photo today in Morrisons!) pic.twitter.com/VmdJ31La9r — Mike Chalmers (@realMChalmers) December 27, 2024 “Christmas and Easter are the two centrepoints of the Christian good news story so it’s no bad thing to see the connections,” the 44-year-old said. “It’s about more than shapes of chocolate though!” Marketing consultant Andrew Wallis admitted he was surprised to see Easter eggs in the Co-op in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, but added it also illustrates “forward-thinking” from big businesses. Christmas isn’t even over, and Easter eggs are already on the shelves. Say what you want about it—but big brands don’t wait. They plan ahead and act fast. Are you doing the same? Your future self will thank you pic.twitter.com/Sl9qd7sOGS — andrewwallis (@andrewwallis) December 27, 2024 “It made me reflect on how big brands are always thinking ahead and planning early,” the 54-year-old from the Isle of Man, who provides marketing advice to the fitness industry, told PA. “My message to retailers would be: while planning ahead is important, it’s also essential to be mindful of consumer sentiment. “Some might feel it’s too early for seasonal products like this but others might see it as a sign of forward-thinking. “Striking the right balance is key to keeping customers happy.”Households use Black Friday sales to update the wardrobe
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The Vancouver Police Board says its vice-chair has resigned following statements she posted to social media that were inconsistent with its code of conduct. Screenshots of the Instagram posts made by Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba were shared on the online discussion website Reddit, where they drew criticism from users for their commentary on immigration and religion. Speaking with CBC News Friday, Sakoma-Fadugba apologized for the content of her posts, but said the screenshots were missing context from her original posts. She said she resigned from the board for personal reasons. CBC News has not independently verified the social media posts, as both they and the Instagram account they were posted on have since been removed. Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba is seen on the far right in this set of portraits of police board members from January 2023. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Of the screenshots shared to Reddit, one post discusses how "mass immigration" and "a growing aversion to assimilation" are "transforming Canada into a place where a shared identity is disappearing." Another post questions Diwali celebrations at schools, saying the "push for secular education isn't about religion — it's about erasing Christian values from the lives of our children." A third post references "gender transitions" while criticizing a "woke culture that pits children against their parents." Another claims Christian values serve as Canada's moral compass and questions what would happen to the country if a different religion became more dominant. Sakoma-Fadugba told CBC News the screenshots posted to Reddit were taken out of context and do not "capture the entirety of the conversation that was being had." "I'm genuinely sorry that it has caused so much harm," she said. "That was not my intent." Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba is seen in this portrait, formerly posted on the Vancouver Police Board website. (Vancouver Police Board) Sakoma-Fadugba said she immigrated to Canada from Nigeria as a young child. She said she joined the police board in 2021 amid the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. One of her goals, she said, was to serve as a bridge between Black and South Asian communities. She added that she has a deep respect for Hinduism, and said learning about the religion has strengthened her Christian faith. "What I was trying to express was the fact that I would really love to see a lot more unity around Canada," she said. "And I think, obviously, I sadly did not get to communicate that as well as I would have wanted to." In a statement issued Friday, Vancouver Police Board chair Frank Chong said recent statements posted to social media by Sakoma-Fadugba "do not reflect the values of the board and are inconsistent with our code of conduct." The has a section in which the board says one of its guiding values is to do work in a manner that recognizes and values diversity. "Internally, we create an environment that is free of discrimination, we respect diversity, create equitable systems and processes, and build an inclusive workplace culture," the manual reads. Garry Begg, B.C.'s solicitor general, said the comments attributed to Sakoma-Fadugba 'spread hate and division amongst communities.' (Mike McArthur/CBC) Garry Begg, B.C.'s solicitor general and minister of public safety, said in a statement that the comments "spread hate and division amongst communities and they will not be tolerated." Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the views shared by Sakoma-Fadugba don't reflect his beliefs nor the policies of the City of Vancouver or police board. "As public leaders, it's our responsibility to bring people together and focus on what unites us, not what divides us," Sim said in a statement. B.C. Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko, who was a longtime RCMP officer, called the comments offensive. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Elenore Sturko, the B.C. Conservative MLA for South Surrey and a former RCMP officer, said she thought it was appropriate for the board to accept Sakoma-Fadugba's resignation, adding that her comments were offensive, particularly to the transgender community. "It comes down to trust," Sturko said. "When we have statements being made that erode the public's trust, or their comfort with their police service, it makes it that much harder on the frontline officers."
