
9 killed in Ethiopia Oromia region attackBlackstone sees North America private equity exits doubling next yearSeals Have Preferences For Different Icebergs - Marine Technology NewsCLEVELAND (AP) — Je'Shawn Stevenson scored 23 points as Cleveland State beat Midway University 116-60 on Sunday. Stevenson shot 8 of 11 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 5 from the line for the Vikings (8-6, 2-1 Horizon League). Dylan Arnett scored 18 points and added six rebounds. Tahj Staveskie shot 4 for 7 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points. The Eagles were led in scoring by Jalen Cincore, who finished with 13 points. Decoreio Smith added 11 points and Creshaun Brown scored eight. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated Press
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.G train riders are on track to catching a break. The crosstown is the next subway line to get the European-style train treatment – and straphangers on the isolated outer borough line are eager to take what they can get after a summer shutdown and subsequent evening repairs. “The reliability thing is more of a draw to me,” 44-year-old G train rider Chris Schillinger told The Post. “It used to be that the G was not super reliable. Improving that sounds great to me.” At least two five-car open gangway trains will be transferred from the C to the G line in the first quarter of 2025 – and riders will have about a 1 in 5 chance of riding an open gangway car, the MTA said. This summer’s months-long shutdown to modernize the line’s 90-year-old signals promised to make service more reliable by installing a new signal technology, though those hi-tech systems are only scheduled to go live in 2027. “That sounds really nice,” 38-year-old coffee shop worker Jenny said of the open-gangway G train plan. “With the G train, they were doing a lot of work over the summer, and I thought after that, the signal modernization would be better – but they keep closing part of the tracks and are still working on it.” “I’ll take it,” G train rider Nolan Johnson, 35, told The Post. “There’s more space for people to stand on. You can move between cars easier.” The antiquated system is now “past the end of its useful life,” the MTA has said – with some riders even calling the line the “ghost train” due to a perceived lack of reliable service for its 160,000 daily riders. The new R211T cars, however, are slated to “provide faster, more frequent and reliable service,” according to NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, who said wider doors, better signage and LED displays as just some of the perks G train riders can look forward to. All open-gangway cars are also equipped with video cameras “to improve the safety of our customers and employees,” Crichlow added. Some straphangers told The Post that the gangway cars could prevent disorderly and disobedient commuters from unsafely going car-to-car or smoking in between cars while the train is in motion. Some also wondered if limiting outdoor access would perhaps even deter would-be subway surfers. “As a New Yorker, I like to have an easy way to move out of a certain situation,” Bed-Stuy resident Selina Josephs, 40, told The Post. “So just the fact that I can and if something’s going on in my car, I can just move over without having to open the door.” “I like that the doors light up, showing you what side of the train the doors are going to open,” Josephs added. “Also I noticed that before you even leave the train, you can see where those stairs are at or if there’s an elevator ... in other countries you see that, but, here it’s like, ‘Good luck: Leave and try to find the stairway or elevator.’” Old train cars also break down six times as frequently as new ones, according to the MTA’s Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, who argues “replacing them is more than just a matter of aesthetics.” “This latest purchase will help us get the next generation of rolling stock on the rails sooner so we can keep making the system more reliable and dramatically upgrade the passenger experience,” the MTA CEO said in a statement. The G will only be the second subway line to get the doorless R211T cars, which historically have yielded mixed reviews from riders — some of which say the trains leave them feeling vulnerable to commotion happening in another car. Whether you’re a fan or not, New Yorkers will be sure to see many more of the new R211 cars in the next few years, with the MTA’s Monday announcement of a $1.27 billion purchase of 80 open-gangway and 355 regular train cars due by 2027. Those accordion-style cars are slated to eventually replace all R44 trains on the Staten Island Railway and the orange-and-yellow R46 subway cars used for decades on the A, C, N, Q, R and W lines, as well as usher in the replacement of the R68s used on the B, D, N and W lines. “This latest order is putting the MTA closer towards its goal of fully modernizing the system,” MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Tim Mulligan said in a statement. “The R211s are state of the art and less prone to breakdowns, which means smoother trips for tens of thousands of New Yorkers and more reliable service for decades to come.” One skeptical G train rider, however, said it’s going to take a lot more than just a few new trains to improve the crosstown line. “New trains are useful — it’s cleaner, it’s good,” the rider, named Steve told The Post, “but it needs more work.”
Australian PM ready to 'engage' with Musk on social media teen banThe movement of the peso is seen to dictate investor sentiment at the local bourse this shortened week of stock trading amid the holidays. Philstocks Financial Inc. senior analyst Japhet Tantiangco said traders were on the lookout for the trading of the local currency, which recently hit a record-low of P59 against the greenback. “A further depreciation of the peso is expected to pose downside risks to the market while a recovery is expected to provide the opposite,” he explained. While the support line of the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) stays put at 6,400 level, Tantiangco said the market has yet to “break above its 10-day exponential moving average,” which indicates a downtrend. “From a fundamental standpoint, the local market has been driven to more attractive levels, giving opportunity to bargain hunters,” he added. In fact, on Friday, the PSEi ended a seven-day losing streak as investors bought up cheap stocks. The benchmark index rose by 0.17 percent, or 10.78 points, to close at 6,406.38 while the wider All-Shares index climbed by 0.11 percent, or 4.08 points, to close at 3,675.83. Investors found some glimmer of hope after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas implemented a third rate cut this year, bringing the interest policy down to 5.75 percent. Trading is suspended on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. INQ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .
Litus Pilot Unit Photo by ProColor Inc. Ghada Nafie, Litus CEO and Founder Photo by ProColor Inc. "We are thrilled our pilot is up and running,” shares Litus CEO Ghada Nafie. "Creating this pilot is a vision we have had since we founded the company and a mission we set out to accomplish. Now, we have validated this scale-up. We are already testing brines and extracting lithium. We are well on our way to making energy more efficient and more abundant!” The aqueous reservoirs in North America and Europe contain lithium in low concentrations that, until now, were not viable to extract. Litus LiNC is so efficient and effective it selectively harvests lithium from these sources with unmatched results. With recovery rates of 99.5%, and rejection rates of 90%, and in brines as low as 30 ppm, Litus LiNC extracts lithium from brines previously deemed uneconomical, unlocking new energy sources in North America and Europe. The Litus pilot is a plug-and-play modular unit integrating with systems already in place. Infrastructure requirements are low, and minimal water and energy are needed, for an environmental approach to lithium extraction that leaves the existing ecosystem intact. With Litus LiNC, the patented nanomaterial composites extract lithium in a matter of hours, creating a product so pure it does not require additional processing and can be sent directly to battery production plants. The pilot is designed to be transported on-site and is designed to be easily scaled up to commercial level. Litus LiNC is a low-cost, low-risk opportunity, making it easy to break even when lithium prices drop. And when lithium prices are high, Litus LiNC provides a very lucrative revenue stream. The nanotechnology behind the Litus solution is an advanced formula that is custom-made for each brine. At a time when supply chains are uncertain, Litus ensures access to its nanotechnology material and can now produce up to 5kgs per day. Litus has recently been recognized on the world stage: For more information, contact Litus at [email protected] . About Litus , www.litus.ca Litus is the emerging leader in the application of advanced chemistry and nanotechnology for the development of ground-breaking solutions to address some of the world's biggest energy challenges. The Company was formed in 2019 on research originally conducted at the University of Calgary. Located in the heart of the energy sector, the Litus team is led by an exceptional group of professional chemists, nanotechnologists, and chemical process engineers, as well as experienced entrepreneurial business professionals, with a proven track record of success with scientific achievements and scaling new technologies to become industrial and commercially successful solutions. Litus LiNC has secured a solid industry niche with its effective, environmental one-step approach, and proven exceptional success extracting lithium from untapped lower-concentration brines previously deemed uneconomical. Litus is passionate about developing and supporting technology products that inspire its customers and partners to create energy solutions that are more abundant, more accessible, cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Attachments Litus Pilot Unit Ghada Nafie, Litus CEO and Founder CONTACT: Dalyce Semko Open2America, Media Contact 4038693259 [email protected] Ghada Nafie Litus [email protected]
Waymo Robotaxi Still Has Some Kinks To Work Out
2024 stock market: Here are the numbers that defied expectationsCowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said he expects to be fine for Monday night’s game against the Bengals. Lamb’s shoulder injury kept him out of practice Thursday, but he returned to limited work Friday. Lamb aggravated his shoulder in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants. Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (rest/knee), safety Malik Hooker (rest), linebacker Eric Kendricks (rest/shoulder) and cornerback Jourdan Lewis (rest) returned to full participation. The rest of the team’s report remained the same from Thursday. Left tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle/knee), right guard Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder), safety Juanyeh Thomas (knee) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot) again were non-participants. Martin will go on season-ending injured reserve this week. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) remained limited.
None
Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes officeFrom the Big Bogan to Larry the Lobster, why do towns build Big Things?
Greece and the Fund
COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Word on the mountain has it that Lindsey Vonn is still fast through a downhill course, even at 40 years old. Maybe even challenge-for-downhill-wins fast. On a frigid Friday morning, Vonn darted through the shadows along the speed course at Copper Mountain and through the mist created by the snow makers. There was no clock at the bottom of the hill to measure just how speedy she was as she makes a comeback to skiing nearly six years removed from her last race. But she certainly looked the part of fast by dropping into a tuck position to become more aerodynamic, and even banging through a few gates on several high-speed runs. Vonn plans to enter a series of lower-tier FIS downhill and super-G races this weekend at Copper Mountain in an effort to gain the necessary results to lower her ranking so she can possibly enter World Cup races this season under a new wild-card rule. It could be the first step toward seeing her on the World Cup circuit again, maybe even on the podium. “I honestly think she will win,” retired ski racer Ted Ligety said in an interview with The Associated Press. “From what I’ve heard, she’s been kicking (butt) and been really fast in training. Some of the women on the World Cup are going to be rudely awakened to have to compete against a Lindsey Vonn again.” Vonn declined to talk after her practice session Friday. She chatted with several racers on the hill and again inside the lodge, where her dog, Lucy, became the center of attention. In a post Friday afternoon on Instagram, Vonn wrote : “Happy to be able to take another step this weekend! Technically tomorrow will be my first race but I’m using it as a training opportunity to keep on building. ... It’s been 6 years since I last raced so I still have a lot of equipment to test, finding my groove and really getting into racing form. I am having a lot of fun and want to keep on doing so!” When she left the sport, Vonn's 82 World Cup race victories stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark. The women's mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. The next World Cup races for the women's circuit will be held in a week in nearby Beaver Creek, Colorado. There's no timeframe for Vonn's return to racing. Vonn’s last competition was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. In a lot of ways, the three-time Olympic medalist stepped away still near the top of her game. But the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. Last April, she had surgery for a partial knee replacement. She felt good enough to give it another go. Ligety, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, applauds her for her comeback bid. “It’s beyond my risk appetite, but it will be really fun to watch,” said Ligety, who’s covering the World Cup races in Beaver Creek this weekend for NBC. “She left at the top of her game, obviously, because of her knee injury. She probably felt like she got short-changed in her quest to take down Stenmark in wins, being only four away and her body failed her. “I can see how that would weigh on you. And then when you all of a sudden feel perfectly healthy again and you’re not that old, I can see giving it some ideas. I understand where she’s coming from and I think she has a good chance (to win races).” The aura of Vonn hovered around the bottom of the slope Friday. She had several pairs of Head skis all ready to try out. After each run — at least three — Vonn would huddle with her team, take a quick swig of water and head back up the lift. “She’s still super-fast,” fellow American teammate Keely Cashman said. "She’s been helpful talking to us about whatever we need. We’re excited to have her around.” What stands out about Vonn to Sophie Goldschmidt, the CEO of U.S. Ski and Snowboard, is the racer's “strength of mind and attitude,” she said. "To be able to come back time and time again is very impressive. “We’re delighted that she’s rejoined the team,” Goldschmidt added. "Her achievements speak for themselves. She’s clearly one of the most decorated athletes in the U.S. and had an amazing ski racing career. So for her to feel fit and strong enough to want to give it another go, I think is quite remarkable. I’m excited to see what she might be able to achieve.” ___ AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The decorations outside Acrisure Stadium suggested Christmas. The play on the field by the home team hinted at another holiday entirely. Groundhog Day. Like Bill Murray in the iconic movie — set about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh in Punxsutawney — it's not that the Steelers are reliving the same day (or in their case, season) over and over exactly. It's that no matter what plan they come up with in a frantic effort to get to the other side, they seem to end up right back where they started. Competitive sure. But a contender? Ehhhh. Despite a series of aggressive moves — particularly on offense — that was considerably “unSteeler-like" in the offseason, Pittsburgh finds itself in familiar territory following a 29-10 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday: likely heading on the road in the first round of the playoffs, perhaps as a considerable underdog. While there is still time for Pittsburgh (10-6) to turn it around before a first-round playoff game on the second weekend in January, it's running out quickly. So too is the patience of those weary of being stuck on the treadmill of “good but hardly great” for far too long. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith — who is 0-3 in the postseason since being drafted in 2020 — wondered aloud afterward if there's enough “want to” on the roster. Safety DeShon Elliott bemoaned communication issues that have cropped up, the kind of thing that is tolerable in Week 2, not so much in Week 17. Coach Mike Tomlin described a performance against the Chiefs in which his team was outclassed at seemingly every turn “junior varsity.” That may be being charitable. And while the offense certainly has its issues (see below), the reality is the NFL's highest-paid defense has lost its way during a three-game slide that has dimmed the considerable optimism that surrounded the club after Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 402 yards during the skid and while the Chiefs seemed to have plenty of juice at the end of the same three games in 11 days stretch the Steelers endured, their opponents appeared to be gassed. Patrick Mahomes did whatever he wanted as usual and Pittsburgh failed to get a single sack or produce a turnover. There were opportunities. Linebacker Mark Robinson forced a fumble on a punt return only to see someone in red-and-white fall on the loose ball. Linebacker Patrick Queen let a tipped pass in Kansas City territory fall through his arms for an incompletion. Earlier in the season, Pittsburgh was making those plays. Though it should be noted, the competition then wasn't on the scale of what it has faced against Philadelphia, Baltimore and the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The road has gotten considerably harder, just as the Steelers knew it would when the schedule was released in May. Like Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day,” however, knowing what's coming and being able to navigate it are two different things. It took Connors a while to figure things out — anywhere from a few months to 25 or more years depending on who you ask — Pittsburgh doesn't have eternity to get it right if it wants to avoid a quick first-round playoff exit for the fourth time in five years. It has just over two weeks. And the clock is ticking. Maybe all the way back to 6 a.m. Because it sure looks like it's Groundhog Day. Again. What's working Not much. One of the few bright spots on a difficult day was the 36-year-old Russell Wilson's ability to make plays with his feet. He ran for a season-high 55 yards, his best single-game total since September 2023. What needs help One of the reasons Wilson had to run is because on some plays, he had no choice while playing behind a youth-laden offensive line that looks as if it is wearing down late in the season. The Chiefs sacked Wilson five times — some of which, to be clear, were because of Wilson's indecisiveness — even with perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones out while nursing a calf injury. Pittsburgh wants to be a team that imposes itself physically on the opponent. That has simply not happened during the current slide. The opponents have dictated the terms, particularly along the line of scrimmage. Turning that around this deep into a season may be a difficult ask. Stock up Jaylen Warren is becoming the more dynamic option at running back. Warren has 37 touches for 212 yards during the three-game slide, while Najee Harris has 31 touches for 144 yards. Harris could become a free agent in March after the Steelers declined to pick up his fifth-year option. While Harris — who has topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first four seasons — certainly has a future in the NFL, it seems increasingly likely that it will be elsewhere. Stock down Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. His egalitarian approach to play-calling allows everyone to get involved. That's not a bad thing during the dog days in the middle of the season. It keeps players at all levels of the depth chart engaged and adds wrinkles opponents need to account for. Yet in the final weeks, the ball should be finding its way to the established difference-makers more frequently. Calling a run for Cordarrelle Patterson — the league's oldest running back — on third-and-3 near midfield as Smith did late in the first half makes little sense. Injuries Perhaps the most jarring thing about Pittsburgh's swoon is that the Steelers are generally healthy. Sure, they missed cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) against Kansas City, but the rest of the 21 starters on offense and defense were in the lineup. Key number 0. The number of opening-drive touchdowns scored by the Steelers this season. For a group that has trouble “warming up to the game” as Tomlin likes to say, consistently being put in a position to play from behind against quality teams such as the ones Pittsburgh will see in the playoffs is inadvisable. Next steps Rest up, heal up and try to find a way to restore some of its swagger ahead of a meeting with AFC North rival Cincinnati on the first weekend in January. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated PressTARLETON STATE 61, HOFSTRA 59
Major supermarket slashes price of festive fizz to just £4.75 – but you’ll have to be quick as fans rush to storesDETROIT — Dan Campbell’s gambles paid off. Detroit went for it on fourth down for a fifth time to set up Jake Bates’ 35-yard field goal as time expired , Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes and the Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Campbell has been perhaps the NFL’s most aggressive coach since taking over what was a league laughingstock in 2021, but he turned it up a notch against the Packers with a short-handed defense that he wanted to keep off the field. “That was how I wanted to play that team with where we are at,” Campbell said. The NFC-best Lions (12-1) broke a franchise record with their 11th straight win — including two over the Packers (9-4) — to stay ahead of Minnesota (10-2) in the highly competitive NFC North. “This will be one of those you’ll never forget,” Campbell said. Campbell kept his offense on the field on a fourth-and-1 at the Green Bay 21 with 43 seconds left. David Montgomery ran for 7 yards, barely getting a handoff from Goff after the quarterback got his feet tangled up and was falling toward the turf. “It’s a bad feeling,” Goff said. The play ensured the Lions could try a field goal without giving Green Bay the ball back, and Bates hit his third-game winning kick this season. “I just felt like we needed to end it on offense,” Campbell said. “I did not want to give the ball back and I believed we could convert. I trust the O-line. I trust David.” Goff threw two touchdown passes on fourth-and-goal, one to Tim Patrick, who had two TD catches. He also threw an interception in the third quarter to set up one of Josh Jacobs’ career-high matching three TD runs. Goff found Jahymr Gibbs open in the end zone for a 2-yard pass on a fourth down with 11 seconds left in the first half to put Detroit ahead 17-7. Goff later connected with Patrick on a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter. Green Bay took advantage of the only time Campbell’s aggressiveness didn’t pan out, denying Gibbs on a fourth-down run late in the third quarter from the Detroit 31. Jacobs scored for a third time on a 3-yard run on the ensuing drive. “The risk was there,” Campbell said. Brandon McManus made a 32-yard field goal with 3:38 left to pull the Packers into a 31-all tie in a game that had four lead changes earlier in the second half. “That’s exactly the kind of game we expected,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “It was tough and it went back and forth. There were just a couple plays that didn’t go our way.” The Lions’ final drive began with Goff’s 19-yard pass to Jameson Williams. He also connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for 16 yards on the decisive possession. Goff finished 32 of 41 for 283 yards, and six Lions had at least five receptions, the first time that’s happened in NFL history, according to OptaSTATS. “They have great playmakers and they just get them the ball,” LaFleur said. “Jared Goff is an excellent quarterback and we gave him time to throw.” Jordan Love was 12 of 20 for 206 yards with a touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft early in the third quarter. “They have a really good offense, but so do we,” Love said. “I don’t think there was any extra pressure on us. We just got off to a slow start.” {h4 class=”mb-0 pb-2 ap-font-bold”}Odd scene{/h4} LaFleur lamented that someone holding the American flag during the national anthem ended up shouting at the Packers and had to be separated from them by officials before the game. “He was yelling at our players and giving the throat-slash gesture,” LaFleur said. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I would just like security to step in there and get him off the field.” Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter TodayChina and Hong Kong markets experienced minimal changes on Wednesday, with investors eagerly anticipating the Central Economic Work Conference to gain insights into potential policy shifts for the coming year. By midday, the Shanghai Composite index had recorded a slight increase of 0.22%, whereas the blue-chip CSI 300 index saw a minor decline, slipping 0.04%. Notably, food and beverage stocks were among the top performers, gaining 1.2%. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index also nudged up 0.08%. Investor attention remains fixed on forthcoming governmental announcements, expected to clarify on monetary easing measures and fiscal policies crucial for fostering economic growth. (With inputs from agencies.)MOVE over mince pies and pass on the Christmas pud – this year it is all about ending your meal with showstopper Yuletide desserts. With most supermarkets offering ready-made and pre-frozen options, they are a great way to save yourself a bit of time and money. Laura Stott tastes and rates a selection of sweet treats in stores. Deluxe Sticky Toffee Bombe £2.49, 227g, Lidl - 2/5 A FESTIVE-themed sponge made with dates, caramel and an oozing, thick toffee sauce that seeps out when you spoon into it. This decadent dessert is extremely sweet and designed to serve two people. There’s plenty to go around and it heats up quickly in the microwave, or you can steam cook it more slowly the old-fashioned way. Read More on Money A nice alternative to the traditional Crimbo pudding, especially if you don’t have lots of diners over. It is quite pricey for the amount you get, though, and does not offer much wow factor. Salted Caramel Profiterole Stack £4, 164g, Marks and Spencer or ocado.com - 4/5 BRONZED icing and golden dusting certainly looks festive – and it would make a lovely alternative pudding when you don’t have many mouths to feed. Delicious choux pastry filled with whipping cream and topped with salted caramel sauce, it is very rich so you only need one or two pastries. Most read in Money No one would blame you if you demolish the whole stack, though. Extremely tasty and well-priced, especially for a more artisan-style patisserie product. Ideal for rounding off a romantic Yuletide dinner for two. Yummy. Santa’s Sleigh Chocolate Mousse £6, 500g, Morrisons - 2/5 TRIES hard to bring the wow factor to your Christmas table but falls short of being a complete showstopper. A sleigh-shaped mousse is a nice idea but unfortunately it doesn’t really resemble Santa’s wheels as much as you’d hope. Once it is turned out on to the plate it is more like a big brown blob. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, a slice of this isn’t going to be your top pick and it’s all a bit one flavour. A fun idea, especially for families, and a great alternative to cake. But ultimately a little bit boring to look at and eat. Extra Special Raspberry Pistachio & Passion Fruit Pavlova Wreath £7, 438g, Asda - 4/5 IT looked gorgeous on the table with its jewelled raspberry colours, splashes of vibrant passion fruit and appetising nibs of pistachio nuts. The tasty meringue was light, crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle then topped with cream, fruit and berries. Not overly filling if you don’t want to completely overindulge. You could add extra berries on top and some holly, but it’s a nice centrepiece served straight out of the box. Effortless, and there is plenty to go around. Taste The Difference Chocolate & Praline Choux Tower £9 (£6 with Nectar card), 420g, Sainsbury’s - 4/5 SHIMMERY and sparkling, looks fab on the table and tastes rather yummy as well. Made with layers of choux pastry, chocolate fudge sauce and praline cream, it’s extremely indulgent but manages to stay just the right side of being overtly sickly. It’s then topped with chocolate ganache, more milk chocolate shavings and hazelnut pieces. Buy frozen and remove from the freezer 90 minutes before you want to scoff. Perfect for social media snaps and guaranteed to get a great reception. Lemon Meringue and White Chocolate Sponge £2.99, 300g, Aldi - 3/5 A LITTLE bit different and excellent value for a dessert that will feed four people. A buttery base with Sicilian lemon curd, lemon oil and meringue pieces, the citrus aroma of this yellow sponge is fresh, although a bit artificial. Heat it up in the microwave or on the hob and serve on a platter. A December dessert for any evening you want something festive but inexpensive. However, the promised snowflake effect on the top, shown on the box, wasn’t replicated on the pud I turned out, which was disappointing. Luxury Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska £6, 506g, Iceland - 3/5 A FAFF to prepare but worth the effort if you want to bring a bountiful centrepiece out at the end of your Christmas meal. Once you have prised it from packaging, pop the pud on the wire rack on the grill pan. Warm for two minutes to achieve colour on the top, then remove the outer tray – which was fiddlier than it sounds. Defrost for 25 minutes then it’s ready to serve. Very sweet but moreish, and it does look great on the table. A useful, affordable and tasty pud to have in the freezer. Finest Forest Berry Meringue Wreath £6.50 (£5.80 with Clubcard), 518g, Tesco - 5/5 IF you enjoy Black Forest-style cherry flavours, then you’ll love this seasonal showstopper. It hits that sweet-sour spot nicely with a boozy kick too. It is made of crispy and chewy meringue topped with sloe gin and cherry cream, adorned with blackberries, sour cherries, sloe gin and cherry sauce, plus dark chocolate shavings. Fresh, tasty and a nice alternative to a heavy Christmas steamed pudding. READ MORE SUN STORIES Hassle-free too. Just get it out of the freezer a couple of hours before you want to serve.
NoneGlobal Small Satellite Market Forecast To Reach 20.6% By 2028 With $13.97 billion Billion Annual GrowthNoneLOS ANGELES — He’d been battered for weeks, lingering on the turf in pain at various points in previous wins over Nebraska and UCLA, always game enough to return a few players later after gingerly limping off. But running back Woody Marks, long USC’s Iron Man at running back, couldn’t return after another blow Saturday against Notre Dame. After a first-quarter handoff for nine yards, Marks laid on the turf for a few beats before stumbling to his feet, appearing slightly disoriented as he entered a medical tent on USC’s sideline. He eventually returned to the sideline as redshirt freshman Quinten Joyner took his place, but walked off into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tunnel at the two-minute mark of the first half as the CBS broadcast reported he’d be out for the rest of the afternoon . It was a massive loss for USC’s offense, and could’ve served as the end of Marks’ time in a Trojans jersey depending on his bowl-game decision. If so, what a run it has been for the Mississippi State transfer: finishing with 1,133 yards on the ground in 12 games, putting together one of the more complete seasons by any USC running back in recent memory. They came marching one by one down the barrel of the Coliseum, adorned with wreaths of honor, USC’s Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Jaylin Smith and Woody Marks all exchanging hugs with Lincoln Riley as an early crowd erupted in claps for its program pillars. It was a moment of levity, USC honoring beloved seniors Saturday afternoon on the final day of its regular season. It was also, however, a sobering reality. With Mascarenas-Arnold, Smith and Marks went 138 combined tackles and four interceptions and 1,421 yards from scrimmage; with left guard Emmanuel Pregnon and center Jonah Monheim went two crucial pieces of a much-improved Trojans offensive line. Walking out from the tunnel on Senior Day, certainly, doesn’t provide an end-all, be-all on players’ futures. But it gave a hint, certainly, that several names who still carried eligibility – Mascarenas-Arnold, Smith, wide receiver Kyron Hudson – could be moving on come the winter. “We’ll have a few guys, obviously, who will have some decisions to make on if they go pro or if they stay and play another year,” Riley said Tuesday, when asked how he might adjust USC’s offensive personnel in the offseason. “Not a ton, but we’ve got a couple guys that have those decisions. We’ll just see. We’re going to try to get the right talent in here.” USC will be hard-pressed to add that talent, certainly, as eyes turn ahead to a bowl-game slot and the 2025 season. If every player honored on USC’s announced Senior Day graphic moves on , either via the NFL draft or the transfer portal, USC stands to lose 17 players from its offense, defense and special teams who started Saturday against Notre Dame. Here’s the breakdown: Offense: WR Kyle Ford, TE Lake McRee, RB Woody Marks, C Jonah Monheim, LG Emmanuel Pregnon, RT Mason Murphy, WR Kyron Hudson Defense: S Akili Arnold, LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, LB Mason Cobb, CB Jacobe Covington, DT Nate Clifton, DT Gavin Meyer, CB Jaylin Smith, CB Greedy Vance Jr. Special teams: P Eddie Czaplicki, K Michael Lantz It’s still probable, as Riley mentioned, that a few of those names elect to stay at USC for another season. McRee, Murphy and Hudson, in particular, are redshirt juniors and would likely see their draft stock elevated by a return for a prominent senior year at USC. Still, the Trojans will have major work to do in the transfer portal and with depth development this offseason, particularly at center, replacing Monheim, and cornerback. Related Articles Not a day after the NFL’s Chicago Bears canned head coach Matt Eberflus following a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions , former star quarterback and No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams was back at the Coliseum on for his USC jersey-retirement ceremony in a palate cleanser of a Saturday afternoon. Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner who conquered opposing defenses and NIL riches in his time at USC, took a moment to thank the Coliseum crowd upon leading the Trojans out of the tunnel Saturday. “Number 13 is back,” Williams announced over the PA, speaking in a microphone to wide cheers. “And not only – is in the rafters now, because of all of you.”
Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes officeNYC taxi driver was having a medical episode when he jumped the curb and hit people, police say NEW YORK (AP) — New York City police say a taxi driver who hit six pedestrians when he jumped a curb in Manhattan on Christmas Day was having a medical episode at the time. An NYPD spokesperson would not elaborate on the type of type of medical episode but said Thursday no criminality is suspected at this time. The 58-year-old was taken to a hospital in stable condition for further evaluation. Also hospitalized after the yellow taxi drove onto the sidewalk across the street from Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square were a 9-year-old boy with a laceration to his right thigh, a 49-year-old woman with a leg injury and a 41-year-old woman. All were in stable condition. 'Baby Driver' actor Hudson Meek, 16, dies in a fall from a moving vehicle VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (AP) — Authorities say 16-year-old actor Hudson Meek has died after he fell out of a moving vehicle in Alabama. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office says Meek was hurt on Dec. 19 while on a street in Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham. He died two days later. The Vestavia Hills Police Department has not issued any public statements. Meek made his on-screen debut in 2014’s “The Santa Con,” and had roles in various TV series, including “MacGyver.” He was perhaps best known for his role in the 2017 film “Baby Driver,” in which he played a younger version of Ansel Elgort’s titular character. Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travel DALLAS (AP) — A line of severe thunderstorms are firing up in Texas and could spark severe weather, including high winds, hail and potential tornadoes. Some flights were delayed or cancelled early Thursday at airports in Dallas and Houston. The National Weather Service says the greatest weather risk on Thursday would stretch across Texas east of Dallas, between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western and northern Louisiana. The risk includes the possibility of tornadoes and wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour. Parts of the region could see hail as large as one inch in diameter. Pizza deliverer in Florida charged with stabbing pregnant woman at motel after tip dispute KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — A pizza deliverer in Florida has been charged with pushing her way into a motel room and stabbing a pregnant woman after a dispute over a tip. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office says that Brianna Alvelo has been charged with stabbing a woman in her motel room in Kissimmee, Florida, a short time after delivering a pizza to her on Sunday. The woman gave Alvelo $50 on a $33.10 bill, expecting change back. When Alvelo started walking away, the woman asked for money back, and Alvelo told her they didn’t make change. The woman got a smaller dollar bill from her boyfriend, and Alvelo’s tip ended up being $2. Hwang Dong-hyuk on killing off his 'Squid Game' characters and wanting to work with Jake Gyllenhaal As season two of Netflix's hit series “Squid Game” returns Thursday, viewers can expect more untimely deaths for many of its characters. Its creator, writer and director, Hwang Dong-hyuk says whittling down the cast made him happy because less people were easier to manage on set. The show follows a deadly competition in South Korea that targets contestants who are heavily in debt and desperate for money. Hwang told the Associated Press in a Q&A that a third and final season has already filmed and it's better than season two. He also says his next project will be even darker in tone than “Squid Game.” Friday's Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion, one of the game's top jackpots Americans still dreaming of a really big Christmas present can keep that dream alive during Friday’s Mega Millions drawing for a jackpot worth an estimated $1.15 billion. Friday’s jackpot will potentially be the fifth largest in the game’s history. Mega Millions tickets are $2 a piece. But the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, and the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, according to lottery officials. Tickets for the game are sold in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Christmas shooting at Phoenix airport leaves 3 people wounded, 1 stabbed PHOENIX (AP) — Police are investigating a Christmas shooting at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix that left three people wounded by gunfire and another person stabbed. Phoenix police say the evening shooting was related to a family dispute that happened at a restaurant outside the security checkpoints in Terminal 4. An adult female and two adult males were shot, leaving the female with injuries police describe as life-threatening. Police say the two men were in stable condition. Police say the people involved knew each other. They had a physical fight that led to one of them pulling a gun. A man and a girl were detained in a nearby parking garage. Oregon house cat died after eating pet food that tested positive for bird flu PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon authorities say a house cat died after eating raw frozen pet food that tested positive for bird flu. The Oregon Department of Agriculture says the indoor cat contracted the H5N1 virus by eating the pet food. In response, Oregon-based pet food company Northwest Naturals has recalled one batch of its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food. The company says the product was sold nationwide through distributors in a dozen states, and in Canada's British Columbia. Oregon authorities say no human cases of bird flu have been linked to this incident, but that those who were in contact with the cat are being monitored for flu symptoms. Beyoncé's performance highlighted Netflix's NFL debut on Christmas Day Beyoncé provided more excitement than either game during Netflix’s NFL debut on Christmas Day. Riding into her halftime appearance on a white horse, the 32-time Grammy winner rocked her hometown Houston crowd in a nearly 13-minute performance on Wednesday. She surprised fans by bringing out Shaboozey to perform “Sweet Honey Buckiin” and Post Malone joined her for “Levii’s Jeans.” The action on the field didn’t live up to expectations as the NFL showcased four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce exposed a glitch in Pittsburgh’s defense during Kansas City’s 29-10 rout in the first game. The broadcast itself went off just fine. Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79 PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — Former Surinamese dictator Desi Bouterse has died at 79. He was a military strongman who led a 1980 coup in the former Dutch colony and then returned to power by election three decades later despite charges of drug smuggling and murder. Surinamese Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk wrote on Facebook Wednesday that Bouterse’s “life had a lasting impact on our country and his efforts will not be forgotten.” The cause of death was not immediately known. Bouterse was applauded by supporters for his charisma and populist social programs. For his opponents, he was a ruthless dictator who was convicted of drug trafficking and extrajudicial killings.