Former Boise State coach Chris Petersen still gets asked about the Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma on the first day of 2007. That game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. “Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things,” Petersen said. “But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win.” Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. “They just needed consistency of leadership,” said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. “This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level.” But Koetter referred to “an unfortunate chain of events” that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. “One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program,” Koetter said. “Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here.” But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. “As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they’ve pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint,” Koetter said. “So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure.” Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. “I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada,” Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. “That team would've done some damage.” There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal . Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship . Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal . Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy . “Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here,” Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It’s because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven’t been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, ‘We’re going to get that done.’ They went to work.” As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. “It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, ‘Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,’” Petersen said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
India News | AAP MLA, Minister Lead Registration Drive for 'Mahila Samman', 'Sanjeevani' SchemesThe Los Angeles Rams are flying high, but they could be flying even higher with this new addition should it lead to a reunion. The Los Angeles Rams are flying high. Despite starting 1-3, Matthew Stafford has willed his way back into the NFC West race, pulling even with Geno Smith. It has been far from perfect in a season in which few predictions for Stafford have gone as planned . Stafford hasn’t been quite at the level of the best in the NFC , but if he plays as well down the stretch as he did against the Buffalo Bills, Stafford can win it all. The Seattle Seahawks stand in the way and with a game left between the two, things could not be much more stressful for Rams fans. However, some rumblings have started that could give the team the perfect boost they need. Rich Eisen on Aaron Donald Speaking on a December 13 edition of “The Rich Eisen Show,” NFL analyst Rich Eisen suggested Les Snead should consider giving Aaron Donald a call. Then, after suggesting, he went all-in. He said: “I’m just throwing out there. This is red meat. This is total. Just stirring it up because while Les did say, hey, we make the playoffs anyways, maybe we just call up Aaron Donald and you know. “You know. There are some people with the Rams who are thinking this. Somebody better call Aaron. Let’s do it,” he said. Donald has been retired since the end of the 2023 season. While still recent enough to keep him in good health, it is a question of whether he could get into football shape and if the Rams can be relevant enough to get him back in the building. Of course, nothing has happened officially at the time of writing. Aaron Donald’s career production Considered by many to be the best defensive player in the NFL in the 2010s, Donald remained active as a member of the defensive line well into the 2020s. In total, the pass rusher accrued 111 sacks in his career, per Pro Football Reference. He also had a run at the most sacks earned in a single season, earning 20.5 in 2018. Donald played in two Super Bowls, winning one. As such, he knows a thing or two about how to get into the championship. The question is whether he has any last drops left in the tank. This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.Vikings will be without cornerback Stephon Gilmore against Falcons
PV Sindhu married Venkata Datta Sai in a grand Telugu wedding in Udaipur. Check out the stunning wedding pics capturing their magical celebration and heartfelt moments. New Delhi: Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu tied the knot with Venkata Datta Sai in a traditional Telugu-style wedding ceremony on December 22, Sunday in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The wedding was attended by family and close ones, who witnessed the star couple exchange vows in the magical city. Sindhu looked elegant in a cream-coloured saree during the wedding, while Datta Sai complimented her perfectly in a cream sherwani. After being tied in the wedlock, the couple returned to Hyderabad on Monday and hosted a grand reception in Hyderabad a day later on Tuesday, December 24. The reception was attended by the extended families of the pair and their friends. PV Sindhu Shares Stunning Wedding Photos While the first