B lack Friday is still a few days away on 29 November, but stores are already dropping prices to compete for our attention and cash – and they’re offering some delectable discounts on products we’ve recommended in the Filter . The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. We cautioned against getting carried away too early in our guide to not getting ripped off in the sales , because many prices continue to fall until Cyber Monday (2 December). However, some of the most popular items can sell out even before Black Friday comes around. So, if there’s something here you’ve had your eye on, this may be your best chance to grab it for significantly less than you’d normally pay. Keep an eye on this page over the coming days, because we’ll update it with any genuine Black Friday bargains on our favourite products of the year, from Ninja air fryers and GHD hair tools to Google Pixels and video doorbells. How we selected these deals (and excluded others) We’ve looked at more than 300 different products, ranging from £2 fabric plasters to the £1,700 Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, at the Filter. Many are discounted already, but only a select few deals are genuine enough for us to endorse here. A “genuine” Black Friday deal is a discount that undercuts the item’s long-term average price by a notable amount, rather than undoing a cheeky October price hike. Ideally, it will be the lowest price of the year. We use various tools to find this out, including the brilliant browser extension the Camelizer , a free and non-affiliated tool that reveals the price history of any Amazon item. Our recommendations here have the best discounts of all the products we checked (and we checked enough to make Santa sweat). Some categories, such as heated clothes airers and women’s coats , haven’t seen much Black Friday action yet, possibly because they’re good winter sellers anyway, whereas some of the deals below got off the starting blocks days ago. The best home and garden deals The essential air fryer Ninja AF100UK, £68.89 (was £79) johnlewis.com amazon.co.uk The experts who helped us compile our university essentials guide in September – that is, students themselves – told us an air fryer is a gamechanger for today’s house-sharers because it makes light, healthy and cheap work of preparing dinner. The supremely efficient Ninja cost as much as £149 last February, so at just under £70, it’s a brilliant buy for the undergrad in your life. Premium stand mixer Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker, £299.99 (was £399) amazon.co.uk Home bakers who love hi-tech appliances and bake in large quantities would love Kenwood’s premium stand mixer, according to our writer Dale Berning Sawa in her roundup of the best stand mixers . But with a usual price tag of between £399 and £469, it’s not cheap. This sub-£300 price is now the best you’ll find online and is about 25% off the average price. Food Thermos Thermos food flask, £14.37 (was £23) amazon.co.uk £17.25 argos.co.uk Stop forking out for lunch takeouts and treat yourself or your kids to hot food every lunchtime with this fantastic Thermos, which keeps last night’s leftovers steaming hot throughout the next day. It was the Filter editor Hannah Booth’s choice for everyday products that save you money and make life easier , and it’s a design classic to boot. At less than £15, it’s now almost a tenner off, and cheaper than many lunches. Luxurious heated throw Dreamland Hurry Home heated throw, £74.99 (was £94.99) johnlewis.com amazon.co.uk The recent frosty snap made us wish we’d invested in heated throws a little sooner because they keep you warm and are cheaper to run than central heating. Still, better late than never, and here’s a great deal: Dreamland’s magnificent heated throw, which featured in everyday products that save you money and make life easier , is now £20 off. It has been discounted before, but its average price is £89 – so this deal is worth snapping up before the temperature plunges again. Handheld steamer Philips 3000 Series handheld steamer, £27 (was £37.99) amazon.co.uk £29.49 philips.co.uk Another one from our university essential guide , this steamer is useful for pretty much anyone who wears clothes. It smoothes out fabric without the need for ironing and freshens up your clothes if you haven’t the time or the inclination to give them a full wash. This is the steamer’s lowest price ever on Amazon, and Philips’s own Black Friday deal isn’t far behind. Smart baby monitor Owlet Dream Sock, £199 (was £294.99) owletbabycare.co.uk amazon.co.uk The Dream Sock may look and sound gimmicky, but it was hailed as a must-have by parents in our guide to the baby gear parents wouldn’t go without . The medically certified sock wraps comfortably around your baby’s foot and gives you real-time data on their oxygen levels and pulse. It’s not cheap, but at £199 it’s now as affordable as it’s ever been. Subscription-free video doorbell Eufy video doorbell, £94.99 (was £155.17) amazon.co.uk £114 johnlewis.com Many video doorbells require a paid