Lineage, Inc. ( NASDAQ:LINE – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, December 10th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.5275 per share on Tuesday, January 21st. This represents a $2.11 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.58%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Lineage Stock Performance NASDAQ LINE opened at $59.00 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $65.85. Lineage has a twelve month low of $56.67 and a twelve month high of $89.85. Lineage ( NASDAQ:LINE – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported ($2.44) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.78 by ($3.22). Lineage had a negative net margin of 12.18% and a negative return on equity of 9.89%. The firm had revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.34 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.75 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Lineage will post 3 EPS for the current year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Lineage About Lineage ( Get Free Report ) Lineage, Inc is the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT with a network of over 480 strategically located facilities totaling over 84.1 million square feet and 3.0 billion cubic feet of capacity across countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Coupling end-to-end supply chain solutions and technology, Lineage partners with some of the world’s largest food and beverage producers, retailers, and distributors to help increase distribution efficiency, advance sustainability, minimize supply chain waste, and, most importantly, feed the world. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Lineage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lineage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
There are plenty of programmes that have built up a loyal following providing some great stories and characters, which then seem to just ruin all that has come before. Creating that investment and then shattering it for most of the viewers can undoubtedly be a devastating experience. It's what prompted the question on the r/AskReddit thread : "What’s a show that completely betrayed the audience at the end?" 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Disclaimer: Some spoilers from certain TV shows, including Dexter and House of Cards, can be found below What TV shows 'completely betrayed' their viewers at the end? One of the more obvious examples of recent times which received a fair few mentions in the comments was the final season of Game of Thrones. The adaptation of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels was extremely popular building up to its eighth and final season, which created a huge amount of disappointment or many. One person responded to the Reddit post, simply saying: "Kind of expected to say but Game of Thrones." Many agreed, as one posted: "It was one of the most popular shows in TV history and praised for its world building, multiple complex plot lines, stunning visuals and acting standards "But it ended up a laughing stock, feeling like a wet fart after a night of heavy drinking." document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { iFrameResize({ }, '#exco-iframe-235896'); }, false); Another shared their disappointing experience watching the final season, saying: "My (then) partner and mother decided to join my dad and I in watching it in the final season. "I'll never forget sitting there every Sunday and ending each episode with, "It's usually better than this."" One that a lot of UK viewers might agree on is the final episode of BBC's Sherlock series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. A viewer simply stated: "BBC Sherlock. We don’t talk about Season 4." In response, someone joked: "What are you talking about? It ended with season 2 with that great ending. Right?" An answer that might be more surprising to some that was featured in the responses was The X Files. Despite being a cultural juggernaut of the 1990s, it couldn't maintain its power at the end and its revival in the mid-2010s came across as unnecessary to some viewers. One person wrote: "X Files. Brilliant show that should have wrapped up appropriately so they could go into the hall of fame. "Nope "And it could be fairly easy imo because the story can be literally f****** anything as long as it answers 2-3 questions satisfyingly." Another said: "Agreed. One of my foundational favourite shows. But the last seasons sucked a**." document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { iFrameResize({ }, '#exco-iframe-238925'); }, false); Similar sentiments were shared by many, as one put: "When I first started watching, I thought it was all building to something absolutely sublime. Around Season 5, I realized that there was no plan for an ending." Dexter is another example of a hugely popular show that lost its way right at the end, which was an opinion shared by quite a few people. One wrote: "Dexter. After years of rooting for a lovable serial killer, he decided to become a lumberjack. No explanation. Just flannel and logs." Another shared: "Man, the whole Deb is in love with Dexter plot line was such a slap in the face." A third said: "I was looking for this. I loved Dexter but the ending was s****, he loved Deb so much and then just dumped her in the bay where he put all his victims." A favourite of the early Netflix era was also featured among the responses in House of Cards. The political thriller, which was an adaptation of the 1989 novel by Michael Dobbs and the 1990 British TV series, saw amoral politician Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) attempt to gain power in the US government. Not long after the fifth series was released Spacey faced several allegations of sexual misconduct which saw him removed from the show, with his character killed off. Recommended reading: The final series saw Frank's wife Claire (played by Robin Wright) take on the lead role, but some said he should have simply been recast to carry on the story. One person wrote: "House of Cards. Just f****** swap Spacey and move on. He's an actor not a character." Not everyone agreed though, as another said: "with who? let's be honest, that would've been way too jarring".The Egyptian real estate market in 2024 saw significant shifts driven by investor interest in hospitality, tourism, and experiential spaces, alongside the rising appeal of the North Coast, particularly with the launch of the Ras El Hekma project. This growing demand from both Egyptian and international buyers is expected to continue shaping the market into 2025. Savills projects that in 2025, leasing and property management advisory services will continue to be in high demand as clients seek expert guidance to optimize their portfolios. The North Coast, boosted by high-profile developments like Ras El Hekma, is set to remain a key focus, driving ongoing interest in the region. Retail spaces are also poised for strong growth over the next two years, with an increasing consumer preference for experiential and lifestyle-oriented environments. Developers will prioritize creating dynamic, engaging spaces that cater to evolving consumer behaviors, shifting the focus from transactional retail to immersive, memorable experiences. Savills Egypt is looking ahead to the next year with a focus on overcoming emerging challenges and leveraging its expertise to drive sustainable growth, forge meaningful partnerships, and support Egypt’s evolving real estate landscape. One of Savills’ major 2024 success stories was its transformation of Majarrah, a flagship mixed-use development by Bonyan for Investment and Development. By focusing on tenant repositioning, marketing innovation, and operational improvements, Savills helped increase occupancy from 54% to 92%, boost foot traffic by 35%, and achieve up to 100% sales growth for tenants. The firm also facilitated record sales of EGP 17bn for Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. Savills’ Building and Project Consultancy team played a crucial role in creating new offices for multinational companies like Bayer, Chevron, Informa, and Organon. Chevron’s Manoji Thomas praised Savills for adhering to budget and schedule. Additionally, Savills achieved a 98.4% occupancy rate and more than 48,000 daily visitors at the new extension of Arkan Plaza, setting a record for commercial projects in West Cairo. Beyond commercial successes, Savills Egypt contributed to national initiatives, including repurposing underutilized land with the World Bank-led consortium and the Sheikh Zayed City Council to support Vision 2030. The firm also provided key advice to the Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) on large-scale urban projects, collaborating with Dar El Handassa. Catesby Langer-Paget, Head of Savills Egypt, emphasized the firm’s significant role in shaping Egypt’s real estate future in 2024. Langer-Paget said, “Despite the macroeconomic challenges, Savills Egypt continued to deliver value-driven solutions through phased development and cost management. We embraced technology and optimized operations to navigate market complexities.” In 2024, Savills also became a thought leader, hosting the “Savills Retail Connect” event and leading a national workshop with the World Bank, sharing insights from the Sheikh Zayed Pilot Project to guide other municipalities. Looking toward 2025, Savills Egypt plans to focus on emerging sectors like hospitality and logistics, leveraging global expertise and local market insights to drive the evolution of Egypt’s real estate sector. “Savills Egypt has transformed into a partner of progress,” said Langer-Paget, underscoring the firm’s commitment to innovation, value creation, and growth in the years ahead.