picture of the wedding was out on Monday, Sindhu shared more magical moments from her wedding through some dreamy pictures on her X (formerly Twitter) handle. The pictures allowed fans to have a closer look at the glorious moments from the wedding. On Monday, Sai and Sindhu were caught by the cameras exiting the Hyderabad airport following their arrival from Udaipur. Sindhu looked pretty in a traditional salwar suit while Sai was dressed in a white kurta pyjama and a purple Nehru Jacket. While the wedding festivities ended on Tuesday with the reception, the pre-wedding celebrations had started in Hyderabad well before the wedding on December 20 with the Sangeet, Haldi, Pellikuthuru and Mehendi ceremonies. Sindhu and Sai: A match made in heaven Sindhu and Sai families have known each other for quite a long time. Venkata, a Hyderabad-based entrepreneur, is the Executive Director of Posidex Technologies. Despite being a successful entrepreneur, Sai maintains a low profile and is known for his reserved nature. Meanwhile, Sindhu, a ferocious fighter on the court, would aim to carry the momentum of the Syed Modi India International badminton tournament title victory into 2025. Sindhu won her first BWF title in two years in Lucknow on December 1. Click for more latest Others Sports news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Awestruck and inspired by sports since childhood, I was fortunate enough to earn a living by joining the sports media industry in 2007. It's been a rollercoaster of a ride ever since. Just like a Bollywood movie, my professional journey, which began 15 years ago, is filled with both happy and sad moments all along with unexpected twists. A cricket buff and football fanatic, I am one of those who love an underdog story. I have had working stints with some of the most prominent media organisations in the country including Zee Sports, Ten Sports, ESPN, NDTV.Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing
Idaho lawmakers look toward anti-DEI legislation, accreditation standardsForgotten Chelsea star could hand Enzo Maresca huge boost in title bid this weekend... without even playing for BluesGENEVA (AP) — World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time Tuesday, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start. Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a separate deal for a second event also being played in the United States, two days before the group-stage draw in Miami for the revamped 32-team club event . It features recent European champions Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. “FIFA is going to take America by storm and we’re going to be right at their side,” the bank’s head of marketing, David Tyrie, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Bank of America joins 2026 World Cup sponsors Hisense and Budweiser brewer AB InBev in separately also backing the club event, and more deals are expected after Saudi Arabia is confirmed next week as the 2034 World Cup host. While games at the next World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, will be watched by hundreds of millions globally mostly on free-to-air public networks, the Club World Cup broadcast picture is unclear. FIFA has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the 32 clubs to share but is yet to announce any broadcast deals for the month-long tournament. It is expected to land on a streaming service. “You have to think about how you are going to connect with these fans,” Tyrie told the Associated Press from Boston. “TV is one, sure, social media is a big avenue. “The smart marketing capabilities are able to say ‘Hey, we need to tilt this one a little bit more away from TV-type marketing into social-type marketing.’ We have got a pretty decent strategy that we’re putting in place to do activation.” Engaging Bank of America’s customers and 250,000 employees are key to that strategy, Tyrie said. “It’s going to be for our clients, and entertainment, it’s going to be for our employees in creating excitement. All of the above.” The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, and Lumen Field where the hometown Seattle Sounders play three group-stage games. European powers Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munich lead a 12-strong European challenge. Teams qualified by winning continental titles or posting consistently good results across four years of those competitions. The exception is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who FIFA gave the entry reserved for a host nation team in October based on regular season record without waiting for the MLS Cup final. LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls playing for that national title Saturday. Messi’s team opens the FIFA tournament June 15 in the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will play its three group games in Florida. “The more brand players you bring in, the bigger the following you have got,” Tyrie acknowledged, though adding Messi being involved was “not a make or break for the event.” The Club World Cup final is July 13 at Met Life Stadium near New York, which also will host the World Cup final one year later. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNew shoplifting data explains why they’re locking up the toothpaste
47 fun events happening in Tucson this weekendConservationists eager for plan to save rare eastern wolf in Quebec, Ontario
