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blackjack offline Give Tinubu winning votes in 2027, minister tells Enugu APCSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — At this point the past two seasons, the San Francisco 49ers were fighting for playoff positioning rather than their playoff lives. After snapping a three-game losing streak with a lopsided win , the Niners head into a Thursday night division showdown against the Los Angeles Rams hoping to play with the same kind of desperation in a game they almost certainly need to win to get to the postseason. “I think just across the board as a team, everybody had just a bit more of sense of urgency and I think we executed and played together as a team, and we didn’t let off,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “Really liked that. But, that was last week so now it’s on to this week and how can we do that again?” After getting outscored by 53 points in losses at and , the 49ers (6-7) played their most complete game of the season to keep their . While some credited a feeling of desperation or speeches from players such as Purdy and Deommodore Lenoir for the turnaround, linebacker Fred Warner said it was more about execution than anything else. “We didn’t go out there in Green Bay, we didn’t go out there in Buffalo saying, ‘Let’s just hope that we win.’ Trust me, I felt desperate as hell going into both those games,” he said. “It just didn’t work out. ... It didn’t happen because last week we decided we wanted to. This was weeks in the making.” Whatever the reason, the results were obvious to anyone watching, including the Rams (7-6), who had their own signature performance to boost their playoff chances. to remain one game behind Seattle in the NFC West race and a game ahead of the 49ers and Arizona in the tightly packed division. Coach Sean McVay knows his team will need a similar performance to beat San Francisco and earn a season sweep. “I saw they certainly had a very dominant performance,” he said. “If there’s anything that you do know, it’s a week-to-week league. Humility is only a week away. They have excellent coaches, excellent personnel and really good schemes. No matter what’s really happened in terms of the trajectory of the injuries, they’re going to be ready to go.” Puka power Puka Nacua is in dominant form with 33 catches for 458 yards and three TDs in the Rams’ past four games, highlighted by a 162-yard performance last week against Buffalo in which he also scored his first rushing TD. Nacua was injured for these clubs’ first meeting this season — but last year, he broke the NFL’s single-game rookie receptions record with 15 in his first game against San Francisco, and he set the NFL rookie season records for catches and yards receiving during his visit to Santa Clara last January. “He’s a tough football player,” 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said. “Some guys are just competitive. He’s got size, he doesn’t go down easy. Some things you can’t measure and he’s just got it.” Deebo’s struggles The least productive sent the frustrated wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers to social media. In a now-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Samuel said the reason he gained only 97 yards from scrimmage the past four games was not that he was struggling but that he wasn’t getting the ball. His teammates and coaches believe he will get back to his All-Pro form soon. “I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could,” Purdy said. “I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things.” Defense declining The Rams defense got shredded twice in the past three weeks by Saquon Barkley’s Eagles and Josh Allen’s Bills, dropping the unit to 27th in total defense. LA’s vaunted young pass rush led by rookie Jared Verse has no sacks in its past two games and just three in the past four games. Considering Purdy drove the Niners to 425 yards in the teams’ first meeting this season without Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle or Samuel, the Rams’ offense might need yet another prolific game to overcome its defense’s weaknesses. Under pressure With Nick Bosa sidelined the past three games, the 49ers have had to generate pass rushes from different sources. They had a season-high seven sacks last week with Yetur Gross-Matos getting three and Leonard Floyd two. The 32-year-old Floyd has 5 1/2 sacks in his past four games. “Leonard’s just an Energizer bunny,” Shanahan said. “It’s crazy with him being one of the older guys and stuff and how many different teams he’s been to, but I’ve played against him enough and felt that.” Bosa has a chance to return this week and is listed as questionable. ___ AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report ___ AP NFL:George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies

HSGMC polls to be held on Jan 19

Five weeks have passed since the Colorado men’s basketball opened the season. The Buffaloes are nowhere near where they hope to be once they embark on the program’s return season in the Big 12 Conference. Yet in terms of making progress from week-to-week with a new-look roster, head coach Tad Boyle has been encouraged by the early returns. CU got back to work on Tuesday, reconvening for the first practice since improving to 7-2 with a Saturday night rivalry win against Colorado State. “I think we understand better now what our jobs are defensively,” Boyle said. “I thought against Colorado State, coming into that game they were a pretty efficient offensive team. They ran their stuff well. I thought we exerted our will defensively with our energy early. That was a key. “I think defensively, we’re understanding what our jobs are. Now, we’re not where we need to be for sure. But we’re making strides in that area. And I think the guys are getting used to playing with each