subscription, but this Eufy model doesn’t, instead storing videos on the device itself. It’s one of the more expensive video doorbells you can buy, admits tech journalist Andy Shaw in our guide to the best video doorbells , but it packs in extra features such as dual cameras (one for the face, one for the parcels on your doorstep). This is its lowest ever price. Battery-operated video doorbell Aqara video doorbell G4, £83.99 (was £119.99) amazon.co.uk Here’s another multitalented model from our roundup of the best video doorbells , this time with a handy microSD slot for videos and a battery compartment that takes six AAs. Unlike rechargeable doorbells, this one never has to be charged – just pop in new batteries and it’s good to go. It’s also available from the Apple Store, but at the time of writing, it’s still £119 there. This is the lowest price on Amazon in two years. The best technology deals Best value Android Google Pixel 8a, £354.99 (was £499) johnlewis.com amazon.co.uk We’ve not seen many early deals on Apple or Samsung phones, but Google Pixels are another story. The best value pick in our roundup of the best Android phones is now even better value, dropping from its regular price of £499 to just £354.99. Our consumer technology editor Samuel Gibbs called it a top-tier phone without the high-end price and was amazed that it comes with seven years of software support from release. It’s now its lowest price ever, and £100 off its average Amazon price. Premium Pixel Google Pixel 9 Pro, £899 (was £999) johnlewis.com amazon.co.uk Google’s superb flagship is our pick for “best camera alternative” in best Android phones . This outstanding device normally costs a whisper under £1,000 and, despite this new £100 discount, it’s still one of the most expensive smartphones you can buy. But it’s also one of the best, and this price drop may be your best chance to make a saving on it. Foldable Pixel Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, £1,449 (was £1,749) google.com amazon.co.uk If you thought the Pixel Pro was pricey, avert your eyes from this absolute beast of a device that doubles as a phone and tablet in one. In best Android phones , we praised its large screen, 256GB storage and nimble performance and if you’re into AI tools, you’ll find them all here. Its usual price tag of £1,749 is hair-raising, and with £300 off it’s merely eyebrow-raising. Budget Android for kids Moto G34, £109.99 (was £149.99) argos.co.uk amazon.co.uk Mercifully we now head to the other end of the price spectrum with an Android for just over £100. Motorola’s Moto G34 featured in our roundup of the best smartphones for kids , where we liked its big battery, large screen and 5G connectivity. Importantly, it also gets security updates until 2027. The Moto G34 is normally superb value at about £150, so this price drop makes it a brilliant buy as well as a fab Christmas present. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Anker power banks Anker Nano, £26.98 (was £39.99) amazon.co.uk Anker Powercore 20100, £29.99 (was £44.99) amazon.co.uk Power banks are everyday necessities in the 2020s, so we couldn’t leave them out of our university essentials and autumn hiking roundups. Anker’s models are particularly powerful and reliable, with the 10,000mAh Nano adding a handy display that shows how much charge is left. The Powercore’s ultra-high 20,000mAh capacity lets you use power-hungry maps, GPS and video while you’re up a mountain all day. Both power banks have just fallen to their lowest price ever. The best deals on clothing and shoes The high street’s best jeans Levi’s 501 Original jeans, £50 (was £100) levi.com “The most brilliant jeans in the world,” said our fashion editor Jess Cartner-Morley of the legendary Levi’s 501s, which rode high in our list of 50 autumn wardrobe updates under £100 . This fantastic deal sees the jeans that launched a thousand (well, a few) classic 80s and 90s adverts tumble to half price. You heard it through the grapevine (well, here). Dune block heels Dune ankle strap court shoes, £36-£63 (was £90) dunelondon.com Another one from 50 autumn wardrobe updates under £100 , these fabulous and comfortable Dune shoes have dropped from £90 to various bargain prices depending on the colour you choose. The cheapest is the two-tone metallic edition, at £36, while the gorgeous burgundy is more expensive at £63 – still nearly a third off their usual price. Women’s snow boots Merrell Siren 4 Thermo boot, £111.30-£145.80 (was £180) amazon.co.uk With snow covering the country in November this year, these seriously protective Merrell boots are suddenly an essential – and we wouldn’t be surprised to see them sell out before Black Friday. Our fashion team’s guide to the best women’s footwear for autumn praised their toasty warmth, great traction and waterproof membrane, and said they’re light enough to wear all day. Prices are as low as £111.30 for the lovely tobacco colour edition. Men’s hiking boots Danner Crater Rim, £258 (was £430) danner.com It’s not often we see the very best deal offered by a brand’s