Syrian government forces have lost control of Daraa city, a war monitor said, in another stunning blow for President Bashar al-Assad's rule after rebels wrested other key cities from his grip. Daraa was dubbed "the cradle of the revolution" early in Syria's civil war, after activists accused the government of detaining and torturing a group of boys for scribbling anti-Assad graffiti on their school walls in 2011. While Aleppo and Hama, the two other main cities taken from government control in recent days, fell to an Islamist-led rebel alliance, Daraa fell to local armed groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Local factions have taken control of more areas in Daraa province, including Daraa city... they now control more than 90 percent of the province, as regime forces successively pulled out," the Britain-based Observatory said late Friday, which relies on a network of sources around Syria. Daraa province borders Jordan. Despite a truce brokered by Assad ally Russia, it has been plagued by unrest in recent years, with frequent attacks, clashes and assassinations. Syria's civil war, which began with Assad's crackdown on democracy protests, has killed more than 500,000 people and forced more than half the population to flee their homes. Never in the war had Assad's forces lost control of so many key cities in such a short space of time. Since a rebel alliance led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched its offensive on November 27, the government has lost second city Aleppo and subsequently Hama in central Syria. The rebels were on Friday at the gates of Homs, Syria's third city, as the government pulled out its troops from Deir Ezzor in the east to redeploy towards to the centre. In an interview published on Friday, the leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, said the aim of the offensive was to overthrow Assad. "When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime. It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal," Jolani told CNN. HTS is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda. Proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Western governments, it has sought to soften its image in recent years. According to Fabrice Balanche, a lecturer at France's Lumiere Lyon 2 university, HTS now controls 20,000 square kilometres (more than 7,700 square miles) of territory, nearly seven times as much as it did before the offensive started. As the army and its Iran-backed militia allies pulled out of Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, Kurdish-led forces said they crossed the Euphrates and took control of the territory that had been vacated. The Observatory said government troops and their allies withdrew "suddenly" from the east and headed towards the oasis town of Palmyra on the desert road to Homs. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, who are backed by the United States, expressed readiness for dialogue with both Turkey and the rebels, saying the offensive heralded a "new" political reality for Syria. The rebels launched their offensive the same day a ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon in the war between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese militant group has been an important Assad ally, alongside Russia and Iran. Turkey, which has backed the opposition, said it would hold talks with Russia and Iran in Qatar this weekend. Ahead of the talks, the top diplomats of Iran, Iraq and Syria met in Baghdad, where Syria's Bassam al-Sabbagh accused the government's enemies of seeking to "redraw the political map". Iran's Abbas Araghchi pledged to provide Assad's government with "whatever (support) is needed". In Homs, scene of some of the war's deadliest violence, tens of thousands of members of Assad's Alawite minority were fleeing, fearing the rebels' advance, residents and the Britain-based Observatory said. Syrians who were forced out of the country years ago by the initial crackdown on the revolt were glued to their phones as they watched current developments unfold. "We've been dreaming of this for more than a decade," said Yazan, a 39-year-old former activist who now lives in France. Asked whether he was worried about HTS's Islamist agenda, he said: "It doesn't matter to me who is conducting this. The devil himself could be behind it. What people care about is who is going to liberate the country." On the other side of the sectarian divide, Haidar, 37, who lives in an Alawite-majority neighbourhood, told AFP by telephone that "fear is the umbrella that covers Homs now". The army shelled the advancing rebels as Syrian and Russian aircraft struck from the skies. At least 20 civilians, including five children, were killed in the bombardment, the war monitor added. At least 826 people, mostly combatants but also including 111 civilians, have been killed since the offensive began last week, according to the Observatory's figures, while the United Nations said the violence has displaced 280,000 people. Many of the scenes witnessed in recent days would have been unimaginable earlier in the war. In Hama, an AFP photographer saw residents set fire to a giant poster of Assad on the facade of city hall. "Our joy is indescribable, and we wish this for every honourable Syrian to experience these happy moments