other, understanding each other. And that’s part of it too. Especially in today’s world of college basketball, with so many new players on every team.” Taking stock of clubs based on conference rankings certainly isn’t an exact science in December, when all 16 Big 12 teams have faced varying schedules, but the Buffs have so far held their own in categories involving overall percentages. For instance, CU’s 76.0 points per game ranks a distant 15th in the Big 12, and Boyle would prefer a better defensive scoring average than 69.7, which ranks 11th. CU ranks ninth in overall field goal percentage (.469) and 10th in defensive field goal percentage (.412), but they have fared well from long range, ranking third in 3-point percentage (.398) and third in defensive 3-point percentage (.302). As CU fans might guess, the Buffs rank last in assist-to-turnover rate (1.07) and turnovers (15.1 per game). Yet even the turnovers have shown signs of improvement lately, with the Buffs averaging 13.5 in the past six games. “I think we’ve gotten better at a lot of things,” guard Javon Ruffin said. “I think the last game (against CSU) was the first game we came out with the defensive intensity we needed. But I think that’s something that’s improved since the beginning. We let a lot of those teams early on hang around. I think we’ve gotten a lot better at that. I think offensively, we’re getting a lot more consistent. I think early on we had a lot of long droughts, or maybe times we were scoring but not getting the shots we wanted. I think our offense is flowing a lot smoother now.” With only two games remaining in nonconference play, which resumes on Friday night against South Dakota State (7 p.m., ESPN+), the Buffs will be challenged to maintain that steady improvement during a time on the calendar heavy on practices but light on games. “It starts by having good practices,” Boyle said. “This week, we’ve got three days of practice that are critical for us to keep our edge, keep getting better, in everything that we need to do. It’s more about ourselves getting better right now, whether it’s offensively, defensively, rebounding the ball, competing. I want these guys to feel like practices matter. I’m making decisions about who’s playing in games based on practice, just as much as how you play in a game.”

Controversial social media critic, Martins Ortse, better known as , has denied threatening the life of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the revocation of a plot of land belonging to the family of late Colonel Paul Osakpamwan Ogbebor. had earlier reported that the FCT administration under Wike leadership announced the revocation of the Ogbebor’s property, which was allocated since 1981. However, following the revocation, a WhatsApp broadcast message claimed that VeryDarkMan threatened the FCT minister’s life. Reacting to the allegation, VeryDarkMan distanced himself from the alleged threat, stressing that he only uses his platform to pursue justice for those oppressed. VDM said: “I did not threaten Nyesom Wike’s life, l am not associated with the WhatsApp broadcast making the rounds. “l was only appealing to the minister to take a second look at the land documents presented by the sons and families of late Colonel Paul Osakpamwan Ogbebor who was a war veteran and also the first cadet of the NDA code 001, all the land documents and allocations are genuine. “There is this particular land I posted on WhatsApp regarding the land that Wike revoked. Someone edited my video with a new caption, making it look like I’m the one who did it. Please, I’m not associated with threatening anybody’s life; it’s not in my character or nature. “What I do with my platform is to speak up for people who are oppressed and seek justice when they are in the right part of the law. I have never threatened anybody’s life before, so imagine that they will now claim I’m threatening Wike. ”The only thing I did in that video was to plead that he could take a second look at those people’s documents because they are the sole owners of that land.”According to SMM's assessment, China's refined bismuth production in December 2024 is expected to decrease significantly by approximately 28.77% MoM compared to November 2024. Following consecutive declines in September and October, production pulled back sharply again. From the perspective of producers' operations, many producers have entered equipment maintenance as the year-end approaches. Additionally, raw material supply has gradually tightened, and producers' willingness to purchase raw materials at year-end has also declined. Although some producers are still striving to meet annual targets in Q4, most producers have seen a drop in production, with only a few experiencing slight growth. Therefore, market participants generally consider the sharp decline in December production to be within expectations. Detailed data shows that among the 24 producers surveyed by SMM, six producers saw a significant decrease in production in December, two producers experienced a significant increase, and one producer halted production. This led to a substantial decline in overall bismuth ingot production in December compared to the previous month. Consequently, many market participants anticipate that, with the Chinese New Year holiday starting at the end of January, China's refined bismuth production in January 2025 is likely to decrease further, with little chance of remaining stable. Note: Since October 2022, SMM has been publishing its assessed national refined bismuth production. Thanks to SMM's high coverage rate in the bismuth industry, SMM surveys a total of 24 refined bismuth producers across eight provinces in China, with a total sample capacity exceeding 50,000 mt and a capacity coverage rate of over 99%. This report is an original work and/or compilation exclusively created