own store, but Danner is an exception. The tough, heavy and incredibly durable Crater Rim boots wowed our walking boot tester Paddy Madison, but they’re normally wildly expensive at £430. This drop to £258 makes them relatively affordable. Given how many years these boots will last you, this is a genuinely good buy for keen walkers. Men’s summer hiking shoes Keen Arroyo II, £68.81 (was £110) amazon.co.uk The Keen Arroyo shoes snuck into best men’s walking boots , despite looking more like sandals, because they offer good sole protection, support and traction on rough terrain. Their description of “waterproof” made our writer chuckle, though. The shoes still cost £110 at Keen at the time of writing, but Amazon has treated the black and brown model to a welcome discount of more than £40. Soft cabin bag Eastpak Tranverz cabin-size suitcase, £91.70 (was £145) amazon.co.uk £101.50 luggagesuperstore.co.uk A soft but strong and durable cabin bag is the perfect travel companion, squishing into the carry-on allowance without damaging your stuff or bursting the bag’s stitches. Writer Liz Boulter chose this great-looking Eastpak bag for our roundup of 18 everyday essentials , and she said it’s still going strong after a decade of use. Well worth buying at its offer price, which is significantly lower than its average price of £110. The best hair and beauty deals Curling tongs ghd Curve Soft curl tong, £119 (was £159) ghdhair.com The 32mm ghd Curve Soft curl tong is a classic hair tool that – according to the stylists we interviewed about their favourite at-home hair styling tools – creates an effortless, undone look that’s not too big and bouncy. These tongs also have safety features that mean you won’t burn your carpet, or indeed your house down. Jumbo waver Beauty Works Jump waver, £45.49 (was £70) beautyworksonline.com If you’re after big, bouncy beach waves, this triple-barrel wave tong is your answer. Another pick from our at-home hair styling tools , the Jump waver sees more than a third wiped off its price by Beauty Works’ own store. Exfoliating body stick The Inkey List glycolic body stick, £11.25 (was £15) theinkeylist.com Glycolic acid is a wonder ingredient that helps to unclog pores, prevent ingrown hairs, soothe rough patches and even clear up body spots. One of our 14 best beauty buys to restore hair, skin and nails, this brilliantly easy stick was already a good price, but it now drops 30% in the Inkey List’s early Black Friday sale. Chanel body fragrance Chanel Coco Mademoiselle body mist, £36.80 (was £46) johnlewis.com In her roundup of everything she’s learned as a beauty columnist , our writer and self-confessed scent fiend Anita Bhagwandas shares an excellent tip for saving money on Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle perfume , which costs £122 for 100ml. Get the body mist instead because it’s normally a much better buy than the perfume at £46 for 100ml. And now John Lewis’s Black Friday sale pushes it down to just £36.80, an excellent deal for a premium scent. Invisible SPF stick Clarins Invisible Sun Care Stick SPF 50+, £19.20 (was £24) johnlewis.com amazon.co.uk Clarins Sun Care is reliably terrific across the range, and in our list of 11 best sunscreens for every need , our writer Sali Hughes praised this solid SPF stick for its smooth, invisible application. It also smells great and doesn’t sting your eyes. It’s not fallen to below £21.50 since May 2021, so this deal is a genuinely good chance to stock up on a high-protection invisible block that’s needed on sunny winter days every bit as much as in the summer.By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees . Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.
Why AMD (AMD) Stock Is NosedivingFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ghana's former president John Dramani Mahama is set to make a stunning political comeback after the vice president conceded defeat in the presidential election overshadowed by concerns of a burgeoning economic crisis. Former vice president Mahamudu Bawumia who was running for the top job conceded the defeat on Sunday even as no official results were declared. "The people have voted for change," said Mr Bawumia, adding "Mahama has won the presidential election decisively." Mr Mahama, 65, who has a political career spanning over three decades in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party was the country's president from 2012 to 2017. His election victory ended the governing New... Shweta SharmaTunnel & Bridge Market to Scale New Heights as Market Players Focus on Innovations 2024-2030 12-09-2024 08:35 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: AMA Research & Media LLP The latest study released on the global 'Tunnel & Bridge' market by AMA Research evaluates market size, trend, and forecast to 2030. The 'Tunnel & Bridge' market study covers significant research data and proofs to be a handy resource document for managers, analysts, industry experts and other key people to have ready-to-access and self-analyzed study to help understand market