that we have been deprived of since birth," said Hama resident Ghiath Suleiman. Online footage verified by AFP showed residents toppling a statue of Assad's father Hafez, under whose brutal rule the army carried out a massacre in the city in the 1980s. Aron Lund, a fellow of the Century International think tank, called the loss of Hama "a massive, massive blow to the Syrian government". Should Assad lose Homs, it wouldn't mean the end of his rule, Lund said, but "with no secure route from Damascus to the coast, I'd say it's over as a credible state entity". bur-ser/rscTexans get visit from longtime foe Derrick Henry when the Ravens visit on Christmas DayPORTLAND, Ore. — San Antonio veteran guard Chris Paul was ejected from the Spurs' game at Portland on Friday night after getting his second technical foul. Paul left the game when he earned his second tech with 1:03 left in the first quarter, just 11 seconds after his first. It was unclear why Paul was tossed. Paul, who was averaging 10.2 points per game and 8.5 assists, had five points, four rebounds and four assists when he was ejected. The Spurs went into the game with just 11 players available. Stephon Castle, averaging 12.1 points, was out for the first time this season because of a bruised left shoulder. Also unavailable were Zach Collins (bruised lower back), Keldon Johnson (left calf strain) and Tre Jones (sprained left shoulder) were also ruled out.Texans get visit from longtime foe Derrick Henry when the Ravens visit on Christmas Day
Coming off what was likely a week's worth of intense practices, No. 10 Kansas returns home for a matchup with North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks (7-2) lost back-to-back games versus unranked opponents, the first time in school history that they have done that while ranked No. 1. Now they have to regroup to face the Wolfpack (7-3). Kansas lost its first two games of the season emphatically: 76-63 at Creighton on Dec. 4 and 76-67 at Missouri last Sunday. Coach Bill Self, who has only lost three straight games four times in his 21-year career at Kansas, was pretty succinct about his team's play following the loss to Missouri. "I think it was probably a combination of them being good and us not being good," he said. "I don't know that I could give them 100 percent credit, but that's what happens in sports. When the other team is doing things to hurt you, and you don't attack it well, they guard you the same way. "A lot of times you just roll it straight because of just not being as prepared or ready. I think it was a combination of both. I would err on the side of giving them more credit, because if I just say we sucked, that would take credit from them. We did suck, but it was in large part them." The Jayhawks still have a balanced and experienced attack, led by seniors Hunter Dickinson (15.0 points per game), Zeke Mayo (10.9), Dajuan Harris Jr. (10.7) and KJ Adams Jr. (9.8). Their biggest problem against Missouri was the 22 turnovers. "It's been a crap week for all of us," Self said on his weekly radio show Tuesday. "But hopefully we get an opportunity to bounce back. "I'm not going to make any excuses. If you don't perform the way we didn't perform, there certainly can be some valuable things to learn from that hopefully will give us a chance to win the war and not just the battle." NC State has won back-to-back games, including the ACC opener against Florida State on Dec. 7. In their last game, the Wolfpack handled Coppin State 66-56 on Tuesday. That's not to say NC State coach Kevin Keatts was impressed. "I thought we did a terrible job at the end of shot clocks when they were going to take a bunch of bad shots but we fouled them," Keatts said. "That being said, you can learn a lot from a win instead of a loss. "We compete hard every day, and our energy is always high. With this group, I'm trying to get everyone to be consistent." The Wolfpack has a trio of double-digit scorers, led by Marcus Hill (13.0 ppg). Jayden Taylor adds 12.5 and Dontrez Styles chips in 10.6. Ben Middlebrooks (9.2) and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (8.7) round out the top five. Huntley-Hatfield (5.6 rebounds per game) and Styles (4.6) also lead a balanced rebounding attack. The Jayhawks have won 12 straight games in the series with North Carolina State. --Field Level MediaThe Vikings have prepared for the game against the Atlanta Falcons without veteran quarterback Stephon Gilmore this week, and on Friday he was officially ruled out ahead of the matchup on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. The news isn’t surprising given the fact that Gilmore hasn’t practiced at all this week at TCO Performance Center. He’s been nursing a hamstring injury since last week when he left a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Though the Vikings believe that Gilmore has avoided anything serious, they are clearly being cautious with him so not to make anything worse. The loss of Gilmore in the short term will thrust veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau into a bigger role on defense.