by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "SMM"). SMM legally owns the copyright, which is protected under the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China and other applicable laws, regulations, and international treaties. Without written permission, no part of this content may be reproduced, modified, sold, transferred, displayed, translated, compiled, disseminated, or disclosed to third parties in any form, nor may third parties be authorized to use it. Upon discovery of any infringement, SMM will pursue legal action to hold the infringer accountable, including but not limited to demanding liability for breach of contract, restitution of unjust enrichment, and compensation for direct and indirect economic losses. The content of this report, including but not limited to information, articles, data, charts, images, audio, video, logos, advertisements, trademarks, trade names, domain names, layout designs, and any or all other information, is protected under the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China, the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China, the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People's Republic of China, and other applicable laws, regulations, and international treaties concerning copyright, trademark rights, domain name rights, commercial data information rights, and other legal protections. All rights are owned or held by SMM and its related rights holders. Without written permission, no institution or individual may reproduce, modify, use, sell, transfer, display, translate, compile, disseminate, or disclose this content to third parties in any form, nor may third parties be authorized to use it. Upon discovery of any infringement, SMM will pursue legal action to hold the infringer accountable, including but not limited to demanding liability for breach of contract, restitution of unjust enrichment, and compensation for direct and indirect economic losses.*All data in this report is based on publicly available market information (including but not limited to industry news, seminars, exhibitions, corporate financial reports, brokerage reports, data from the National Bureau of Statistics, customs import and export data, and data released by various associations and institutions) and is processed and analyzed by SMM's internal database model, with reasonable inferences made by the SMM research team. The information provided in this report is for reference only, and users assume all risks. This report does not constitute direct investment research advice, and clients should make decisions cautiously and not rely on this report as a substitute for independent judgment. Any decisions made by clients are unrelated to SMM. Furthermore, SMM is not responsible for any losses or liabilities resulting from unauthorized or illegal use of the views expressed in this report. SMM reserves the right to amend and interpret the terms of this statement.

Asian shares were mixed on Monday after stocks fell broadly on Friday as Wall Street closed out a holiday-shortened week on a down note. U.S. futures were lower while oil prices were little changed. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.6% to 2,418.80. But shares of Jeju Air Co. lost 8.8% after one of the company’s jets skidded off a runway , slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea as its landing gear failed to deploy. 179 people died in the crash. Political turmoil continued as South Korean law enforcement officials requested a court warrant on Monday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. They are investigating whether his martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.9% to 39,914.21 as the dollar gained against the Japanese yen, trading at 157.83 yen, up from 157.75 yen. The Tokyo market will wrap up trading for 2024 with a yearend ceremony as Japan begins its New Year holidays, the biggest festival of the year. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 0.3% to 20,030.63 while the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.3% at 3,408.72. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.9% to 8,191.50. On Friday, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% to 5,970.84. Roughly 90% of stocks in the benchmark index lost ground, but it managed to hold onto a modest gain of 0.7% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8% to 42,992.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 1.5%, to 19,722.03. The losses were made worse by sharp declines for the Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”, which can heavily influence the direction of the market because of their large size. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.5% and Best Buy slipped 1.5%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil picked up 1 cent to $70.61 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 1 cent to $73.78 per barrel. The euro fell to $1.0427 from $1.0433.Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” World leaders have paid tribute to Mr Carter, including US President Joe Biden, who was one of the first politicians to endorse Mr Carter for president in 1976 and said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.” Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Carter was “a principled man who dedicated his life to seeking to advance the cause of peace across the world”. He added: “On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my sympathies to President Carter’s children and extended family, to President Joe Biden, to the people of the United States, and to his wide circle of colleagues and friends across the globe.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally, the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center managed to virtually eliminate Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.

