Collingwood will head into next season with 10 players on their list over 30 – two more than any other team, and with Scott Pendlebury leading the age bracket at 37. When the Pies won the flag in 2023, the team contained eight players over 30; the 2024 premiership Lions had six players aged above 30 and Geelong defied the critics to win the flag in 2022 with seven players aged above 30. The ultra-consistent Magpie Jack Crisp shows no signs of slowing down as he charges into his 30s. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images But three of this year’s preliminary finalists – Geelong, the Lions and the Sydney – are the only other teams to have more than six players aged above 30 on their list. Premiership midfielder Jack Crisp, one of the 10 over-30s in Collingwood’s team, says age is just a number. At 31, the dual best and fairest winner is the ninth-oldest player on the Magpies list as the club goes all in with their veterans to win next year’s flag after injury and form derailed this year’s campaign. Though he’s over 30, Crisp is hardly a concern. He has not missed a game in 10 seasons at the Magpies to draw his consecutive games tally to 237. He is now just seven games shy of the league record, held by Melbourne legend Jim Stynes who played 244 consecutive games from 1987-1998. He finished fourth in the club best and fairest in 2024 and could break Stynes’ record against Geelong in round eight. The midfielder was speaking at Kingston Heath, where he played on Sunday ahead of the Australian Open that starts on Thursday. “Times have changed now. Blokes are really professional and look after their body and if they can keep playing at the high level, why do they have to retire?” Crisp said. It’s the question the Magpies have had to ponder as they chased Port Adelaide’s All-Australian defender Dan Houston in the trade period, giving up a first-round pick from this year and the next year in the process.Maura Higgins’ mum ‘in shock after daughter makes raunchy sex confession on I’m A Celebrity’
FLY to a remote Caribbean island, flop on a sun lounger and rotate like a rotisserie chicken for a week until you’re perfectly golden. If that’s your idea of a dream holiday then you can take your pick of Antigua , St Lucia or Barbados. 8 Castara Bay is a paradise nestled in rainforest Credit: Natalie Kriwy 8 Splash out at the waterfall on Gilpin Trail Credit: Getty 8 The hillside heaven with stunning views at Castara Retreats Credit: Alexa Fernando @ajfernando 8 Sea the sights and explore 75 miles of coastline by bike Credit: Supplied But if you want a little more, try Tobago . This hidden gem boasts the same soft, white sand, clear blue waters and tropical rainforests as its Caribbean counterparts. And while there’s still a handful of high-end resorts, glamorous nightlife and shops, the island prides itself on its natural beauty, history and wildlife. As the rainy season reaches an end in December, the flora and fauna come alive, and January and February are some of the best times to spot local wildlife on both land and sea. Read More on Travel GETTING WARMER Best winter sun destinations that are less than six hours from the UK TAKING OFF Virgin Atlantic restarts popular long-haul flight - the first time in six years You can witness the island’s white-tailed hummingbirds take to the air or watch as newly hatched baby leatherback turtles make their way to the sea. Tobago remains a mostly untouched, unspoilt island, with almost 10,000 acres of rainforest and 75 miles of coastline, along with dozens of beaches, ranging from soft white to volcanic black. The many picturesque bays to explore include Pirate’s Bay — the supposed favourite of the legendary Blackbeard — and scuba diving heaven, Speyside. The Main Ridge Rainforest towards the north of the island is home to hummingbirds, black-throated mangos as well as other impressive wildlife, including the Brazilian black hawk, armadillos, spiders, scorpions and snakes, thankfully mostly non-poisonous. Most read in Beach holidays YOU'VE GOT TO GOZO Little known Med isle is a wonderful escape from winter woes THAI-M TO GO Thai island Brits have no idea exists is the 'prettiest in the country' HOT STUFF Winter sun destination Brits are starting to flock to has affordable TUI holidays MORE TUI ADD TUI adds more flights to winter sun hotspot named 2025 destination of the year In among the island’s coral reefs you can see