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 6, 2024 / New to The Street, the renowned financial and business television program, is excited to announce the premiere of Episode 614, airing tonight on Bloomberg Television at 9:30 PM PST. This episode features an exclusive interview with Sebastian Heinz, CEO of HPB High Performance Battery AG, alongside other groundbreaking companies: Banzai, PillSafe, The Sustainable Green Team (SGTM), Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF), and PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PETV). Episode Highlights HPB High Performance Battery AG HPB, a leader in solid-state battery innovation, is at the forefront of transforming energy storage with its groundbreaking technology. CEO Sebastian Heinz discusses the company's journey, unique production process, and vision for sustainable energy solutions. Banzai A leader in digital engagement, Banzai helps organizations connect with their audiences through innovative solutions for webinars, virtual events, and marketing. CEO Joe Davy highlights Banzai's Curate platform, which automates content creation and drives lead generation. PillSafe PillSafe is revolutionizing pharmaceutical care with "smart" technology that ensures secure medication delivery and patient compliance, addressing challenges like the opioid epidemic. The Sustainable Green Team (SGTM) SGTM leads the charge in environmentally sustainable practices, offering eco-friendly recycling, mulching, and other green solutions that contribute to a circular economy. Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB: SWISF) Sekur delivers Swiss-hosted cybersecurity solutions, including encrypted email and messaging platforms, ensuring data privacy for consumers, businesses, and governments worldwide. PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETV) PetVivo introduces SPRYNGTM with OsteoCushionTM Technology, a groundbreaking injectable device for managing osteoarthritis and joint ailments in companion animals. CEO John Lai discusses its adoption in veterinary practices across the U.S. Where to Watch Catch New to The Street Episode 614 on Bloomberg Television: About Us About HPB (High Performance Battery): High Performance Battery Technology GmbH is a young company specializing in the research and development of a new generation of batteries with outstanding properties. The HPB Solid-State Battery is characterized by its non-flammability, extreme durability, and significantly improved environmental properties - and is already ready for series production thanks to an innovative production process. High Performance Battery Technology GmbH, based in Bonn, Germany, is a wholly owned subsidiary of High Performance Battery Holding AG, based in Teufen, Switzerland. Visit highperformancebattery.ch . About Banzai: Founded in 2016, Banzai empowers marketers with easy-to-use tools that connect them with their audiences, simplify event marketing, and foster meaningful relationships. Visit www.banzai.io . About PillSafe: PillSafe is a pioneering "smart" technology that shifts the standard of care in the pharmaceutical industry with home delivery and patient compliance in response to the opioid epidemic. The company creates prescription compliance by restricting access to medication to only the patient, keeping medication safe from divergence and abuse. Learn more at www.pillsafe.com . About Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (OTC: SGTM) ($SGTM): Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (OTC+: SGTM) ($SGTM) is a leading company in climate-reversing technologies and a provider of sustainable solutions to improve environmental health, promote sustainable practices, and deliver eco-friendly products and services. Learn more at thesustainablegreenteam.com . About Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB: SWISF): Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a cybersecurity and internet privacy provider offering Swiss-hosted solutions for secure communications and data management. Learn more at www.sekur.com . About PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETV): PetVivo is a biomedical device company focused on the manufacturing, commercialization, and licensing of innovative medical devices for companion animals. Their flagship product, SPRYNGTM with OsteoCushionTM Technology, is transforming the treatment of osteoarthritis in pets. Visit www.petvivo.com . About New to The Street: New to The Street is a premier media platform showcasing innovative businesses and industry leaders through its national broadcasts as sponsored programming on Bloomberg Television and Fox Business. The program blends comprehensive interviews, earned media placements, and impactful outdoor billboard programs, including iconic locations like Times Square. With over 1.9 million loyal YouTube subscribers, New to The Street provides unparalleled visibility for featured companies. Visit www.newtothestreet.com . Media Contact Monica Brennan Media Relations, New to The Street Monica@NewToTheStreet.com Stay Tuned for Opportunities to ConsiderTM SOURCE: New to The Street View the original on accesswire.com
GENEVA (AP) — World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time Tuesday, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start. Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a separate deal for a second event also being played in the United States, two days before the for the . It features recent European champions Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. “FIFA is going to take America by storm and we’re going to be right at their side,” the bank’s head of marketing, David Tyrie, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Bank of America joins 2026 World Cup sponsors Hisense and in separately also backing the club event, and more deals are expected after as the 2034 World Cup host. While games at the next World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, will be watched by hundreds of millions globally mostly on free-to-air public networks, the Club World Cup broadcast picture is unclear. FIFA has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the 32 clubs to share but is yet to announce any broadcast deals for the month-long tournament. It is expected to land on a streaming service. “You have to think about how you are going to connect with these fans,” Tyrie told the Associated Press from Boston. “TV is one, sure, social media is a big avenue. “The smart marketing capabilities are able to say ‘Hey, we need to tilt this one a little bit more away from TV-type marketing into social-type marketing.’ We have got a pretty decent strategy that we’re putting in place to do activation.” Engaging Bank of America’s customers and 250,000 employees are key to that strategy, Tyrie said. “It’s going to be for our clients, and entertainment, it’s going to be for our employees in creating excitement. All of the above.” The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, and Lumen Field where the hometown Seattle Sounders play three group-stage games. European powers Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munich lead a 12-strong European challenge. Teams qualified by winning continental titles or across four years of those competitions. The exception is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who reserved for a host nation team in October based on regular season record without waiting for the MLS Cup final. LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls playing for that national title Saturday. Messi’s team opens the FIFA tournament June 15 in the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will play its three group games in Florida. “The more brand players you bring in, the bigger the following you have got,” Tyrie acknowledged, though adding Messi being involved was “not a make or break for the event.” The Club World Cup final is July 13 at Met Life Stadium near New York, which also will one year later. AP soccer:
Mayor-President-elect Sid Edwards addresses the Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge Parish at its Cafe Americain luncheon on Monday, December 10, 2024. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Sid Edwards, who will become East Baton Rouge mayor-president next month, has selected businessman Charlie Davis as his interim chief administrative officer. The CAO is the mayor's top staffer, managing relationships with the metro council and overseeing city-parish departments. Davis is the founder and CEO of Moxey, a Louisiana small business network, and a cofounder of MasteryPrep, a Baton Rouge-based company that helps underprivileged students across the country raise their ACT scores. He is the secretary of the Republican Party of Louisiana and vice president of New Schools for Baton Rouge. "Charlie loves Baton Rouge and shares my vision for building unity and improving the quality of life for every person in the parish," Edwards said in a news release. "He's going to help us to get off to a fast start and deliver results." The release says Davis will work with Edwards to "establish goals for departments and individual administrators, assess policies and staffing needs, and collaborate on financial strategies and help to analyze the city-parish government’s budget." An inauguration ceremony for Edwards is planned for 5 p.m. Jan. 2 at the River Center for the Performing Arts downtown. It is open to the public, but those planning to attend are asked to RSVP at info@winEBR.la . Doors open at 4 p.m., and a clear bag policy will be enforced.Mangaluru police arrest Kerala man allegedly involved in ‘digital arrest’ case
An award Justin Baldoni recently received for "advocating on behalf of women and girls" was rescinded, in the midst of Blake Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit against him . The actor was initially honored with the Voices of Solidarity Award on December 9 by Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women leaders. On Monday, December 23, the organization released a statement on their website that they were taking back the award. "The Voices of Solidarity Award honors remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls. On Dec. 9, 2024, we recognized Justin Baldoni with this award. On Saturday, Dec. 21, we learned through news reports about a lawsuit brought by Blake Lively against Mr. Baldoni, his publicists, and others that is disturbing and alleges abhorrent conduct ," Vital Voices said. Justin Baldoni's PR and legal team claim texts in Blake Lively's lawsuit lack 'critical context' Justin Baldoni allegedly shared intimate details of his wife on set of It Ends With Us "The communications among Mr. Baldoni and his publicists included in the lawsuit — and the PR effort they indicate — are, alone, contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award. We have notified Mr. Baldoni that we have rescinded this award," they added. This comes as Blake filed a complaint against Justin accusing him of