DALLAS, Texas, Nov. 25, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — UTR Sports, a global leader in tennis and pickleball player ratings and event management, today announced an expansion of its partnership with Stack Sports to incorporate TeamInn travel services. TeamInn, Stack Sports’ dedicated travel service platform, will now provide travel accommodations for UTR Sports tournaments and events, simplifying travel planning for players, coaches, officials, and fans. TeamInn by Stack Sports will offer streamlined, competitive travel booking solutions, enhancing the overall event experience and making it easier for the UTR Sports community to access high-quality accommodations at preferred rates. This expansion aligns with UTR Sports’ commitment to improving convenience for its global network, offering valuable support to those traveling to UTR Sports tennis and pickleball events. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Stack Sports to integrate TeamInn travel services, we are making travel easier and more affordable for our participants, officials, and families,” said Mark Leschly, Chairman and CEO of UTR Sports. “Our mission is to connect the tennis and pickleball communities around the world, and TeamInn is an important addition to that vision. Together with Stack Sports, we’re excited to enhance the event experience by offering seamless travel options tailored to our needs.” The addition of TeamInn to the UTR Sports ecosystem brings further operational efficiency and convenience, reinforcing UTR Sports’ role as a comprehensive service provider in the tennis and pickleball spaces. TeamInn offers a full suite of travel services, from hotel booking to exclusive group rates, ensuring that travel logistics are one less hurdle for participants and organizers. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Stack Sports to integrate Teaminn travel services and make travel easier and more affordable for our participants, officials, and families,” said Mark Leschly, Chairman and CEO of UTR Sports. “Our mission is to connect the tennis and pickleball communities around the world, and TeamInn is an important addition to that vision. Together with Stack Sports, we’re excited to enhance the event experience by offering seamless travel options tailored to our needs.” The TeamInn travel platform will be integrated across UTR Sports’ numerous events, including the UTR Pro Tennis Tour and various youth and amateur competitions, offering a unified solution for booking accommodations worldwide. This partnership underscores UTR Sports’ and Stack Sports’ dedication to enhancing player experiences and advancing sports engagement through comprehensive, innovative solutions. About UTR Sports: The mission of UTR Sports is to connect and grow the sports of tennis and pickleball with accurate global ratings, innovative events, and a global community centered around level-based play. The UTR Sports Platform is anchored by our patented ratings technology. UTR Sports provides the technology tools and solutions relevant and valuable to players, coaches, and organizers. UTR Sports is creating opportunities and pathways, including the UTR Pro Tennis Tour, for players from all over the world, in all stages of life, to find better matches and unlock a more fun, affordable, and flexible experience. About Stack Sports: With nearly 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry. The company provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations. Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars — Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/ . NEWS SOURCE: Stack Sports Keywords: Sports and Activities, TeamInn Travel Services, UTR Sports, tennis and pickleball player ratings and event management, DALLAS, Texas This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Stack Sports) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122494 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/utr-sports-partners-with-stack-sports-to-launch-teaminn-travel-services-for-tennis-and-pickleball/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.