thousands of tropical fish as well as stingrays, spotted dolphins and leatherback turtles. See them all on a glass- bottomed boat trip to Little Tobago, a tiny isle just off the north coast that is home to a myriad of exotic birds. New Airport opens at Caribbean island There are few roads and no cars on the island, but guides can take you along hiking trails to spot red-billed tropicbirds and the magnificent frigatebird. For more up-close animal encounters, visit Corbin Local Wildlife in the village of Mason Hall, a sanctuary working to reintroduce almost-lost species, such as the brocket deer and red squirrel, into the wild. Visit Shurland’s Nature Park or Cuffie River Retreat for a spot of lunch with the birds, or take a private tour down the Gilpin Trail’s lush jungle lanes, through waterfalls and natural pools. If the wildlife isn’t enough to entice you, there are plenty of other activities to draw you in, from learning the history of the island at Fort King George to swimming in waterfalls, or the multiple fresh-water pools at Parlatuvier Falls . Take to the water on a 40ft catamaran with Dream Catcher Marine Charters, touring bays that can only be reached by water, including tiny island No Man’s Land. From there, you can walk the Nylon Pool, a sand bank with waist-high water thought to hold mystical properties, which was named by Princess Margaret . 8 Spot thousands of tropical reef fish Credit: Tobago Media Hub 8 Mingle with the locals Credit: Alexa Fernando @ajfernando 8 Take a birdwatching tour Credit: Jad Davenport 8 You can witness the island’s white-tailed hummingbirds take to the air Credit: Getty Or head over to Healing With Horses in Buccoo to take a ride along the beach and a dip on horseback into the Caribbean sea . If there’s one thing to note about Tobago, it’s that you won’t go hungry. For the best lobster, served fresh with taro root, cassava, spiced rice and macaroni and cheese pie, stop off at Birdwatchers in Speyside. Learn how to make one of the island’s most popular dishes, curried crab and dumplings, with a cooking lesson in Miss Trim’s kitchen at Crown Point, before popping down to her beachside food hut. Sample a steak at Z’s Grill Shack, braised pork at Brown Cow, or, for a fancy dinner date night, try the rack of lamb at the Seahorse Inn, a popular spot with locals. In between meals, you can find local street food called doubles — a flatbread with a spicy chickpea curry. Astonishing views Or pop down to a local dirt oven, which can be found in most villages, for a loaf of fresh bread. Each restaurant will have its own blend of rum punch worth trying, and while there are bars dotted all over the island, locals will tell you to check out Glasgow Bar. And if you are looking to be at one with nature, Castara Retreats is a popular eco-resort famed for its wooden lodges that are built into the rainforest hillside of Castara Bay. Owned by UK-born Steve Felgate and run by his best friend, Tobagonian Derek “Porridge” Lopez, the self-catering, open-sided wooden treehouses and lodges are laid back and rustic, most with astonishing sea views. There are daily yoga classes taught in an open-plan lodge high in the forest, with teacher Juda also offering a range of massages to really get you relaxed. A restaurant and bar is also open on site, serving up homecooked meals with local ingredients courtesy of Welsh chef Julia, but guests are encouraged to enjoy breakfast at local cafe, Cheno’s. For a more traditional hotel stay, the Coco Reef resort in Crown Point on the south western coast has beachfront access and an astonishing lobby with 30ft bamboo palms, fountains and statues. Tobago offers a very different experience to many of its neighbours. Read more on the Scottish Sun COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle HITTING THE HIGH NOTES Much-loved pub named best music bar in Scotland It’s a chance to immerse yourself in an intoxicating mix of nature and adventure. If you’re on the lookout for a truly authentic Caribbean island away from the glitz and glamour of the more A-lister choices, Tobago is hard to beat. GO: TOBAGO GETTING THERE: British Airways flies from Gatwick with fares from £525 return. See ba.com/tobago . STAYING THERE: One-bed lodges at Castara Retreats start from £117 per night, sleeping two. See castararetreats.com . Coco Reef rooms from £198 per night. See cocoreeftobago.com . MORE INFO: See visittobago.gov.tt .