sexual harassment as well as a toxic work environment on the set of It Ends With Us and a targeted smear campaign against her on social media after the film's release to damage her reputation. Blake alleged that Justin's actions caused her and her family "severe emotional harm." Justin has denied the allegations and his lawyer Bryan Freedman said Blake's lawsuit was "shameful" and full of "categorically false accusations." Before the lawsuit, there had been rumors during the promo tour of the film that Justin and Blake did not get along on set. The rumors increased when Blake and Justin were not publicly seen doing press together and stayed away from each other at the New York City premiere. The two starred as leads and romantic love interests in the film adaption of Colleen Hoover's book of the same name. Justin was also the director. Following the news of Blake's lawsuit, Justin's talent agency, WME, dropped him. The Gossip Girl alum has also been met with support from Colleen, Amber Heard, Amy Schumer, Paul Feig, Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Ricci and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars (America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn). DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.Spending Christmas alone this year? How to make the most of itGisèle Benoit still gets goosebumps when she remembers the first time she saw a family of eastern wolves emerge from the forests of the Mauricie National Park, under the backdrop of a rising moon. It was 1984 and Benoit, then in her early 20s, had been using a horn to try to call a bull moose when she instead heard a long howl, followed by an adult wolf stepping out to a rocky shore accompanied by a half-grown youth and four pups. “I will never forget that,” she said of the magical moment. “It’s anchored in my heart forever.” It was only later that Benoit, an artist and documentary filmmaker, learned that the wolves she saw weren’t grey wolves but rather rare eastern wolves. The species, whose population is estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature adults, could soon be further protected by new measures that are raising hopes among conservationists that attitudes toward a once-feared and maligned animal are shifting. In July, the federal government upgraded the eastern wolf’s threat level from “status of special concern” to “threatened,” based on a 2015 report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. That report found the population count may be as low as 236 mature individuals in its central Ontario and southern Quebec habitat. The eastern wolf is described as medium-sized canid with reddish-tawny fur that lives in family groups of a breeding pair and their offspring. Also known as the Algonquin wolf, it is largely restricted to existing protected areas, including Algonquin Park in Ontario. The federal Environment Department said in an email that development of a recovery strategy is underway, adding it would be “written in collaboration with provincial governments, federal departments responsible for the federal lands where the eastern wolf is found as well as First Nations groups and Indigenous organizations.” The order triggers protection for the species on federal lands and forces Ottawa to prepare a recovery plan. However, the fight for protection could be an uphill battle in Quebec, which does not even recognize the eastern wolf as a distinct species. A spokesperson for Quebec’s Environment Department said Quebec considers the eastern wolf a “genetic group” rather than its own species. “Recent study shows that the eastern wolf is a distinct entity, even if it comes from several crosses between the grey wolf and the coyote,” Daniel Labonté wrote in an email. “However, scientific knowledge does not demonstrate that this genetic grouping constitutes a species in its own right.” Labonté added that this lack of recognition was not a barrier to protecting the animal, since the law also allows for protection of subspecies or wildlife populations. In October, Quebec launched a program to collect samples to improve knowledge on the distribution of large canines, including the eastern wolf. The government said it is currently “impossible to assert that there is an established population” in Quebec due to low numbers — amounting to three per cent of analyzed samples — and the “strong hybridization that exists among large canids.” Véronique Armstrong, co-founder of a Quebec wildlife protection association, says she’s feeling positive about both the Canadian and Quebec governments’ attitudes. While wolves were once “stigmatized, even persecuted,” she said, “we seem to be heading in the direction of more protection.” Her group, the Association québécoise pour la protection et l’observation de la faune, has submitted a proposal for a conservation area to protect southern Quebec wolves that has already received signs of support from three of the regional municipalities that would be covered, she said. While it’s far from settled, she’s hopeful that the battle to protect wolves might be easier than for some other species, such as caribou, because the wolves are adaptable and can tolerate some human activity, including forestry. John Theberge, a retired professor of ecology and conservation biology from the University of Waterloo and a wolf researcher, spent several years along with his wife studying and radio-collaring eastern wolves around Algonquin Park. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, they faced a “huge political battle” to try to expand wolf protection outside park boundaries after realizing that the far-ranging animals were being hunted and trapped in large numbers once they left the protected lands. Conservationists, he said, faced resistance from powerful hunter and trapper lobbies opposed to protecting the animals but in the end succeeded in permanently closing the zones outside the park to hunting and trapping in 2004. Theberge says people who want to save wolves today still face some of that same opposition — especially when governments including Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia kill wolves to protect endangered caribou. But he believes the public support for protecting wolves has increased from when his career began in the 1960s, when they were treated with fear and suspicion. “Nobody wore T-shirts with wolves on them back then,” he said. Over the years, there have been questions about whether the eastern wolf may be a grey wolf subspecies or a coyote-wolf hybrid. But in the order protecting the wolves, the federal government says genetic analyses have resolved that debate, showing that it is a “distinct species.” Benoit, Theberge and Armstrong all believe that while it’s important to protect the eastern wolf from a genetic diversity perspective, there is value in protecting all wolves, regardless of their DNA. Wolves, they say, are an umbrella species, meaning that protecting them helps protect a variety of other species. They kill off weak and sick animals, ensuring strong populations. They’re also “highly developed, sentient social species, with a division of labour, and strong family alliances,” Theberge said. Benoit agrees. After years spent watching wolves, she has developed great respect for how they live in close-knit families, with older offspring helping raise new pups. “It’s extraordinary to see how their way of life is a little like humans’,” she said.
State lawmakers return to Concord Wednesday to be sworn in and elect new leaders. Republican Sen. Sharon Carson of Londonderry is all but guaranteed to win election as the next president of the New Hampshire Senate, where Republicans will hold a 16-8 majority in the next session. But who will be the next speaker of the 400-member New Hampshire House is a little more up in the air. Incumbent House Speaker Sherman Packard, a Republican who has represented Londonderry in the legislature since 1990, is seeking a third term leading the House. House Democratic leader Alexis Simpson of Exeter is also running. But Packard also faces a challenger from a fellow Republican: Rep. Kim Rice, of Hudson. Rice is returning to the State House after stepping away from the Legislature in 2022. At the time, Rice held the title of House Speaker Pro Tempore, the third ranking job in the Legislature, which Packard had given her. But Rice’s relationship with Packard, and with Majority Leader Jason Osborne, frayed after she opposed a controversial parental rights bill backed by most Republicans in 2022. After leaving the Legislature, Rice played a prominent role in the presidential campaign of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. Rice isn’t commenting on her efforts to win election as speaker, but she and her allies have been reaching out to lawmakers in both parties looking for support. Rice faces an uphill battle, and her fortunes will hinge on whether she can build a bipartisan coalition. That’s been the recipe in the past when Republican-led legislatures have chosen speakers who weren’t the first choice of the Republican caucus. After this year’s elections, Republicans hold a 42-seat advantage in the House. So for Rice, success will require persuading some Republicans to break with Packard and getting House Democrats to back her as a bloc. It could be a tall order: Packard isn’t much of a lightning rod within the House. And it's far from clear if the House still contains many of the kind Republicans Rice needs — moderates game to buck the will of the rest of the caucus — in real numbers. The other votes lawmakers are slated to take Wednesday, for Secretary of State and treasurer, will be far more straightforward. Secretary of State David Scanlan, who has held his job since 2022, is seeking his third term. Treasurer Monica Mezzepelle is also seeking reelection. Both are running unopposed.
The Vikings have prepared for the game against the Atlanta Falcons without veteran quarterback Stephon Gilmore this week, and on Friday he was officially ruled out ahead of the matchup on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. ADVERTISEMENT The news isn’t surprising given the fact that Gilmore hasn’t practiced at all this week at TCO Performance Center. He’s been nursing a hamstring injury since last week when he left a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Though the Vikings believe that Gilmore has avoided anything serious, they are clearly being cautious with him so not to make anything worse. The loss of Gilmore in the short term will thrust veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau into a bigger role on defense. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Trump names David Sacks as White House AI and crypto czar