KINGSTON, N.Y. — New York State Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Steve Garner can’t remember fielding a younger squad than his current Kingston High girls basketball team that will kick off the season on Tuesday, Dec. 3, with a non-league contest against Highland at the Kate Walton Field House.Though the 2024-25 team lost tons of [...]Innovative AstroRad Vest Poised to Safeguard Astronauts from Space Radiation

From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turnWithdrawal from Syria: Introspection time for Iran

Homeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey, lawmaker says A New Jersey lawmaker from part of the state where several mysterious drones have been spotted in recent week says the devices appear to avoid detection by traditional methods. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia was among state officials who met Wednesday with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. She says lawmakers were told the drones have dodged detection by helicopters and radio. Fantasia says DHS described the devices as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights off. The Morris County Republican made the comments in a post on X shortly after she and several other state and local lawmakers met with state police and Homeland Security officials. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Gastineau confronts Favre in documentary for his 'dive' on Strahan's record-breaking sack Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre last year at a memorabilia show and angrily accused the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of deliberately going down on a record-breaking sack. The tense exchange is shown in the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The New York Sack Exchange." It chronicles the Jets’ fearsome foursome defensive line of the 1980s that included Gastineau. Gastineau set an NFL record with 22 sacks in 1984, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan broke the mark when he sacked Favre in 2002 in a game between the Giants and Packers. Many have accused Favre of purposely taking the sack so Strahan could set the single-season record with 22 1/2. What happens next with Alex Jones' Infowars? No certainty yet after sale to The Onion is rejected Lawyers in the Alex Jones bankruptcy case are now in discussions on what could happen next after a federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday as the judge ordered the trustee who oversaw the auction to come up with a new plan. Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston rejected the bid late Tuesday, saying there was too much confusion about The Onion’s bid. The bankruptcy case was in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered Jones to pay for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut a hoax. Sandy Hook families had backed The Onion’s bid. NFL and Nike extend their partnership with a 10-year deal, will focus on growing the sport globally IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL’s desire to become a global powerhouse is no secret. Nike is committed to helping the league continue expanding its worldwide reach. The league and the apparel giant announced Wednesday a 10-year partnership extension. The NFL and Nike will focus on working together to grow the game’s global reach, increase participation, develop new talent, and expand the football fan base. Nike, the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, has been the NFL’s exclusive provider of uniforms and sideline, practice and base layer apparel for all 32 NFL teams for 12 years. George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89 NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., otherwise known to TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89. Kreskin’s friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, says he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey. Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, appearing with everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted a show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Keynote Selena Gomez spotlights prioritizing mental health during Academy Women's Luncheon LOS ANGELES (AP) — While surveying a room packed with Hollywood’s most influential figures, “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez took center stage at the Academy Women’s Luncheon to spotlight a critical issue: Prioritizing mental health and supporting underserved communities often left behind in the conversation. The singer-actor has been public about her mental health struggles, revealing she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gomez was the keynote speaker Tuesday at the event held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with attendees including Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Pamela Anderson, Rita Wilson, Ava DuVernay and Awkwafina. Rural resurrection: A Greek village leans into faith in fight against demographic collapse FOURNA, Greece (AP) — In the remote mountains of central Greece lies Fourna, a village in danger of disappearing due to its aging population. An unlikely duo, the local priest and a schoolteacher, has joined forces to raise money to attract families and breathe life back into their community. The grassroots effort has brought more children to the school and is attracting national attention in a country grappling with one of the world’s worst demographic crises. In Greece, deaths outnumber births by nearly two-to-one. The Orthodox Church argues that incentives being offered by the government are welcome but insufficient to reverse the dire trends. The church is pleading with Greeks to restore their traditional faith in family.Trump expected to name Kelly Loeffler for Agriculture secretary

Jillian Kestler-D’Amours Jude Chery has heard talk of armed gangs for most of his life. The 30-year-old Haitian activist remembers that he started to learn the names of powerful gang leaders even as a child in primary school. In the decades since, new gangs have formed, and new gang leaders — including some with international profiles — have taken over, as Haiti experienced multiple waves of political upheaval and uncertainty. Now, the Caribbean nation is in the grips of a period of deadly gang violence and instability that many Haitians say is the worst they have ever seen. Yet for Haiti’s children — the millions caught in the crossfire, no longer able to attend school, or pushed to join the armed gangs amid crippling poverty — the situation is especially dire. The United Nations child rights agency UNICEF estimates that between 30 and 50 percent of the country’s gang members are now children. “Our youth should be worrying about how to study, how to innovate, how to do research, how to contribute to society,” Chery told Al Jazeera in a phone interview from the capital Port-au-Prince. “But us in Haiti, we have other worries as youth: It’s about what to eat. Can I go outside today? We live each day, 24 hours a day, hoping to see tomorrow.” ‘Institutional limbo’ For decades, armed gangs with connections to Haiti’s political and business elites have used violence to gain control of territory and exert pressure on their rivals. With funding from wealthy backers, as well as money gathered through drug trafficking, kidnappings and other illicit activities, Haiti’s gangs filled a void caused by years of political instability and accrued power. But it was the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise that created an opening for the gangs to strengthen their authority. No federal elections have been held in years, and faith in the state has plummeted. Haiti continues to undergo a shaky political transition, as it seeks to fill the power vacuum created by Moise’s killing. But experts say the gangs — now believed to control at least 80 percent of Port-au-Prince — have become even more emboldened. The gangs are “probably stronger than ever”, said Romain Le Cour, a senior expert at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, a research group in Geneva. They have maintained their firepower as well as territorial and economic strength even as a United Nations-backed, multinational police force led by Kenya was deployed earlier this year to try to restore stability, he explained. This month, the gangs again captured global attention after passenger planes were hit by gunfire at the airport in Port-au-Prince, prompting international airlines to suspend flights into the city and isolating the country further. The incidents came amid an internal power struggle. On November 11, Haiti’s transitional presidential council, which is tasked with rebuilding Haitian democracy, abruptly dismissed the country’s interim prime minister and appointed a replacement, highlighting ongoing political dysfunction. Against that backdrop, Le Cour told Al Jazeera that the gangs’ propaganda has been especially effective. Haitian political leaders as well as international bodies have so far failed to stem the violence, which has paralysed large swaths of Port-au-Prince. Hundreds of thousands of people are displaced, and the country faces a humanitarian crisis. The gangs are able “to capitalise on their discourse”, Le Cour said, “that the government, the state, the international community, everybody is unwilling, unable, incapable of ... doing anything to take Haiti forward. “Their argument resonates so deeply right now because, in front of them, there is no one left.” Out of school, out of options That stark reality has pushed some Haitian children and youth, particularly from impoverished areas of Port-au-Prince and communities under gang control, to join the armed groups. Some enlist under threats of violence against them and their families, while others hope to get money, food or a means of protection. Often, they join simply because they have no alternatives. Children carry out a variety of tasks within the gangs, from acting as lookouts to taking part in attacks or transporting drugs, weapons and ammunition. Girls are also recruited to clean and cook for gang members. Many are subjected to rape and sexual violence as a means of control. Robert Fatton, a professor at the University of Virginia and an expert on Haiti, said for youth in the country’s slums, “there is a certain appeal to [becoming] a big man with a weapon”. “It gives you a sense, to put it crudely, of ‘manhood’ and a sense that you can do something with your life — however violent that might be,” he told Al Jazeera. But Fatton said socioeconomic hardships are a large part of the reason children and youth end up participating in armed groups. “There are no jobs. They are stuck in poverty. They live in horrible conditions, so the gangs are the alternative.” Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. In 2021, the UN Development Programme estimated (PDF) that more than six million Haitians lived below the poverty line and survived on less than $2.41 a day. The recent surge in violence has made a dire situation worse. More than 700,000 people have been displaced from their homes, while access to healthcare, food and other basic services is severely limited. Half of those who have been displaced in recent months are children, according to the UN. In late September, the World Food Programme also said that about 5.4 million Haitians faced acute hunger, with children particularly hard hit. One in six Haitian kids now lives “one step away from famine”, the humanitarian nonprofit Save the Children said. Meanwhile, more than 900 schools have been forced to close, leaving hundreds of thousands of children out of the classroom. The UN’s humanitarian agency said these kids face a heightened risk of gang recruitment and could “experience ‘lost years’, growing up without the skills needed for their future and survival”. “I’ve never seen a deeper crisis in Haiti in my life,” Fatton said of the overall situation befalling the country. Noting that he grew up during the rule of Haitian dictators Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, he added: “I don’t think the situation even in those dark days is as bad as now.” Challenge of reintegration Yet despite these challenges, Haitian rights advocates are trying to support children in need. Emmanuel Camille heads KPTSL, a group that defends the rights of Haitian children. He painted a dire picture of daily life for all children in the country, from a lack of access to education, food and healthcare, to a general absence of safety and security. “In terms of education, health, nutrition, social justice,” he told Al Jazeera, “I can say that we’re dragging children into hell.” Camille said trying to get children out of armed groups is especially challenging. The first step, he explained, is to get them and their families out of their physical environment — the neighbourhood, town or city, for instance, where they fell in with armed groups. “We need to sever the link between the child and their previous environment to hopefully give them a better life,” he said. But relocation alone will not solve the problem. The children also need a re-education plan tailored to their specific needs, as well as psychological support and economic assistance for their families, Camille said. In 2019, Chery himself founded a volunteer group called AVRED-Haiti to help support the reintegration of people who spent time in prison, including youth who had served in gangs. He also said reintegration is difficult when children go back to their homes in gang-controlled areas: Most end up going back to stealing or rejoining an armed group. “There’s nothing we can do about it because they have other concerns that we can’t address,” he told Al Jazeera. Chery added that “the best way to fight insecurity or banditry in Haiti” is for the state to address the basic needs of its citizens: food, housing, employment and poverty. “That would bring many more solutions in the long term.” Urgency grows The need to address those root causes appears more urgent than ever as Haiti plunges deeper into catastrophe. The UN warned on Wednesday that at least 150 people were killed, 92 were injured and about 20,000 others were forcibly displaced in a single week amid violent confrontations between armed gang members and Haitian police. In one particularly violent episode, gang members launched a coordinated attack on the Port-au-Prince suburb of Petion-Ville. Police fought back alongside armed residents — some part of a vigilante movement known as Bwa Kale — and more than two dozen suspected gang members were killed. Camille said two child gang members who attended activities organised by KPTSL were among the casualties. They were aged eight and 17. “At all levels, there needs to be justice — very strong justice — to change this situation,” he said of the crisis Haiti faces. “All we want is to offer children a chance,” Camille added. “Right now, children are living like adults. They don’t have a life. They aren’t treated like human beings.” Courtesy: aljazeeraPenn State kicks off Sunshine Slam by cruising past Fordham

Taylor Swift speaks on behalf of Travis Kelce to make promise to Caitlin Clark'AI textbooks' are coming to Korea. But is the country ready for them?GERMANTOWN, Tenn. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., or MAA (NYSE: MAA), today announced that its board of directors approved a quarterly dividend payment of $1.515 per share of common stock to be paid on January 31, 2025 , to shareholders of record on January 15, 2025 . The increase will raise the annualized dividend payment 3.1% to $6.06 per share of common stock and represents the 15 th consecutive year MAA has increased its dividend to shareholders. As established in prior quarters, the board of directors declared the quarterly common dividend in advance of MAA's earnings announcement that is expected to be made on February 5, 2025 . About MAA MAA is a self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) and member of the S&P 500. MAA owns or has ownership interest in apartment communities primarily throughout the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. focused on delivering strong, full-cycle investment performance. For further details, please refer to www.maac.com or contact Investor Relations at investor.relations@maac.com . Certain matters in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended with respect to our expectations for future periods. Such statements include statements made about the payment of common dividends. The ability to meet the payment of common dividends in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements could differ materially from the projection due to a number of factors, including a downturn in general economic conditions or the capital markets, changes in interest rates and other items that are difficult to control such as increases in real estate taxes in many of our markets, as well as the other general risks inherent in the apartment and real estate businesses. Reference is hereby made to the filings of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K, and its annual report on Form 10-K, particularly including the risk factors contained in the latter filing. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maa-announces-increase-to-quarterly-common-dividend-302328178.html SOURCE MAA