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money convictionPWHL Roundup: Charge rout Fleet, Frost edge Sirens in pre-season playPARIS: The tough-fought finance deal at UN climate negotiations was “imperfect”, the Azerbaijan COP29 leadership has admitted, seeking to blame richer countries for an outcome slammed by poorer nations as insulting. The contentious deal agreed on Sunday saw wealthy polluters agree to a $300 billion a year pledge to help developing countries reduce emissions and prepare for the increasingly dangerous impacts of a warming world. COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev conceded that the deal was insufficient to meet escalating needs and suggested that China would have agreed to stump up more cash had others agreed to budge. Writing in Britain’s Guardian newspaper on Monday he said wealthy historical emitters had been “immovable” until very late in the negotiating process. “This deal may be imperfect. It does not keep everyone happy. But it is a major step forward from the $100 billion pledged in Paris back in 2015,” he said. “It is also the deal that almost didn’t happen.” Azerbaijan, an authoritarian oil and gas exporter, came under heavy criticism for its handling of COP29, notably France and Germany. Babayev banged the deal through in the early hours of Sunday after nearly two weeks of fractious negotiations that at one point appeared on the verge of collapse. As soon as the deal was approved, India, Bolivia, Nigeria and Malawi, speaking on behalf of the 45-strong Least Developed Countries group, took to the floor to denounce it. Finance was always going to be a thorny issue for the nearly 200 nations that gathered in a sports stadium in Baku to hammer out a new target by 2035. Wealthy countries failed to meet the previous goal on time, causing cratering trust in the UN climate process. COP29 did set out a wider target of $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 to help developing nations pay for the energy transition and brace themselves for worsening climate impacts. The deal envisages that $300 billion mobilized by wealthy nations will be combined with funds from the private sector and financial institutions like the World Bank to reach this larger sum. But Babayev said he agreed with developing nations that “the industrialized world’s contribution was too low and that the private sector contribution was too theoretical”. Contrasting China’s involvement in the negotiations with that of wealthy historical emitters like the European Union and United States, he said Beijing was “willing to offer more if others did so too (but the others didn’t)”. China, the world’s second-biggest economy and top emitter of greenhouse gases, is considered a developing country in the UN process and is therefore not obliged to pay up, although it does already provide climate funding on its own terms. The new text states that developed nations would be “taking the lead” but implies that others could join. Babayev said the deal was “not enough”, but would provide a foundation to build on in the lead up to next year’s climate talks in Brazil. — AFP
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Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trollingNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
New Delhi: Delhi govt has started working on a plan to bring a new technology to block mobile signals in its three jail complexes — Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli — to prevent illegal use of phones by convicts and undertrials. Sources said various signal jamming technologies and models emerging in the market were being studied and the best possible solution that could check any illegal use of phones in jail complexes would be implemented. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads They added that the four prominent telecom companies would be asked to deploy the technology to block mobile signals. A cabinet note was likely to be prepared and brought before the council of ministers soon, a source said. According to an official, a team of officials may soon be assigned to carefully study the technology deployed in Bengaluru and Amritsar jails, apart from the call detection technique being used in some US prisons. The new technology will specifically focus on ensuring that jammers work only in jail complexes and do not block mobile signals in neighbouring residential or commercial areas. A three-member Delhi govt committee consisting of principal secretaries of home and law departments and secretary of the vigilance department, while giving a slew of suggestions in Dec 2022 to bring reforms in the city's prisons, had found that the jammers were not functional in several parts of the three Delhi jails – Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli - and had asked the director general (prisons) to review the existing system and address the problem. On the recommendation of DG (prisons), then Delhi CM had in Feb 2023 constituted a 10-member committee of officials and technical experts to find a solution to check the rampant use of mobile phones by criminals and suggest a system to be adopted to strengthen the jammer system and ensure that incoming and outgoing mobile phone calls, text messages and data services, including the 5G network, could be effectively blocked inside three prisons in the capital. Sources said traditional mobile jammers were earlier installed in Tihar and Rohini prison, but those were not effective in blocking the mobile signals and, later, became obsolete after the introduction of 4G services in the country. Subsequently, a committee of experts was formed by the central govt in June 2019, which proposed the Harmonious Call Blocking System (HCBS). Initially a pilot was successfully done in Mandoli jail and the technology was subsequently installed in the remaining two jails too. In June 2022, MHA had even advised all states to install the towers if HCBS to prevent unauthorised communication from prison complex, but later it was realised that mobile phones and SIM cards were still being regularly recovered from jail complexes, which signified that signals were