trends, growth drivers, opportunities and upcoming challenges and about the competitors. Get free access to Sample Report in PDF Version along with Graphs and Figures @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/185254-global-tunnel--bridge-market?utm_source=OpenPR/utm_medium=Rahul Some of the key players profiled in the study are: Stanley Roads (Australia), Muscat Road Construction & Civil Works LLC (Oman), PNC Infratech Limited (India), NEW ROAD Construction Management Company, Inc. (United States), Kokosing Construction Company (United States), Al HABTOOR LEIGHTON GROUP site 642 (United Arab Emirates), Sanders Brothers Construction Co (United States), Rogers Group Inc (United States), R S Audley Inc (United States) Bridge and tunnel construction for transport routes is becoming increasingly important over the globe. Tunnels are cheaper than bridges. A bridge is an overground construction and a tunnel is an underground construction. Growing Transportation activities and optimum protection is provided for the environment and landscape. Tunnels are attractive solutions for railways, roadways, public utilities, and telecommunications. Keep yourself up-to-date with latest market trends and changing dynamics due to COVID Impact and Economic Slowdown globally. Maintain a competitive edge by sizing up with available business opportunity in Tunnel & Bridge Market various segments and emerging territory. Influencing Market Trend •Increasing Transportation Activities Market Drivers •Rapidly Growing Construction Activities across the Globe Opportunities: •Rising Government Investment in Tunnel & Bridge Construction Challenges: •Government Regulations on the Tunnel & Bridge Constructors Analysis by Type (Arch Bridge, Aqueduct, Bailey bridge, Cut-and-cover Tunnel, Others), Application (Railways, Roadways, Public Utilities, Telecommunications, Others) Have Any Questions Regarding Global Tunnel & Bridge Market Report, Ask Our Experts@ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/185254-global-tunnel--bridge-market?utm_source=OpenPR/utm_medium=Rahul The regional analysis of Global Tunnel & Bridge Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world. Whereas, owing to rising no. of research activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate the forecast period 2024-2030. As per the United States Congress and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), “are committed to continuously improve the laws and regulations governing the materials, design, construction, inspection, maintenance, repair and management of highway roads, bridges and tunnels to assure public safety.†Table of Content Chapter One: Industry Overview Chapter Two: Major Segmentation (Classification, Application and etc.) Analysis Chapter Three: Production Market Analysis Chapter Four: Sales Market Analysis Chapter Five: Consumption Market Analysis Chapter Six: Production, Sales and Consumption Market Comparison Analysis Chapter Seven: Major Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Analysis Chapter Eight: Competition Analysis by Players Chapter Nine: Marketing Channel Analysis Chapter Ten: New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis Chapter Eleven: Manufacturing Cost Analysis Chapter Twelve: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Read Executive Summary and Detailed Index of full Research Study @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/185254-global-tunnel--bridge-market?utm_source=OpenPR/utm_medium=Rahul Highlights of the Report • The future prospects of the global Tunnel & Bridge market during the forecast period 2024-2030 are given in the report. • The major developmental strategies integrated by the leading players to sustain a competitive market position in the market are included in the report. • The emerging technologies that are driving the growth of the market are highlighted in the report. • The market value of the segments that are leading the market and the sub-segments are mentioned in the report. • The report studies the leading manufacturers and other players entering the global Tunnel & Bridge market. Contact Us: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA - 08837 Phone: +1(201) 7937323, +1(201) 7937193 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com About Author: AMA Research & Media is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enables clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As. This release was published on openPR.