Ironclad partnershipA POPULAR chocolate brand has been slammed by unsatisfied shoppers after they found a day blank in all their advent calendars. Tony's Chocolonely made the bold decision to keep door 10 of their beloved yearly Christmas treat empty with fans saying the reason why is "woke". The Dutch brand were trying to raise awareness of the inequality cocoa farmers face in the chocolate supply chain through the act. But those who forked out £14.99 for the 24 day chocolatey calendar were less than impressed with the marketing ploy. Behind the 10th door was a QR code and a message reading: "Not much to find in there, huh? Bummer! "Cos the cocoa industry is unequally divided, so is our calendar." read more in advent calendar Many quickly voiced their complaints over a friendly advent calendar , often purchased for children, making a political statement. One said: "Sorry I know it’s activism but if I opened my calendar and the door was empty it would ruin my day." Another said opening up the door was "such a let down". A third simply wrote: "Woke nonsense." Most read in Money Others also referenced how the confectionery company has used the same tactic in the past. They were made to apologise in 2021 for causing "confusion and disappointment" among shoppers. One commented on social media this week following the backlash saying: " That's why I've got a Cadbury one. I want daily chocolate, not preaching to ." Addressing the issues, a statement on the Tony's Chocolonely 's website read: “Big chocolate companies make big profits, while cocoa farmers aren’t paid enough for their cocoa. " The result? Many of them still live way below the poverty line.” "The bitter truth is 1.56 million children in cocoa-growing families are involved in child labour in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. "At Tony’s, we exist to change that. By chomping on our choc, you’re helping us break the mould to end exploitation in cocoa, bar by bar, bite by bite." This time around, to make up for the missing day, an additional two chocolates are actually included on day nine in the calendar. This means there are actually 25 sweet treats inside. Some saw the positives from the situation and regarded the bold move as "quite clever" for raising awareness. The nearly £15 is often regarded as a top ranged advent treat in the UK with it often selling out across several stores. Dubbed a big countdown calendar it contains 225g of chocolate in 10 different flavours. Each one comes in a mini size with the 9th and 24th having two bars inside. Worst value advent calendars revealed Not all advent calendars are made equal with some offering never-before-seen treats inside and others giving shoppers a chance to buy bulk items all at once for a slashed price. Some, on the other hand, are not quite as good value for money . The Walkers advent calendar is £10 from Iceland and features 24 doors with a pack of crisps in each. However, you can get a multi-pack of 20 bags for £4.85 also from Iceland . It means that if you bought two packs, you would get 40 bags of crisps - almost double the amount in the calendar, for a lower price. The Lindt 5ft advent calendar certainly stands out. But at £180 at Costco , it doesn't come cheap. Each of the 24 doors contains a full-size Lindt chocolate treat including gold reindeer and bears, as well as 200g boxes of Lindor. However, £180 for 24 days works out at £7.50 a window. READ MORE SUN STORIES You can even get an advent calendar for your cat these days with one from Lily's Kitchen costing £9.99 for 24 days of treats. However, the calendar almost four times more expensive than a normal pack of treats from the same store. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping. Limit the amount of presents - buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb. Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you're not having to buy multiple presents. Plan ahead - if you've got the stamina and budget, it's worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales. Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you're not forking out more than you should though. Buy in Boxing Day sales - some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25. Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent. Shop via outlet stores - you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts. They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
Robert Anderson chosen for Virginia High School Hall of Fame1 2 Nagpur: Former Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar on Friday pinned the blame on state Congress president Nana Patole for the party's defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections . Known for his sharp political insights, Wadettiwar contended that while the state leadership took credit for the victory in Lok Sabha elections, the responsibility for the subsequent loss in the assembly elections lies with the same leadership. Talking to reporters here, the Bramhapuri MLA said, "The state president took credit for the victory in general elections, but the failure in assembly elections cannot be overlooked. The responsibility for both victory and defeat lie with the party president. This is the natural course of political accountability." Wadettiwar's comments come ahead of a critical meeting between the party's top brass, including Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, who is set to visit Nagpur on December 17 to discuss the party's strategy moving forward. He suggested discussions should focus on evaluating leadership and charting a course for future elections, considering the party's dependency on 16 remaining Congress MLAs. He emphasised that finding the right leader and uniting the faction would be key to the party's revival. Wadettiwar also touched upon the growing political rift within Shiv Sena. He acknowledged Sena's right to contest local elections independently, but reiterated the need for Congress to stand united, particularly in the face of challenges within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. "We are ready to fight elections together as an alliance. Once there's clarity on the stand of MP Sanjay Raut, we will decide on the next steps," he remarked. He also raised concerns about the legislative session, criticising its lack of substantive discussion. "What is the point of a four-day session if we can't discuss real issues that affect the common people," he asked. "With so little time, it's clear that no meaningful discussion on critical bills will take place. The govt failed to address the pressing issues of Vidarbha, and this session offers no chance for substantial debate on regional concerns. This session is essentially pointless. With just a few days, there will be no chance to address the real concerns of people like unemployment, low MSP and farmers' issues," Wadettiwar added.Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100BEND, OREGON (AP) — Eliza Wilson is a little nervous as she draws the microphone close, but she is determined to share her life story. “My father was a disabled veteran,” she says. “I first experienced homelessness when I was 5 years old.” Wilson, who’s 36, leads programs focused on unhoused youth. On a recent Saturday, she is addressing a citizen assembly, a grassroots gathering seeking solutions to tough local challenges. Her audience consists of 30 ordinary Oregonians. They are acupuncturists and elk hunters; house cleaners and retired riverboat pilots. None are public policy experts. All the same, these participants have been asked to recommend new strategies for combating youth homelessness — a major problem in this affluent Oregon city and the surrounding rural areas of Deschutes County. This unusual experiment in small-D democracy is underwritten by more than $250,000 in grants from backers such as the Rockefeller Foundation and Omidyar Network. As a key early presenter, Wilson wins rapt attention, clicking through data-rich slides and sharing her story of crisis and recovery. That’s how citizen assemblies should work, says Kevin O’Neil, an innovation specialist at the Rockefeller Foundation. His research shows Americans are frustrated with what they perceive as aloofness and gridlock within civic institutions. “People want to be directly involved in decision-making,” O’Neil says. “They recognize the value of expertise, but they don’t want to delegate decision-making to experts.” Assemblies can help “overcome polarization and strengthen societal cohesion,” says Claudia Chwalisz, founder of DemocracyNext . Her nonprofit, launched in Paris in 2022, champions such assemblies worldwide, hoping they can “create the democratic spaces for everyday people to grapple with the complexity of policy issues, listen to one another, and find common ground.” At least, that’s the theory. To succeed, citizen assemblies can’t settle for a few days of harmonious dialogue among well-intentioned strangers. They need to inspire policy changes or new programs from government and other civic institutions. In Europe, such wins abound. In the United States, results are spottier. The most fruitful U.S. effort to date was a 2021 people’s assembly in Washington State that produced 148 ideas — including more solar canopies and food composting — to combat climate change. More often, progress is challenging. An assembly in 2022 in Petaluma, California, spun up ideas to repurpose a long-time county fairground site. Two years later, the fair still operates under short-term leases; its long-term destiny remains in limbo. In Colorado’s Montrose County , enacting an assembly’s bold ideas for improving rural day care has been “more of a marathon than a sprint,” says organizer Morgan Lasher. Can central Oregon do better? It may take years to know, but evidence so far shows both the assembly system’s opportunities and the challenges. Bend’s local economy is strong, with a jobless rate of just 4.2% and median household income of more than $80,000. As housing costs have skyrocketed, though, the spectacle of people living in tent and trailer encampments has become more common. A January count found more than 1,800 people were homeless in Deschutes County, up from 913 in 2020. In 2023, DemocracyNext and Healthy Democracy , a Portland, Oregon, nonprofit, connected with Bend officials interested in bringing the assembly idea to central Oregon. Josh Burgess, an Air Force veteran, who moved to Bend and became the proverbial “advance man” for DemocracyNext. Operating in a county evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, Burgess built rapport with both liberal and conservative members on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. “It took four or five meetings to get there,” Burgess recalls. Organizers decided to focus on homelessness among ages 14 to 24, where opportunities for progress seemed greatest. To pick citizens for the assembly, organizers contacted 12,000 county residents before selecting just 30. Everything was balanced by age, race, gender, and geography – a slow, costly requirement. Even so, advocates such as Michelle Barsa of Omidyar Network says assemblies’ big edge comes from using “an actual representative sample of the community, not just the people who always show up at town-hall meetings and yell into a microphone for three minutes.” At the northern edge of Oregon State’s Bend campus, a few hundred yards from the Deschutes River, is the McGrath Family atrium, a sunlight-drenched space with panoramic woodland views. It feels almost like a spa. As the Bend assembly gets started, black tablecloths at a huge, U-shaped table convey gravity. Name tags identify attendees as “Noelle,” “Dave,” “Alex.” The first few hours go slowly, but everything perks up after lunch. Eliza Wilson takes command, introducing herself as director of runaway and homeless youth services at J Bar J , a social-services organization. Her voice is unfailingly steady, but emotions race fast across her face: hope, frustration, empathy, resolve, and more. “Teens get really good at hiding their homelessness,” Wilson explains. “We don’t share family business outside of the family. I was really fortunate that a high-school counselor pointed me, at age 15, to the first youth shelter that had just opened in Bend. I stayed there for three years, until I graduated from high school. I finally got on my feet at age 21.” As Wilson finishes, questions stream in. “Are there any programs advocating for children to get back to their parents?” one woman wants to know. “Is there open communication between you guys and the school district?” a man asks. Wilson and other presenters respond with a road map of what exists today. They point out how homeless youth are in a precarious but not hopeless situation, counting on allies for a couch to sleep on. Less than 20 percent live outside in encampments. Practically everyone in the audience takes notes. The next day, assembly members strike up conversations with young adults who were once homeless. Chronic problems — and glimmers of ideas about how to address them — tumble forth. Flaws in the foster parent system. The risk of sexual abuse. The unique challenges that LGBTQ youth face. Attendees — who shared their thoughts with the Chronicle on the condition they be identified only by their first name — regarded those conversations as eye-opening breakthroughs in their hunt for policy recommendations. “I’m coming away with a whole different point of view,” Ken told me. He had arrived believing that poor parenting and drug abuse led to homelessness, and that affected families should personally address such challenges. Now, he said, he was interested in broader solutions. Several local officials stopped by to watch the assembly proceedings. Phil Chang, a Deschutes County commissioner, said the broad-based assembly creates “social license for us to do things that the community wants.” Conservative county commissioner Tony DeBone worries that Oregon’s rollback of drug-offense laws has worsened social problems; he also believes that an economic upturn would do the most good. Still, he says, he’s willing to see what the assembly can offer. Ultimately, the assembly’s effectiveness will depend on whether its recommendations can overcome bureaucratic inertia, says Tammy Baney, executive director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council . Proposed changes in police interactions with homeless youth could be acted on within a month or two if local law enforcement is receptive, she says. Improving Oregon’s gridlocked foster-care system might be much harder. “It all depends on how much political will there is,” Baney says. George Anders is editor-at-large at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, where you can read the full article . This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy .
House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsD espite just one four-year and somewhat unorthodox term in office, Jimmy Carter brought much hope to the White House during a tenure that was marred by several major crisises. As America’s 39th president, he emphasized human rights in his foreign policy, championed environmentalism at a time when it was not yet popular, and appointed record numbers of women and people of color during his administration, which lasted from 1977 to 1981. Several major events transpired during Carter’s presidency, notably the US energy crisis, the Iran hostage ordeal, the Three Mile Island nuclear accident, the Camp David Peace Accords and the Soviet-Afghan war. Many viewed Carter, who grew up selling peanuts as a teenager on his family’s land in Plains, Georgia, as an unlikely candidate for Commander-in-Chief, and some critics later dismissed his tenure as a “failure.” However, Carter had a long history of local and state politics before even arriving in Washington, D.C., and eventually claiming the Oval Office. By 1969, he had served on the Sumter County school board, in the Georgia state senate and made an unsuccessful bid for Georgia governor. To win the gubernatorial election in 1970, Carter adopted more conservative positions. But rather than invoking traditional Southern values, Carter surprised his Georgia constituents by calling for an end to racial discrimination in his 1971 inaugural address. “This is a time for truth and frankness. The next four years will not be easy ones. The problems we face will not solve themselves. They demand from us the utmost in dedication and unselfishness from each of us. But this is also a time for greatness,” he said. “At the end of a long campaign, I believe I know our people as well as anyone. Based on this knowledge of Georgians North and South, Rural and Urban, liberal and conservative, I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over.” His support of civil rights would later be a hallmark of his presidential campaign. Barred by state law from seeking a second consecutive term as governor, Carter made another quantum leap and ran for president as the country was reeling from its disastrous Vietnam War, Watergate and the resignation of Richard Nixon. As a relative unknown, even among his own party, Carter was considered the most improbable of long shots. During his campaign he would reportedly often start with the phrase “Hello, my name is Jimmy Carter, and I’m running for President.” However, his tireless campaigning and his promise that “I’ll never lie to you” appealed to voters. After a grueling series of state primaries in early 1976, he won the Democratic nomination over a field of better-known candidates. In the autumn of 1976, Carter narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Gerald Ford. In a respectful address on November 3, 1976, he congratulated Ford, describing him as “the toughest and most formidable opponent that anyone could hope for,” and promised to unite the nation. “It’s not going to be easy for any of us, I don’t claim to know all the answers but I have said many times during my campaign round all 50 states, that I am not afraid to take on the respnsibilities of president of the United States , because my strength and my courage and my advice and my counsel and my criticism comes from you,” he said. “And if I can tap the greatness that’s in you and the American people then we can make our nation’s government and a source of pride once again...It’s time for us to get together to correct our mistakes, to answer difficult questions and to make our nation great.” Carter took office on January 20, 1977, and emphasised his populist message by walking, with his wife and four children, nearly two miles from the steps of the Capitol to the White House. His presidency was mired, however, by several major turns. As his first order of business, Carter granted official pardons to hundreds of young Americans who had evaded military conscription during the Vietnam War. The measure was designed to heal some of the wounds that divided the country. One of his biggest downfalls was that Carter was not a compelling speaker. Combined with economic stagnation, rising inflation and a high unemployment rate he faced throughout his presidency, he failed to adopt widespread public support. He was also uncompromising as an executive, putting him into conflict with members of Congress, even in his own party. Carter failed to win passage of many measures he endorsed, including attempts to revise the tax system, reform welfare programs, control the cost of health care and provide for national health insurance. Notably, in a struggle that lasted almost as long as his presidency, Carter fought over an energy program that was structured to make fuel expensive enough that consumers would be encouraged to conserve it. By the time he appeared in a cardigan for a nationally telecast speech to encourage energy conservation before that first winter was over, Carter was the butt of jokes. Carter delivered this speech, often referred to as his “Malaise Speech,” on July 15, 1979, while the country was in the midst of a full-blown energy crisis. In it, he said that everyday Americans were suffering from a “crisis of confidence.” “It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will,” he said. “We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation. “The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.” The battle with the energy program preoccupied and debilitated Carter’s domestic staff. There were few other imaginative programs on the home front, leading one Carter aide to lament, halfway through the administration, that the White House was suffering from “terminal narcolepsy.” Where Carter found more success was in foreign policy, which he grew more enthusiastic about as his presidency progressed. He built upon the work of Nixon by formalizing relations with China, ushered agreements that give Panama sovereignty over most of the Canal Zone, met with the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev to sign the nuclear arms control agreement known as Salt II and delivered the Camp David peace accords between Egypt and Israel in 1979. His unyielding policies preserved the climate that isolated the Soviets and contributed to the end of the Cold War a decade later. However, ultimately, what became cemented in Carter’s legacy were the failures of the Iran hostage crisis, when mobs ransacked the US embassy in Tehran capturing 52 people and holding them hostage for the duration of his presidency. In a bold attempt to save the hostages, Carter organized a rescue operation that resulted in disaster when an American military helicopter crashed into a plane waiting to ferry the hostages to freedom. “It was my decision to attempt the rescue operation. It was my decision to cancel it when problems developed in the placement of our rescue team for a future rescue operation. The responsibility is fully my own,” he said in an address to the nation. “As President, I know that our entire Nation feels the deep gratitude I feel for the brave men who were prepared to rescue their fellow Americans from captivity. “And as President, I also know that the Nation shares not only my disappointment that the rescue effort could not be mounted, because of mechanical difficulties, but also my determination to persevere and to bring all of our hostages home to freedom.” The tragedy left an enduring impression on Carter that ultimately contributed to his failed re-election later that autumn - he was trounced by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 race. “I’ve not achieved all I set out to do; perhaps no one ever does. But we have faced the tough issues. We’ve stood for and we’ve fought for and we have achieved some very important goals for our country,’ Carter said after losing. “These efforts will not end with this administration. The effort must go on. Nor will the progress that we have made be lost when we leave office. The great principles that have guided this Nation since its very founding will continue to guide America through the challenges of the future.” However, Carter described the day he yielded office to Ronald Reagan in 1981 as “one of his happiest” because the hostages were freed. His first duty as a former president was to fly immediately to Frankfurt to welcome them back. Though Carter remained active in the Democratic Party, he never again sought elective office and preferred to live, out of the limelight, at his home in Georgia. Carter died on Sunday, December 29, at his home in Plains, Georgia, aged 100.
The claim: NASA footage shows fly on Mars rover An Oct. 24 Facebook video ( direct link , archive link ) shows purported images from a NASA Mars rover mission. The video appears to scan the landscape before zooming in on the front of the rover. The close-up shows a blurry shape that resembles a fly. "Things that make you scratch your head a fly on the Mars rover they really need to get some better video editors for when they film the 'mars missions' on devon island, ridiculous (sic)," reads the post's caption. The post was shared more than 100 times in about nine weeks. More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: Altered The image with the purported fly in the post is altered, according to NASA. The images in the post match an authentic panoramic compiled from images captured by the NASA Mars Perseverance rover, a robotic mission launched in 2020. However, the purported fly is not in the original image. NASA's Mars Perseverance rover panoramic image altered The video in the post appears to have been created by panning and zooming in on a still panoramic image that was compiled from many images captured by NASA's Mars Perseverance rover in 2021. The position of rocks on the Martian surface and shadows near the purported fly match the authentic panoramic image − which can be seen on Arizona State University's website. However, the blurry fly shape is not present in the original image. "The content of the post you reference includes an image from Mars that has been changed from the original," Alana Johnson, a NASA spokesperson told USA TODAY. Fact check : Gases on exoplanet K2-18b can be produced by things besides aliens Devon Island, referenced in the post, is an uninhabited Canadian island with a harsh climate that "mimics the environmental conditions on Mars and other planets," according to NASA . The agency uses the island to test vehicles and other technology related to planetary exploration. But the images from the Perseverance rover were taken on Mars, not in Canada. Evidence that Mars missions are real includes photos captured by Perseverance and other Martian rovers and satellite missions . NASA includes descriptions of various Mars missions on its website. USA TODAY has debunked other posts that claimed NASA space missions were staged on Earth. For instance, some social media users spread an image of an International Space Station training facility and wrongly claimed it showed the actual space station was located in a pool. USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Reuters also debunked the claim. Our fact-check sources Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here . USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .By HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.”
Speaking at the on Sunday at Jinnah Avenue, New Blue Area, Hafiz Naeem criticised the prevailing political system, stating that whenever a government is ousted or takes power, they seek support from the United States (U.S). He also pointed out that this trend extends to those who are imprisoned or those seeking release, highlighting the tendency to seek approval from the U.S. for such matters. He specifically urged Imran Khan to show solidarity with Hamas and publicly denounce the state of Israel. The JI supremo further stated that while the U.S. possesses thousands of missiles, it continues to impose sanctions on Pakistan’s missile technology. He emphasised that the nation had sacrificed to develop nuclear weapons, which are vital for the protection of both Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah. He criticised political parties that seek approval from the U.S. to imprison and release individuals, highlighting the need to ensure democratic freedoms for the people. Hafiz Naeem also condemned the U.S. as a “terrorist nation” and argued that Pakistan could never achieve prosperity while under America’s influence. He pointed out that the U.S. labels those who resist its imperialism as terrorists and imposes its own version of democracy. He further stated that Israel could not fight groups like Hamas, as it targets innocent children, and that Israel’s expansionist goals now reach beyond Palestine, with plans involving Syria, Lebanon, and even Medina. The Jamaat-e-Islami leader referenced Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who had described Israel as an illegitimate child of the West.” He also expressed his support for the oppressed Palestinian people, noting that Gaza faces harsher cold conditions than Islamabad, with two million people living in camps. He condemned Israel’s actions as genocide, having killed 46,000 people, and criticised the U.S. for supporting this “open terrorism.” Hafiz Naeem pointed out that the indifference of most Muslim countries, except a few, towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict further strengthens Israel’s position. He concluded by reaffirming that Israel cannot stand against the resistance of Muslim fighters, adding that Israel’s aggression would eventually be defeated.Syria’s embassy in Lebanon suspends services as Lebanon hands over former Syrian army officersTiong (third left) exchanging the MoU documents with Soon Koh. AS we look forward to 2025 with renewed hope and peace, let us also not forget to reflect on some of the major events that have shaped Sibu throughout the past 12 months. Two shooting cases The public and Sibu folks, in particular, were shocked by a shooting incident at a coffee shop in Jalan Wong King Huo on Jan 1. The three male victims were having drinks at the coffee shop at about 5pm that day when suddenly two other men, wearing full masks, arrived on a motorcycle and fired at the group before fleeing the scene. The Magistrates’ Court on Dec 19 released the suspect, in his 30s, after the expiration of his three-day remand. Months apart, on Oct 24, a 46-year-old man was shot by an unidentified gunman while he was in his vehicle, waiting to pick up his son from school at Lane 21 of Jalan Wong King Huo. The victim was allegedly shot through the windshield of his car. A nearby security guard, in sharing his accounts of the incident, had initially mistaken the sound of the gunfire as one from a bursting tyre. Alerted by other members of the public, he contacted the police upon seeing the victim lying in a pool of blood by the roadside. Both of the cases are being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder. Diesel smuggling On Aug 26, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested five individuals and seized 1.6 million litres of diesel during a raid on an oil storage depot in Sungai Bidut. RM3.7 million in cash was also seized from the syndicate, allegedly involved in the embezzlement and misappropriation of subsidised diesel belonging to a fishermen’s association. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, in a statement, reported that three men and two women, aged from 30 to 60 years old, were detained at the MACC branch offices in Sibu after their statements were recorded at 4pm on Aug 26. Through investigations and intelligence conducted by MACC, it is believed that the syndicate has been operating since 2012 and has amassed profits of up to RM400 million by selling subsidised diesel meant for fishermen. A follow-up operation also led to the arrest of an assistant enforcement officer and the director of an enforcement agency, to which all of the suspects were brought to the Sibu Magistrates’ Court. The case is being investigated under Section 16(b)(B) and Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, in addition to Section 471 of the Penal Code and the Supply Control Act 1961. Kampung Hilir’s devastating fire On Sept 22, a fire swept through Kampung Hilir in Sibu on a Sunday evening, razing 15 wooden houses and leaving over 150 people homeless. Firefighters from the Sibu Central, Sungai Merah and Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue (Bomba) stations battled to extinguish the massive fire due to the strong winds and the close location of houses, where fortunately no casualty was reported in the incident. The fire was reported to be the third to have struck Kampung Hilir, after the previous ones in 1992 and 2003. File photo shows the fire at Kampung Hilir, at its height. PSB-PDP merger Moving on to a more vibrant political scenario, Sibu also underwent a wave of change this year when former Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh made an announcement of the party’s dissolution. The announcement was made on Aug 19 during a grand ‘Unity Night’, gathering members from PSB and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) from all over Sarawak. At the event, Soon Koh, the Bukit Assek assemblyman, announced that PSB members had been accepted en bloc into PDP after the former’s dissolution approval letter was received from the Registrar of Societies (RoS) on March 19. The move, said Soon Koh, was to pave way for PSB to join the PDP under the helm of president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, so that together, they could be part of the state’s ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and in manifestation of comradeship and unity spirit. Following the merger, Soon Koh was appointed as senior vice-president of PDP, while former PSB leaders Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian and Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa were appointed as the party’s vice-presidents. Earlier this year, during a Chinese New Year visit to Soon Koh’s residence, Tiong had said the PDP-PSB merger was done in accordance with the anti-party hopping laws. Merger talks between the two parties began after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 13, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur. PSB was first formed by Soon Koh as United People’s Party (UPP) in 2014, before it changed its name in 2019. Sarawak’s Sukma 2024 victory Meanwhile, the Sibu people were proud to have welcomed athletes, officials and visitors to the town for the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma), which ran from Aug 13 to 23 this year. The three sports events contested in Sibu were volleyball at Rejang Park Volleyball Stadium; badminton at Sibu Indoor Stadium; and football at Stadium Tun Ahmad Zaidi. Sarawak won gold medal from the women’s volleyball event, and claimed a bronze from the men’s team, alongside first-ever gold medal from Wong Ling Ching who competed in the women’s singles badminton event.