available at some places at some point of time. Sources added that inputs were also received from the intelligence bureau that calls were being made by the prisoners. According to officials, the high-level committee constituted by Delhi govt held meetings with various companies that offered jamming solutions. Six companies were called to give presentations of their technologies in April 2023. A team of officers also visited the Bhatinda jail in July 2023 to see the technology being used there. The committee later concluded that all traditional jammers had almost equal capabilities in blocking the mobile signal and with the introduction of the new generation of mobile technologies, the jammer units were required to be replaced completely. "We have taken inputs from all stakeholder departments, including the high-level committee. We are having parallel discussions with the jail authorities and the best possible solution will be introduced in Delhi jails," said an official, requesting anonymity.Macy's is selling a 'soft' and 'absorbent' $54 4-piece bath towel set for only $12 thanks to Black FridayKanel Bulle/iStock via Getty Images I covered Astronics Corporation ( NASDAQ: ATRO ) a couple of days ago with a strong buy rating. Normally, I revisit stocks such as Astronics on a quarterly basis. However, the company just announced the offering of $150 million in If you want full access to all our reports, data and investing ideas, join The Aerospace Forum , the #1 aerospace, defense and airline investment research service on Seeking Alpha, with access to evoX Data Analytics, our in-house developed data analytics platform. Dhierin-Perkash Bechai is an aerospace, defense and airline analyst. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Iowa moves on without injured quarterback Brendan Sullivan when the Hawkeyes visit Maryland for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday afternoon. Former starter Cade McNamara is not ready to return from a concussion, so Iowa (6-4, 4-3) turns to former walk-on and fourth-stringer Jackson Stratton to lead the offense in College Park, Md. "Confident that he'll do a great job," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Stratton on his weekly radio show. "He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame. And he's got a good ability to throw the football, and he's learning every day. ... We'll go with him and see what we can do." Iowa had been on an upswing with Sullivan, who had sparked the Hawkeyes to convincing wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin before suffering an ankle injury in a 20-17 loss at UCLA on Nov. 8. Stratton came on in relief against the Bruins and completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards. Another storyline for Saturday is that Ferentz will be opposing his son, Brian Ferentz, an assistant at Maryland. Brian Ferentz was Iowa's offensive coordinator from 2017-23. "We've all got business to take care of on Saturday," Kirk Ferentz said. "I think his experience has been good and everything I know about it. As a parent, I'm glad he's with good people." Maryland (4-6, 1-6) needs a win to keep its hopes alive for a fourth straight bowl appearance under Mike Locksley. The Terrapins have dropped five of their last six games, all by at least 14 points, including a 31-17 loss at home to Rutgers last weekend. "It's been a challenging last few weeks to say the least," Locksley said. The challenge this week will be to stop Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who leads the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,328) and touchdowns (20), averaging 7.1 yards per carry. "With running backs, it's not always about speed. It's about power, vision and the ability to make something out of nothing," Locksley said. "This guy is a load and runs behind his pads." Maryland answers with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (285.5) and completions (268). His top target is Tai Felton, who leads the conference in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,040). --Field Level Media
Akron routs Division III-SUNY-Brockport 101-48
Pub fury as 10 popular beers to be 'banned' from pubs just in time for ChristmasKINGSTON, Jamaica- Member of Parliament for St Andrew Western, the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Anthony Hylton, has suggested sabotage while describing as an injustice, the non-completion of the proposed Penwood Road Housing Scheme in Waterhouse in his constituency. The idea for the scheme was first floated seven years ago to improve the housing stock in the community while providing more affordable housing for residents. Hylton made the charge during his contribution to the 2024/25 State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. He did not get to complete his presentation after he was shut down by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Juliet Holness, for going over time. Holness insisted she would “not grant a minute more” after Hylton’s time to speak was initially extended by five minutes to allow him to complete his presentation. Holness claimed she has been more lenient with Opposition members and was not prepared to extend such courtesies going forward. When asked by Observer Online afterwards if he was citing sabotage, Hylton said “You’re correct”. He pointed out that while the Penwood Road housing scheme has fizzled, three housing schemes have been either completed or are under construction in the neighbouring constituency of St Andrew West Central, the Prime Minister’s constituency. About the stalled Penwood development he alleged: “It is now close to seven years since the last announcement was made. Meanwhile, at least three housing schemes commenced in the nearby constituency, with at least one completed and another at a very advanced stage of development. For the Penwood Road proposed project, significant design and structural engineering work was done, and consultation held with the community residents concerning the project, involving persons making National Housing Trust contributions and others, with independent sources of income from within the community, and from relatives and friends living in the Diaspora”. Hylton outlined that after at least four rounds of meetings with the Housing Authority of Jamaica, its technical and managerial staff, “we were finally told no funds were available to implement the project as conceptualised. No alternative approaches were offered and no timeline given as to whether or if, the project would be revisited. End of story!” “I am told that this experience is not an isolated one and too often, critically needed projects, which are needed to stabilise communities like Penwood Road, are jettisoned for reasons other than their viability, and communities are left to wonder why, how come? Especially, as in this case, where the adjoining community with similar socio-economic profile is seen to be benefitting from several Government-sponsored or enabled projects,” he added. According to Hylton, “The residents of Waterhouse have drawn their own conclusion as to the nature of the injustice that has occurred in this instance. I have assured them that the next PNP administration will fix it, sooner rather than later”.With much of President Joe Biden’s student loan agenda tied up in court, the incoming Trump administration could have a significant impact on millions of borrowers. Related video above: Rossen Reports: These states have the highest student loan payments President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t made specific promises on student loans or other forms of college financial aid, but delivering student loan forgiveness isn’t a policy priority like it has been for Biden. Republicans have repeatedly challenged Biden’s efforts, and when his sweeping student loan forgiveness program was struck down by the Supreme Court last year, Trump said the proposal “would have been very unfair to the millions and millions of people who have paid their debt through hard work and diligence.” During his first term, Trump proposed ending a program that delivers student loan forgiveness to public sector workers after 10 years, and his administration tried to limit debt relief for borrowers who were misled by their colleges. Both efforts were unsuccessful, but the latter left many people waiting for years to find out if their debt relief claim would be granted. It’s possible for the Trump administration to unilaterally make some changes to the federal student loan system through a rulemaking process, but other actions — like abolishing the Department of Education, as Trump has promised to do — would require Congress to act. Here’s what student loan borrowers need to know about what’s at stake and what Trump could do: One of the first things Trump’s Department of Education may have to address is what to do with Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, repayment plan, which is currently on hold due to litigation. There are 8 million people enrolled in SAVE, and if it is struck down in court, they will have to move to a different repayment plan. A lawsuit brought by several Republican-led states argues that the president does not have the authority to implement the plan. A ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected imminently. The Trump administration could decide to rescind the repayment plan, which was created by a regulatory process. It could also decide to stop defending the plan in court. SAVE, which was launched last year, is meant to offer the most generous terms for low-income borrowers. Under the plan, some enrolled borrowers would see monthly payments as low as 5% of discretionary income. It also promises to cancel remaining student loan debt after making as few as 10 years of payments. Borrowers enrolled in SAVE are not currently required to make payments since the Department of Education put them in an interest-free forbearance due to the litigation. The department is expected to reopen two older income-driven repayment plans in December, giving borrowers the option to switch to a plan that might be more affordable than the standard, 10-year plan. Income-driven repayment plans calculate a borrower’s monthly payment based on their income and family size rather than the amount of debt they owe. In addition to lowering monthly payments, the plans promise to wipe away remaining student debt after a borrower makes a certain number of payments — usually 20 or 25 years’ worth. Project 2025, the conservative blueprint published by the Heritage Foundation, calls for creating one new income-driven repayment plan and eliminating all the others. The policy paper also favors eliminating any loan forgiveness provision in the repayment plan, but this would likely require an act of Congress. Trump has distanced himself from the 900-page playbook, but a CNN review found that at least 140 people who worked in the first Trump administration were involved in it. The Biden administration has canceled a record $175 billion of student loan debt for nearly 5 million people — largely through existing relief programs for public sector workers, disabled borrowers and people who were misled by their college. Under Biden, the Department of Education temporarily expanded eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, recounted past payments to correct administrative errors, cut red tape for disabled borrowers and chipped away at a backlog of relief applications left over from the previous Trump administration. Trump has not suggested that clawing back student loan forgiveness that was already granted is on his to-do list for his second term. It could be difficult both politically and logistically. Efforts to reverse student debt relief would be expected to face legal challenges. “If the new Trump administration attempts to reinstate discharged loans by reversing legal positions, they will be held accountable and spend much of the next four years tied up in court,” said Aaron Ament, president of the nonprofit National Student Legal Defense Network. There are some borrowers who may have been notified by the Department of Education that they have been granted debt relief, but they have yet to see the change made to their account balance. Even in that situation, there is a precedent that the