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa’s teammates have used words like “commanding” and “lights out” to describe the way he has played recently. The quarterback has had one of the best stretches of his career since in Week 8, keeping alive the playoff hopes for the Miami Dolphins. Tagovailoa threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns — including the winning TD in overtime — to lead against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Sunday. With the win, the Dolphins (6-7) have the same record as Indianapolis, and they two games back of Denver (8-5) for the final AFC wild card. “I don’t think two years ago this game occurs,” coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday of Tagovailoa. “He continues to get better. ... It’s a lot of work, and all of his work is paying off because he’s a naturally gifted quarterback, not only the skill sets but people gravitate towards him. He makes people better. That’s an incredibly important part of that position.” After an up-close look at the way Tagovailoa operates Miami’s offense by throwing with anticipation, Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich called him one of the fastest processors in the NFL. Tagovailoa’s teammates had just as much praise about his impact. “He’s been playing lights out. He’s been a great leader for this team, not only on offense but also for defense, getting those guys going,” wide receiver Tyreek Hill said. “We’ve just got to follow him, man, like follow his standard because the standard is the standard, and he’s been playing at a high level and guys around him just got to match it.” The numbers back up Hill’s words: Sunday was Tagovailoa’s third straight 300-yard passing performance, joining Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in Dolphins history to record three consecutive games with that many yards. Tagovailoa entered Sunday’s game with a league-best 74.5% completion rate. He recorded his seventh straight game with a completion rate of 70% or better, tying the third-longest streak in NFL history. Going back to Week 10 against the Rams, Tagovailoa has attempted 184 passes without throwing an interception, which is the second-longest streak in his career, and he has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 34 of his last 35 games. He was 6 for 7 for 67 yards on the Dolphins’ winning touchdown drive Sunday, which he capped with a 10-yard throw to tight end Jonnu Smith. “He was commanding,” receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “He really made sure we didn’t kill ourselves with penalties. He wanted everybody to lock in and just hone in on the details. That’s was big. He came through, made big plays, was calm in the pocket, o-line had great protection, he delivered the ball.” What’s working A big part of Tagovailoa’s growth has been his ability to not force plays down the field that aren’t there. Unlike earlier in his career, he is much more willing to take checkdowns or dump the ball off to running back De’Von Achane or the tight end Smith, who have been excellent this season at gaining yards after the catch. What needs help Third down continues to pose problems for the Dolphins. Miami converted just 1 of 9 third-down attempts and are 9 of 35 on third downs in its last three games. Stock up Receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. Hill had his first 100-yard receiving game since the opener with 115 yards on 10 catches. With his 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Hill has a TD catch in four of the past five games. Waddle caught nine passes for 99 yards that gave him 4,085 in his career — the most in a player’s first four seasons in Dolphins history. Stock down The secondary, which allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams and 339 yards passing from Aaron Rodgers. It was just the second time this season that Miami’s defense has allowed more than 300 yards passing. There were also several instances of miscommunication in the secondary. Injuries LT Terron Armstead was limited to just five snaps because of a knee injury that he’s been dealing with for weeks. Armstead was visibly frustrated when he came out of the game and was replaced by rookie Patrick Paul. ... LB Anthony Walker Jr. appeared to re-aggravate a hamstring injury that happened last week. Key number 0 — The number of times Tagovailoa was hit Sunday on 47 pass attempts. Next steps Three of Miami’s final four games are on the road, starting at Houston on Sunday. ___ AP NFL:GOJO Shines at ISSA Trade Show, Celebrating Success with Multiple Industry Awards
LONDON (AP) — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the “modest award.” Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. “She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” she said. “I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. “He’s not a man, he’s a coward,” attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. “A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.” Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him “no” as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, “now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. “I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman’s complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said “she never said ‘no’ or stopped” and testified that everything she said was a lie. “It is a full blown lie among many lies,” he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings.” McGregor’s lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. “You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” attorney Remy Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.” The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor’s arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked “happy, happy, happy.” McGregor said he was “beyond petrified” when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor’s friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.What New Year’s resolutions can not-Black folks make for 2025 to fight back against the incoming racist regime? Commentary by Black Kos Editor Denise Oliver-Velez 2025 is right around the corner. I realize that for many of us, the “New Year” signals hardships ahead under the ascension of a racist, sexist, supremacist incompetent convicted felon to the highest seat of power here in the States. The vast majority of Black folks did their Black job in voting against what has come to pass. Many of us are unsurprisingly very disheartened (I’m being nice — pissed off is more like it) about how certain demographic clusters of not-Black folks have once again failed to live up to “promises.” I’m not talking about MAGAS. We know who they are and what they support. We bin known about who our allies have been, and not been for over 400 years. Today many of us are side-eying people who wound up not giving a flying f**k about what happens to us Black folks in the upcoming reign of insane. Many of y’all are gonna be okay (you think) and it’s possible that’s true for some of you. Others of you may just find out what it’s like to have been Black in America all these generations. I’ve heard grumblings from quite a few not-Black people about the attitudes being expressed by Black folks on social media who are in FAFO mode. For those of you not familiar with the term it is an acronym for “Fuck Around and Find Out.” For those of you who are still suffering from and proud of being “more progressive than thou” by not voting or choosing Jill Stein, the moment of truth awaits. I sit here and wonder if it will ever dawn on you that not-Blackness ain’t gonna save you. We know we are an easy target. Bin’ known. Melanin tells on us. We know we are only 13% of the population. Our existence depends on building bridges and allyship, even when uncomfortable. Always has. We live in two worlds. A Black world created by centuries of segregation, race creation and hate, and a white world we observe, work in, and sometimes even marry with. Read Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” if you never have. Listen to James Baldwin debate William Buckley. None of this is a secret. We’ve crawled forward over time — from Dred Scott— to the Civil Rights Act, and once again we are shoved backwards. Some of you excuse yourselves from association with those who opted to vote to take us backward by pronouncing that you voted for Obama, or Kamala. Now that she has lost, I’m reading comments made by far too many of you making it her fault. Or Obama’s fault — anything that lifts the onus off of you and yours — your co-workers, family members, neighbors. I’ve been writing commentaries for Black Kos for many years now. Thank you David ( dopper0189 ) for creating this oasis for those of us who are unabashedly Black, and for the few white/notBlack folks who “get it” and are not uncomfortable with it. I’ll emphasize “few” because in this huge DKos space we actually have very few regular reader/commenters. We even get visitors here who waltz into the comments and call some of our members “racist.” I remember someone objecting to our name, and wanting to know why was there no “White Kos” SMDH. FYI: Because we are being our very own Black selves doesn’t mean we necessarily agree with each other all of the time. There is diversity in Blackness. We are not a monolith. However — it is still Blackness no matter what. (Even right wing Black folks are at risk for stop and frisk, shoot first and ask no questions after death squads) Bleaching cream won’t cut it. We get visitors here who have no clue that most of the membership of Black Kos is white — white readers, commenters and an Editor. Our knowledgeable membership is comfortable with it and they don’t try to tell us who are Black that we have to make them comfortable by stifling how we feel about things, or a need to edit, self-censor the words we use. Okay, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I have a few questions for you, if you are not-Black and still reading. Do you have any very close Black friends? (not talking about acquaintances) Do you have any Black family members? Have you ever had, or do you have a Black boss/supervisor? What organization that has Black leadership have you ever joined, have been or are a member of? Do you have any Black neighbors? Is where you live segregated (most of the U.S. still is)? If so — why are you there, and what have you done to change that? If most of your answers to these questions is “no” (or yes to the last one) what can you resolve to do in 2025 to help change things? I know how some of my closest not-Black friends grew up to be the human beings they are. Some commenters/community members here in Black Kos have also shared their own