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving timeINDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Jan. 6 riot defendant from Indiana who escaped his prison sentence is applying for refugee status in Canada. Antony Vo in November told I-Team 8 he still believes President-elect Donald Trump will deliver pardons to all Jan. 6 riot defendants once he’s back in the Oval Office on Jan. 20. But, for now, Vo is waiting for that day in Canada as he goes through the country’s asylum process. Vo said his immediate plans include skiing. He and his mother, Annie Vo, were convicted as nonviolent participants in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, but Antony never served his nine-month sentence. “The majority of Jan. 6 people have been held more than accountable,” Antony Vo said. Vo says he’s already gone through medical evaluations but canceled a refugee eligibility hearing with Canadian authorities. He’s waiting for assurances that he won’t be detained and sent back to the U.S. Vo’s application for political refugee status makes sweeping claims that he’s the victim of a government conspiracy, writing that his conviction is “purely political persecution.” The application, obtained by I-Team 8, states a legal fund set up for Jan. 6 riot defendants is helping Vo pay for an attorney. He has no plans to turn himself in. “Our country, ourselves, we have a long history of standing up for our rights, what we believe in.” Canadian officials say that, due to privacy legislation, the government cannot comment on specific refugee cases. But, one of the factors officials will use to evaluate a refugee claim is whether that person has committed a serious crime. The U.S. Marshals Service by Friday afternoon had not responded to requests for an update on the search for Vo.New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. ( NASDAQ:NYMTZ – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, December 10th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 1st will be given a dividend of 0.4375 per share on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $1.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.13%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. New York Mortgage Trust Stock Up 0.7 % NYMTZ opened at $19.17 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $19.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.88. New York Mortgage Trust has a 1 year low of $16.60 and a 1 year high of $21.74. About New York Mortgage Trust ( Get Free Report ) See Also Receive News & Ratings for New York Mortgage Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New York Mortgage Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Michael Anton, who served in the first Trump administration as its national security spokesman, reportedly pulled himself out of contention for a job at the National Security Council in the second administration because he did not want to work with returning senior Trump administration official Sebastian Gorka. A Washington Post reporter posted on X: New: Michael Anton was a leading candidate to become deputy national security adviser but pulled himself out of contention when he was told he would have to work with Sebastian Gorka at the NSC, per sources A source familiar with the transition, however, confirmed to Breitbart News that it was true that Anton backed out of working in the NSC when told that Gorka — who is close to President-Elect Donald Trump — was returning. Trump announced Friday that Gorka would return to the White House as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism. Gorka told the Post, “I don’t comment to the fake failing news.” While Anton claimed that Gorka had yelled at him in a Fox News green room, Anton himself had a reputation for screaming at people, including this reporter over a story that would reflect negatively on then-Trump National Security Adviser and Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster. Anton had gained recognition for writing one essay under a pseudonym that was seen as the “intellectual case” for Trump’s election back in 2016. That essay landed him a job in the first Trump administration from February 2017 to April 2018. He resigned after McMaster was fired. Trump has been staffing his White House with advisers he personally trusts, after acknowledging that he made some staffing mistakes during his first administration, with staffers and aides who undermined him and his agenda. The Post reporter claimed Anton was “expected to be in contention for other administration jobs.” Follow Breitbart News’s Kristina Wong on ”X” , Truth Social , or on Facebook .
Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder, dealing another blow to the 49ers' playoff hopes. Josh Dubow, The Associated Press Nov 22, 2024 3:28 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, bottom, runs against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder, dealing another blow to the 49ers' playoff hopes. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks . He underwent an MRI on Monday that showed no structural damage and the team initially thought he could play this week. But when Purdy's shoulder didn't feel right when he made a few warmup throws at practice Thursday, those plans changed. “We thought he just needed some rest and we really weren’t concerned about him not being good this week,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “But when he started up Thursday, it just surprised him, surprised us how it felt. So we had to shut him down.” Shanahan said the team doesn't believe the injury is a long-term concern but he is uncertain whether Purdy will need to miss any additional time. “The MRI doesn’t look like that, so it should be all right,” Shanahan said. “But the way it responded this week, it’s really up in the air for next week. We’ll have to see on Monday.” The 49ers also will be missing star defensive end Nick Bosa, who is out after leaving last week's game in the second half with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. San Francisco struggled on defense without Bosa last week and now will go the entire game this week without two of the team's most important players. The Niners (5-5) are currently in a three-way tie for second in the NFC West, a game behind first-place Arizona, and have little margin for error if they want to get back to the playoffs after making it to the Super Bowl last season. “I know it’s disappointing,” Shanahan said. “We knew there was a chance for Nick. I think the guys were a little surprised with Brock yesterday, but we addressed all that today. We’re going to have 48 guys in uniform. I know our guys believe in themselves. I believe in them. We’re missing two good players, definitely. But we got a lot of good players out there. So by no means do we not have a chance to win.” This will be the first time Purdy has missed a start because of an injury since taking over as the 49ers’ quarterback in December 2022. Brandon Allen will start in his place. Purdy has completed 66% of his passes this season for 2,613 yards, 13 TDs, eight interceptions and a 95.9 passer rating that is down significantly from his league-leading mark of 113 in 2023. Allen has been mostly a backup since being drafted by Jacksonville in 2016. Allen last started a game in Week 18 of the 2021 season for Cincinnati and has thrown just three passes the last three seasons — including none since joining San Francisco in 2023. Allen said he preparation hasn't changed this week with the exception of getting to work with the first-team receivers instead of running the scout team. “It’s an opportunity.” he said. “The circumstances are what they are. But I think our team all year long we’ve been kind of dealing with injuries here and there. It’s been a big next-man-up mentality. It’s definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game. Obviously, we want Brock back and healthy and all that. But for the time being, it is an opportunity for me.” Joshua Dobbs will be the backup Sunday. San Francisco also will be without starting cornerback Charvarius Ward, who returned to the team this week following the death of his 1-year-old daughter on Oct. 28 but needs more time to get back up to speed. Punt returner Jacob Cowing (concussion), linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and defensive lineman Kevin Givens (groin) are also out. The Packers will also be without two key defensive players with cornerback Jaire Alexander ruled out after leaving last week's game with a knee injury and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper out with an injured hamstring. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Josh Dubow, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) 49ers attempt to bounce back and boost their postseason chances as they visit Green Bay Nov 22, 2024 3:09 PM Winston's performance in snowy win over Steelers adds new layer to Browns' quarterback conundrum Nov 22, 2024 2:58 PM 49ers' visit gives Packers a chance to damage the playoff hopes of their postseason nemesis Nov 22, 2024 2:57 PMPetition launched calling for halt to expansion of Montreal-Trudeau airport due to noise and air pollutionKendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”
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