forgiveness would still take effect under a new administration. “We don’t think that can be clawed back under the law. We don’t think it should be clawed back, of course, but we’re ready to defend those discharges,” said Eileen Connor, president and director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending, which represents borrowers defrauded by their colleges. Biden has made other efforts to create new programs to deliver student loan forgiveness, but none of them are currently in effect. His signature student loan forgiveness program, which would have delivered up to $20,000 of relief to millions of borrowers, was struck down by the Supreme Court last year. Since then, his Education Department has been working on implementing more targeted debt-relief programs through the regulatory process. But those proposals have not been finalized, and Trump’s new administration could decide not to move forward with implementing them. One proposal, which would cancel interest for some student loan borrowers, is already facing a Republican-led lawsuit. During Trump’s first term, he made some unsuccessful efforts to make it harder for some people to qualify for student loan forgiveness through two existing programs. His education secretary, Betsy DeVos, and many other Republicans argued against some debt relief because it transfers the cost to taxpayers, many of whom didn’t go to college. Public Service Loan Forgiveness program: PSLF was created during President George W. Bush’s administration in 2007. It cancels remaining student loan debt after a qualifying public sector worker makes 10 years’ worth of payments. During his first term, Trump called for phasing out PSLF. But since the program was created by Congress, it would have to be dissolved by Congress, and that move did not receive support in the past. Trump’s proposal would have eliminated the program for new borrowers only. Borrower defense to repayment : Trump’s first administration made attempts to limit the borrower defense to repayment program, which grants debt relief to people who were misled by their college. DeVos tried to change the rule so that eligible borrowers would receive partial relief instead of canceling the full amount of debt. She made it clear that she thought the rule was “bad policy” that put taxpayers on the hook for the cost of the debt relief without the right safeguards in place and made changes to limit its reach. The proposal was unsuccessful, but the department stopped processing borrower defense claims while fighting challenges in court. As a result, a backlog of more than 200,000 claims piled up. DeVos and the department were later found in contempt of court for continuing to collect on some of those loans while the rule was pending. The Biden administration has worked to chip away at that backlog. Trump has called for closing the Department of Education, which currently administers the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. First of all, Trump will need Congress to do away with the department, and it’s unclear if he will have the support from enough lawmakers to do so. Trump’s first administration proposed merging the Education and Labor departments, but the idea didn’t go anywhere despite Republicans having control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate at the time. It’s possible that some programs and funding could be retained and shifted to other agencies, which is where they were housed before the department was created in 1979. If that happens, Project 2025 recommends moving the federal student loan portfolio to the Department of Treasury.
Fraud Alert: Scammers Pretending to be Johnny Depp Swindle Senior Citizens
ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Devontae Blanton scored 17 points as Eastern Kentucky beat Southern Illinois 77-72 on Tuesday. Blanton also had six rebounds for the Colonels (4-2). Mayar Wol scored 14 points while going 4 of 11 from the floor, including 3 for 7 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line and added five rebounds. George Kimble III had 13 points and shot 4 for 12 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Ali Abdou Dibba led the Salukis (2-5) in scoring, finishing with 26 points. Southern Illinois also got 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals from Kennard Davis. Drew Steffe also had 10 points. Eastern Kentucky went into halftime leading Southern Illinois 48-22. Kimble scored 12 points in the half. Eastern Kentucky turned an 11-point second-half lead into an 18-point advantage with an 8-1 run to make it a 65-47 lead. Montavious Myrick scored nine second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .
AP News Summary at 3:38 p.m. ESTTORONTO — Darko Rajakovic cut straight to the chase in his pre-game news conference: yes, Scottie Barnes is back. Barnes was inserted into the Toronto Raptors starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena. He had been out since Oct. 28 with a fractured right orbital bone. "I don't want Scottie Barnes to be anything outside of Scottie Barnes," said Rajakovic in his pre-game news conference. "I just need him to be best version of himself and when he's that, he's really raising the people around him to another level. "He's making everybody around him better." Barnes was injured in the fourth quarter of Toronto's 127-125 overtime loss to the Nuggets on Oct. 28 when he caught an errant elbow from Denver centre Nikola Jokic. Barnes was expected to be out at least three weeks with the injury but came back slightly ahead of schedule. The 23-year-old all-star forward was averaging 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and six assists per game before he was hurt. Rajakovic said Barnes would play limited minutes and that he'd have to wear protective goggles. Rajakovic was coy when asked who would be moved to Toronto's bench to make space for Barnes. "Scottie will start. Who knows who won’t," laughed Rajakovic. Rookie combo guard Ja'kobe Walter was also made available for the Raptors. He had missed Toronto's last six games with a sprained right shoulder. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press