experiences/and exposures. I’m interested in hearing from readers, who are willing to make resolutions and hoping that we can work together towards forging a more equitable path forward. In case you’re wondering why I use “Not-Black” as an identifier term, I have real problems with the use of the term “non-white” since it centers whiteness, which I’ve written about in the past in “ I am not 'non-white' ” The renowned poet Nikki Giovanni has died. Giovanni died on Monday, Dec. 9, following her third cancer diagnosis, according to a statement from friend and author Renée Watson. She was 81. "We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world," said poet Kwame Alexander in the statement. Giovanni published her first poetry collection, Black Feeling Black Talk , in 1968. It established her as an emerging figure out of the Black Arts Movement. In it, Giovanni writes about the intersections of love, politics, loneliness and race. Her language is sometimes spare and longing, other times dense and righteous. The final lines in "Word Poem" read, "let's build / what we become /when we dream." She was born Yolanda Cornelia Giovanni, Jr., on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tenn. Though she grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and its surrounding suburbs, she returned to Nashville to attend Fisk University for college. There, she met other writers who'd become leading Black literary figures – Dudley Randall, Margaret Walker, Amiri Baraka and more. While at Fisk, she also re-established the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. As her writing career took off, Giovanni became a regular guest on Soul! , a Black arts and culture talk show on WNET. Her conversation with the acclaimed writer James Baldwin came on the heels of being named "Woman of the Year" by both Ebony magazine and Mademoiselle . x YouTube Video . Despite the political climate, 2024 has been the Year of the Woman in sports. Recently, interest in women’s sports peaked as the industry saw record viewership, attendance, sponsorships, and revenue across sports categories. So much so that stars like Whoopi Goldberg launched the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN) , the first global women’s sports channel, and WNBA stars launched the Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League. Though most athletes care more about their craft than their coins, tracking female athletes, especially Black female athletes’ earnings, is particularly important as athletes in these demographics have historically been underpaid in comparison to their white and male counterparts. Last week, Sportico released its list of the highest-paid female athletes of 2024, in which Black female athletes showed some of the highest earnings. According to this year’s list, Coco Gauff took the number one spot for the second year in a row, earning approximately $30 million in endorsements and salary/prize money. Fellow tennis star Naomi Osaka, who came in sixth on the list, earned nearly $15 million this year. The list also included Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Simone Biles, who reportedly earned $11.1 million. While these women reached incredible financial heights, their recorded earnings do not even reflect half of what the highest-paid Black male athletes reportedly made. Forbes’ annual highest-paid athlete list reported that LeBron James earned $128.2 million, followed by other Black athletes like Giannis Antetokounmpo with $111 million, Kylian Mbappé with $110 million, and Stephen Curry with $102 million. About 200 people were killed in violence in Haiti’s capital over the weekend, many in a massacre in which a gang boss reportedly targeted Voodoo practitioners. The killings of at least 110 people were overseen by a “powerful gang leader” convinced that his son’s illness was caused by followers of the religion, according to the civil organisation the Committee for Peace and Development (CPD). “He decided to cruelly punish all elderly people and Voodoo practitioners who, in his imagination, would be capable of sending a bad spell on his son,” a statement from the Haiti-based group said. “The gang’s soldiers were responsible for identifying victims in their homes to take them to the chief’s stronghold to be executed.” The UN rights commissioner, Volker Turk, said at least 184 people had died over the weekend. “These latest killings bring the death toll just this year in Haiti to a staggering 5,000 people,” he told reporters in Geneva. Both the CPD and UN said that the massacre took place in the capital’s western coastal neighbourhood of Cité Soleil. Chaotic scenes have broken out in the Bahamas parliament after the indictment of senior police officers on drug trafficking charges sparked a heated debate over corruption, in which the deputy opposition leader tossed a ceremonial mace out a window. During the incident, Shanendon Cartwright of the opposition Free National Movement approached the speaker, Patricia Deveaux, after she did not allow him to speak, grabbed the parliamentary mace, and tossed it out of a nearby window. The turmoil came as the country’s top police official, commissioner Clayton Fernander, resigned following the indictment of three police officers in what the US Department of Justice described as a “massive cocaine importation conspiracy enabled by corrupt Bahamian government officials, including high-ranking members of the Royal Bahamas police force”. US prosecutors said that since May 2021, drug traffickers had smuggled tons of cocaine through the Bahamas with the help of corrupt local officials who controlled airports and disclosed information about US Coast Guard movements. According to the indictment, the bribes that officials were promised or given ranged from $10,000 to $2m to facilitate trafficking, including the movement of 1,320lbs (600kg) of cocaine through the Bahamas’ main international airport. As the school year approaches its final stretch in 2025, high school seniors are starting to make their final preparations for life after graduation. For many of those students, that means choosing to continue their education in college. In the case of Black students, many of them might choose to look at attending one of the more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities ( HBCUs ) across the United States as a viable choice. Not only do HBCUs present an opportunity to connect with like-minded students and embrace the Black experience, but tuition and admission fees for many HBCUs are also below the national average costs for higher education. MORE: A Wake-Up Call for HBCUs: The Trump Administration’s Impact On Funding And Legacy According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of college in the United States has more than doubled in the 21st century. According to the latest statistics released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) , the U.S. spends more per student on colleges and universities than every other country in the developed world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “... we will call this woeman and her/ name will be sapphire and she will divide into four parts/ that simone may sing a song... “/ -- Nikki Giovanni "Poem For A Lady Whose Voice I Like" by Justice Putnam, Black Kos Editor I come from a strong Matriarchy, so strong in fact, one might say I come from a feminist extended-family. There was no division of labor by gender when doing chores, growing up, all of us mowed the lawn, washed dishes, cooked, cleaned. When we lived on the farm outside of Corvallis, all of us learned to sew and sow. The great Matriarch of the Family, our Great Aunt Mabel, lived to be 102. Shortly after marriage in the late 1880's, she and her new husband provisioned a covered wagon and trekked across the plains on their way to California. Along the way, as she put it, "he wasn't up to snuff, so I had to kick him out." She took up with another fellow during the almost year long voyage and he was "worse than the first", so he was sent packing as well. It took a special man to be with this special woman, as it has been, as it is and as it will be with all the women in my family. I've heard the accusation, on more than one occasion, that the women in the family are "full of themselves." "Yes," is their unabashed reply, resonating across the generations, "yes we are!" I met Nikki Giovanni at a few readings back in the day when I was full of myself and thought my work was not self-serving. But I was willing to listen, I was willing to learn. It might have taken some time for me to learn to shut up, but she was always so gracious. I will miss her greatly. so he said: you ain’t got no talent if you didn’t have a face you wouldn’t be nobody and she said: god created heaven and earth and all that’s Black within them so he said: you ain’t really no hot shit they tell me plenty sisters take care better business than you and she said: on the third day he made chitterlings and all good things to eat and said: “that’s good” so he said: if the white folks hadn’t been under yo skirt and been giving you the big play you’d a had to come on uptown like everybody else and she replied: then he took a big Black greasy rib from adam and said we will call this woeman and her name will be sapphire and she will divide into four parts that simone may sing a song and he said: you pretty full of yourself ain’t chu so she replied: show me someone not full of herself and i’ll show you a hungry person -- Nikki Giovanni "Poem For A Lady Whose Voice I Like" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - Nina Simone "Four Women" x x YouTube Video ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Deshawn Purdie threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to O'Mega Blake for the go-ahead score and Charlotte defeated Florida Atlantic 39-27 on Saturday in a game that matched two new interim coaches. Charlotte (4-7, 3-4 American Athletic Conference) fired Biff Poggi on Monday and Tim Brewster took over. FAU (2-9, 0-7) fired Tom Ferman, also on Monday, with Chad Lunsford taking charge.Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout