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lottery generator Kroger, Walmart Grocery Rival, Pops Amid Merger RulingEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- An emotional Daniel Jones spoke for the first time since being benched by the New York Giants in favor of Tommy DeVito and expressed regret for not producing enough victories, while also saying he's still processing his future. Jones has been the Giants' starting quarterback for much of the past six years. That changed Monday when he was informed of the decision by coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen that there would be a change at quarterback. Jones came to Thursday's news conference with a prepared statement in which he thanked the team but also articulated his disappointment. Editor's Picks DeVito 'sticking to football,' trying to avoid hoopla 23h Jordan Raanan Giants demote Jones to QB3, tab DeVito to start 3d Jordan Raanan Latest NFL Week 12 buzz: What we're hearing on Daniel Jones' benching, GM candidates and playoff races 1d Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler "There have been some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of those," Jones said as part of his statement. "I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. Nobody wanted to win more games worse than me and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation. Of course, this season has been disappointing for all and of course I wish I could have done more. I'm 100% accountable for my part. I did not play well enough consistently enough to help the team get results. "The reality of the NFL is it's hard to win games. It requires consistent performance for everyone involved. We didn't do that well enough, so the idea to change something happens and I understand. I love the game, I love being part of the team. I'm excited for the next opportunity. I know there is a lot of good football in front of me and I'm excited about that." That next opportunity could come elsewhere relatively soon. Jones, who has thrown eight touchdown passes with seven interceptions this season, was noncommittal when asked whether he would stay with the Giants for the rest of the season. New York (2-8) has seven games left. "That's something I'm processing," Jones said. "Right now, my focus is on how I can help all these guys, help all these guys prepare for this week." Jones, 27, said he wanted to find a way to keep playing and tried to create a situation that made both sides comfortable despite a $23 million injury guarantee for next season. It was too late. New York's brass had already decided it was time to move on from the 2019 No. 6 pick as their starting quarterback and turn to DeVito, a second-year quarterback who won three games as a starter last season. The Giants explained the decision to Jones as there being a need for change with the team at 2-8. He admittedly was not happy, as it effectively will end his career with the team that drafted him out of Duke University. The injury guarantee was also part of the equation. "That was a piece of the conversation, for sure," Jones said. "I wanted to play. I wanted to play badly and do what I could to play. I think it was a part of it. Most of those discussions took place with my agents and [general manager Joe Schoen]." The Giants have lost five straight games, and Jones is 3-13 as the starter since signing a four-year, $160 million deal in March 2023. That prompted the switch, even if it wasn't Jones' preference. "Definitely not happy about it. Not what you want to hear. All those emotions you have," he said. "At the end of the day, this is football and we're in a business where you're expected to get results, and we weren't doing it. You've got to accept it and understand." Jones has been the fourth quarterback this week for the Giants behind DeVito, Drew Lock and the recently signed Tim Boyle . He spent part of Thursday's practice as a scout team safety during a walk-through period. It's a situation that Lock said was weird seeing at practice. "Well, I've got the injury guarantee. So, that's that," Jones said. "I understand it. They don't want to take any risks. At that point, it's just do as you're told." The Giants would be on the hook for $23 million should Jones sustain a serious injury and not be able to pass a physical early next year. It's a risk the Giants are not willing to take given the circumstances. As for going home (such as what happened with Derek Carr two years ago in Las Vegas) or asking for his outright release, both options still seem to be still in play for Jones. "Like I said, I'm still processing and trying to think through what the best thing is for this team, what the best thing is for me," he said. In the meantime, he's also processing it all coming to an end. Admittedly, it hasn't been easy. Tears started to well in Jones' eyes when asked about the support he has received in recent days from teammates, specifically 2019 draftmates Dexter Lawrence and Darius Slayton . "Like I said, I've created a lot of great relationships with the guys here and definitely appreciate the support," Jones said. "But, it's about the team and what's best for the team. I know the guys will be ready to go. I know Tommy will be ready to go this week."

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Around 3.2 million years ago, in what is now present-day Ethiopia, a tiny human made it to the fossil record. Despite much research there is uncertainty over what could have led to their death. Whatever the reason may have been, enough of the carcass was protected by sediments. This led to the bones being fossilized. Those remains, now known to the world as 'Lucy', were discovered fifty years ago, becoming one of the most significant fossil discoveries of all time. In an interesting and intriguing recent finding, research shows that Lucy's species - Australopithecus Afarensis, was not the only early human species roaming the Earth at the time. Australopithecus Afarensis inhabited East Africa for about a million years, and paleoanthropologists have discovered many fossils of this species from north central Ethiopia to northern Tanzania, which is 1,460 miles (2,350 kilometres) away. For decades following Lucy's discovery, paleoanthropologists believed that Australopithecus Afarensis was the sole hominid to inhabit this area throughout the middle Pliocene era (3 million to 4 million years ago). However, the image of human diversity drastically changed in 1995 when a fragmented jawbone was found in the Bahr el Ghazal region of Chad. Believed to be 3.5 million years old, this fossil is of a species named Australopithecus Bahrelghazali. It served as evidence that other hominins lived around Lucy's time, Live Science quoted a study published in the journal PNAS in 2016. Given that these Australopithecines were almost 1,500 miles (more than 2,400 kilometres) apart, it is possible that Lucy's type did not come into contact with them. However, Haile-Selassie and colleagues discovered Australopithecus Afarensis fossils at the Woranso-Mille site, which is only 30 miles (48 km) north of the site in Ethiopia, where Lucy was discovered. They also discovered additional, anatomically different fossils from the same time period. The bones belonged to Australopithecus Deyiremeda, a new species of Australopithecine that was thought to have existed between 3.5 and 3.3 million years ago. Although paleoanthropologists are still divided on whether Australopithecus Deyiremeda is a distinct species from Lucy, the fact that its teeth differed significantly from Lucy's suggests that their diets were different. As the collection of fossils from different hominin species expands, an important question arises whether these species ever interacted or even mated with each other. Australopithecus Farensis was as social as other primates, evidenced by the preserved footprint path of three Australopithecines strolling together at the Laetoli site in Tanzania. But, there is little to no proof that Australopithecines ever interbred. Even with the enormous amount of Australopithecus Afarensis fossils found in the last 50 years, paleoanthropologists still have a lot of work ahead of them to really understand Lucy's world.Losses for big technology stocks pulled major indexes lower on Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% from its record high a day earlier, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.6%. Losses for Nvidia, Microsoft and Broadcom were the biggest weights on the market. Dell sank 12.2% after reporting revenue that fell shy of forecasts, and HP dropped 11.4% after giving a weaker-than-expected outlook. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. U.S. financial markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks wavered in afternoon trading on Wednesday, as losses for several Big Tech companies offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% in afternoon trading, even though more stocks were rising than falling in the index. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 135 points, or 0.3%, as of 3:05 p.m. Eastern time. Both indexes set records on Tuesday. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.5%. Losses for tech heavyweights helped pull the broader market lower. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slipped 1.6%. Its huge value gives it outsized influence on market indexes. Microsoft fell 0.9% Several personal computer makers added to Big Tech's heavy weight on the market following their latest earnings reports. HP sank 11.8% after giving investors a weaker-than-expected earnings forecast for its current quarter. Dell slumped 11.9% after its latest quarterly revenue fell short of Wall Street forecasts. Gains for financial and health care companies helped counter Big Tech's downward pull. Visa rose 0.9% and Thermo Fisher Scientific added 2.3%. The U.S. economy expanded at a healthy 2.8% annual pace from July through September, according to the Commerce Department, leaving its original estimate of third-quarter growth unchanged. The growth was driven by strong consumer spending and a surge in exports. The update follows a report on Tuesday from the Conference Board that said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Consumers have been driving economic growth, but the latest round of earnings reports from retailers shows a mixed and more cautious picture. Department store operator Nordstrom fell 8.5% after warning investors about a trend toward weakening sales that started in late October. Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters jumped 19.1% after beating analysts’ third-quarter financial forecasts. Weeks earlier, retail giant Target gave investors a discouraging forecast for the holiday season, while Walmart provided a more encouraging forecast. Consumers, though resilient, are still facing pressure from inflation. The latest update from the U.S. government shows that inflation accelerated last month. The personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE, rose to 2.3% in October from 2.1% in September. Overall, the rate of inflation has been falling broadly since it peaked more than two years ago. The PCE, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, was just below 7.3% in June of 2022. Another measure of inflation, the consumer price index, peaked at 9.1% at the same time. The latest inflation data, though, is a sign that the rate of inflation seems to be stalling as it falls to within range of the Fed's target of 2%. The central bank started raising its benchmark interest rate from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023 and held it there in order to tame inflation. The Fed started cutting its benchmark interest rate in September, followed by a second cut in November. Wall Street expects a similar quarter-point cut at the central bank's upcoming meeting in December. “Today’s data shouldn’t change views of the likely path for disinflation, however bumpy," said David Alcaly, lead macroeconomic strategist at Lazard Asset Management. "But a lot of observers, probably including some at the Fed, are looking for reasons to get more hawkish on the outlook given the potential for inflationary policy change like new tariffs.” President-elect Donald Trump has said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China when he takes office in January. That could shock the economy by raising prices on a wide range of goods and accelerating the rate of inflation. Such a shift could prompt the Fed to rethink future cuts to interest rates. Treasury yields slipped in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30% late Tuesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely follows expected actions by the Fed, fell to 4.22% from 4.25% late Tuesday. U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday. Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga, The Associated Press

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s resolution on Wednesday calling for Ukraine to be supplied with medium-range missiles — defined by the now-defunct INF Treaty as those with ranges between 1,000 and 5,500 kilometers — is a significant development, though not a final decision by the bloc or any national government. If such a decision is made, the options for providing these missiles to Ukraine remain limited. The only readily available medium-range missile system in the West is the US-made Tomahawk, a weapon that has already been used in various global conflicts. Currently, the only ground-based launcher systems capable of firing these missiles are the Mk 70 and the MRC Typhon, both based on the Mk 41 shipborne launching system, with only minor operational differences between them. But will these systems be transferred to Ukraine? The likely goal of America’s Biden administration needs careful consideration. The aim cannot be to decisively end the war in Ukraine, as the existing stock of Tomahawks is insufficient to achieve that objective. Even with a few dozen Tomahawks potentially being transferred to Kiev, such an action would lead to a significant escalation, likely provoking a strong response from Russia — possibly bringing the US and NATO into direct confrontation with Moscow, especially given the inevitable involvement of US military personnel in deploying these weapons. Some experts speculate that this move is part of a larger strategy by the Biden administration to “complicate matters as much as possible” in an effort to make any future peace talks — particularly those under a potential Trump administration — more difficult to pursue. As an alternative, Washington could consider providing JASSM-ER air-launched missiles, which have a range of about 1,000 kilometers and can be deployed from F-16 fighter jets. However, this too would do little to shift the balance of the conflict. The number of available JASSM-ERs would be far too small to lead to a Ukrainian victory, and their use would again risk escalating the conflict, with unpredictable consequences. Moreover, such a transfer would be impossible without continued US technical support. Do NATO’s leaders understand the risks of such actions? Surely they must. So why push for such a resolution? The NATO Parliamentary Assembly, though influential, is one of the least powerful branches of the alliance. Nonetheless, its actions appear to follow the larger direction set by NATO’s leadership, often without the full weight of strategic consequences being considered.Greene to lead subcommittee taking on government spendingITV I'm A Celeb's Barry McGuigan reveals grim boxing injuries left him with plastic noseWatch! Acting COAS Oluyede makes 1 strong vow during screening, video trends

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder, dealing another blow to the 49ers' playoff hopes. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday's . He underwent an MRI on Monday that showed no structural damage and the team initially thought he could play this week. But when Purdy's shoulder didn't feel right when he made a few warmup throws at practice Thursday, those plans changed. “We thought he just needed some rest and we really weren’t concerned about him not being good this week,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “But when he started up Thursday, it just surprised him, surprised us how it felt. So we had to shut him down.” Shanahan said the team doesn't believe the injury is a long-term concern but he is uncertain whether Purdy will need to miss any additional time. “The MRI doesn’t look like that, so it should be all right,” Shanahan said. “But the way it responded this week, it’s really up in the air for next week. We’ll have to see on Monday.” The 49ers also will be missing star defensive end Nick Bosa, who is out after leaving last week's game in the second half with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. San Francisco struggled on defense without Bosa last week and now will go the entire game this week without two of the team's most important players. The Niners (5-5) are currently in a three-way tie for second in the NFC West, a game behind first-place Arizona, and have little margin for error if they want to get back to the playoffs after making it to the Super Bowl last season. “I know it’s disappointing,” Shanahan said. “We knew there was a chance for Nick. I think the guys were a little surprised with Brock yesterday, but we addressed all that today. We’re going to have 48 guys in uniform. I know our guys believe in themselves. I believe in them. We’re missing two good players, definitely. But we got a lot of good players out there. So by no means do we not have a chance to win.” This will be the first time Purdy has missed a start because of an injury since taking over as the 49ers’ quarterback in December 2022. Brandon Allen will start in his place. Purdy has completed 66% of his passes this season for 2,613 yards, 13 TDs, eight interceptions and a 95.9 passer rating that is down significantly from his league-leading mark of 113 in 2023. Allen has been mostly a backup since being drafted by Jacksonville in 2016. Allen last started a game in Week 18 of the 2021 season for Cincinnati and has thrown just three passes the last three seasons — including none since joining San Francisco in 2023. Allen said he preparation hasn't changed this week with the exception of getting to work with the first-team receivers instead of running the scout team. “It’s an opportunity.” he said. “The circumstances are what they are. But I think our team all year long we’ve been kind of dealing with injuries here and there. It’s been a big next-man-up mentality. It’s definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game. Obviously, we want Brock back and healthy and all that. But for the time being, it is an opportunity for me.” Joshua Dobbs will be the backup Sunday. San Francisco also will be without starting cornerback Charvarius Ward, who returned to the team this week following the death of his 1-year-old daughter on Oct. 28 but needs more time to get back up to speed. Punt returner Jacob Cowing (concussion), linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and defensive lineman Kevin Givens (groin) are also out. The Packers will also be without two key defensive players with cornerback Jaire Alexander ruled out after leaving last week's game with a knee injury and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper out with an injured hamstring. ___ AP NFL: Josh Dubow, The Associated PressCooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level Media Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more.

Trump asks Supreme Court to pause TikTok ban, while Biden admin says app poses ‘grave’ threat

In a “People’s Town Hall” that attracted more than 300 attendees from 25 cities and towns across the region, state Sen. Jo Comerford reminded her “bosses” — the people — that they are the force behind democracy and to make their voices heard as the country heads into another term under President-elect Donald Trump. “In our view about government, you are the most powerful, and we’re going to need that power as we go into this next two years; it is going to be a hard two years,” Comerford said. During the virtual event last Thursday, the senator — who will wrap up her third term representing the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District at the end of the year — gave an overview of her biggest achievements for the western half of the state, specifically in disaster relief, climate mitigation and health care. She then outlined a direction for her fourth term, which involves defending and protecting the rights established in the state, continuing to build momentum from past work and finding innovative solutions to existing challenges. “This session, going forward, I’m inviting you to be organizers with me,” Comerford told those who attended the town hall. “This is going to be really important for the things that we want to accomplish.” While Comerford touched on nine priorities for the state, three rose to the top of the list: housing, increasing education funding to rural communities, and protecting natural and working lands. Many residents asked Comerford about the security of reproductive rights and immigrants under Trump’s incoming administration, and while Comerford acknowledged that neither she, nor anyone on Beacon Hill, can be certain of what will happen, the state is committed to protecting and upholding these rights. “I got into state service in the second two years of the Trump administration,” said Comerford, referring to her first term that started in January 2019. “Why I wanted to run was I believe states can do great things. I’ll show you what we’ve done in these last years to make our commonwealth more equitable, safer, more secure for the greatest possible diversity of people.” Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Comerford began the town hall with a progress report. Over the past term, she has filed 71 bills, 19 of which were signed into law and implemented by Gov. Maura Healey’s administration. Some of these bills include establishing a permanent disaster relief resiliency fund in the wake of devastating floods to many farms in the communities she represents; creating a gender “X” option on all state documents; and requiring solar siting to look at the built environment or disturbed land before installing solar on forested and agricultural lands. “I’m proud of these, right?” Comerford said. “I’m proud of, for example, in 2022 we passed legislation to protect providers offering and individuals seeking reproductive health care and gender-affirming care.” In addition, two bond bills were passed during the term, including a housing bond bill and the recent $4 billion economic development bond bill, the latter of which was signed into law late last week. In terms of state funding, Comerford helped secure more than $2.36 million in budget earmarks and more than $44 million in bonding earmarks, but she admits that there is no way to track how much of that funding goes to western Massachusetts. She filed a bill to require the state government to publish how much state funding is distributed to each town and region, so legislators can ensure equitable funding. “I want to see it every which way, because I want to make sure that we’re getting a fair shake of public tax dollars,” Comerford said. Piggybacking on equitable funding, Comerford said public education money is among her top priorities, especially for districts with very small or declining enrollments. Along with state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, Comerford filed “An Act to Provide a Sustainable Future for Rural Schools” to help drive funding to smaller districts. However, the real problem, Comerford said, won’t be solved with legislation because the issue lies in education funding formulas. Neither the state education formula or the municipal local aid formula have been reviewed in at least 10 years, which is why she promises to push hard for such a review. “We must open these formulas. They are not working for us. We can make them work, and it will be game-changers for our communities,” she said. An additional legislative priority, Comerford said, is the formation of an independent state municipal and public safety building authority, which would provide financial support for cities and towns to update aging infrastructure. Attendees at the virtual hearing pointed to Northfield as an example, as the rural town still needs a new fire station after voters rejected plans for a $13.5 million public safety complex last year . Comerford said that municipalities not only need space to operate, but buildings to establish public safety and community. “We’ve met with the Legislature on this, we’ve met with the lieutenant governor on this and we are going to push it. It’s a priority bill of the Massachusetts Municipal Association,” Comerford said. Many attendees tuned into the town hall to learn more about the state’s position on federal policies that Trump has endorsed, including the mass deportation of immigrants and the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education. “The Department of Education was an act of Congress, so as much as Mr. Trump may think that he can abolish it very quickly, there are many people who would tell him differently,” Comerford said. Currently, the state has codified the right of both providers and residents to supply and seek gender-affirming and reproductive health care, Comerford said. The Safer Communities Act, which would prohibit local police cooperation with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, is coming back to the Legislature this session, and she encourages residents to write to their representatives to support the bill. Yet even with the state taking a stand to protect these rights, Comerford said she’s proactively organizing and listening to grassroots organizations that lead advocacy for these social services, such as Reproductive Equity Now, ACLU, the MIRA Coalition and the Truth School. She’s planning a “know-your-rights” event for education constituents outlining their state civil rights. “We have demonstrated a willingness, both a financial and a policy willingness, to protect and defend and care for our people,” she said. Taking care of Massachusetts residents also applies to the land that Comerford’s constituents live on. “I think we want the green revolution here,” she said. “I just don’t think we want to be steamrolled by multinational corporations, and I don’t think we want to cut trees or take natural or working lands when we don’t have to.” Both the Massachusetts Municipal Association and Comerford previously raised concerns about municipalities losing control over solar siting under the provisions of the climate bill Healey signed into law on Nov. 21. However, Comerford pointed out some aspects of the law that empower municipalities, such as funding for local governments to intervene on state solar siting and permitting processes. Rural towns with populations under 7,500 receive this funding automatically. Solar siting has been streamlined into one application, but feedback from every municipal government department is included on the single permit. “Our communities are stewarding this land, and it’s beautiful and we’re proud of it, but it means they can’t develop this land,” she said. “Some are worried about how they’re going to pay a firefighter or a teacher, so we have to really transition and change the PILOT formula, and we need to codify this, the value of this land.” In addition to funneling millions of dollars into climate mitigation and public transit, the state continued to fund housing development with the housing bond bill. Comerford said she met with Housing Secretary Edward Augustus about the upcoming five-year housing plan and the available funds for building housing in western Massachusetts. While Comerford said she would not overstep municipal jurisdiction on housing, she is working to provide local governments with the tools and resources to build a mixture of market-rate and affordable units. At the end of every question, Comerford rattled off local and statewide organizations that are advocating for these causes. She finished the virtual event by asking attendees to attend hearings on Beacon Hill, in person or virtually, and get western Massachusetts voices heard. Comerford has observed how testimony from her constituents creates change, and how Boston is beginning to listen. “I love this job, I love doing it, I love the people I represent, I am in awe of you every day,” Comerford said. “Our democracy is really fragile right now, and we need you to believe in our government and make us work.”

Kayode Tokede The Chairman, Access Holding Company Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imuokhuede, has commended the digital innovation efforts of the Nigerian Exchange Group following the successful N351billion Rights Issue completed to comply with the regulatory directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria. According to the statement from Access HoldCo, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imuokhuede said “By leveraging the NGX’s E-offering platform – NGX Invest, the Company provided its shareholders with a seamless, efficient, and convenient subscriber experience significantly reducing barriers and democratizing participation in the Rights Issue.” In an article published by the World Federation of Exchanges, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Mr Temi Popoola had emphasised that the platform was at the core of NGX Group’s digital strategy, stating that it was designed to streamline the distribution of securities in the Nigerian capital market. “Its user-friendly interface allows investors to onboard seamlessly and verify their identities through the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), using their Bank Verification Number (BVN). With NGX Invest, the traditionally complex and time-consuming process of investing is reduced to a few clicks, making it easier for investors across Nigeria, including those in underserved areas, to participate in the capital market.” The success of Access HoldCo’s capital raise, making it the first bank to officially comply with the CBN’s Banking Recapitalisation directive, is a key social proof and testament to the robustness of NGX Invest and demonstrates the potential of NGX Group’s platform to support the growth and business goals of its Issuers.

MIAMI — Miami-Dade Commissioners are set to vote on a resolution to eliminate single-use plastics and Styrofoam at county-owned venues like Miami International Airport, PortMiami, parks and office buildings — and instead sell aluminum bottles or cans or serve food on washable ceramic or compostable plates. The resolution marks the latest chapter in a longstanding battle between the state and local governments over attempts to ban single-use plastics, with some hoping that successful implementation would inspire private businesses to voluntarily follow the county’s lead in reducing plastics proven harmful to the health of humans and the environment. “I don’t want to go into any county-owned facility and see single-use plastics when there is a viable, cost-effective alternative,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who championed the proposal. The resolution, which could face a vote as early as Wednesday, would make exceptions for grab-and-go snacks or candy bars. Despite their light weight, the plastic products that industries produce in the U.S. each year weigh 35.7 million tons. In the U.S., only 5 percent of all plastics are recycled, according to the Department of Energy, and recycling rates have dropped over the years. The rest ends up in incinerators or landfills, pollutes storm drains, rivers and oceans, and breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that have been found in breast milk, human brains, lungs and testicles. Better options While the county’s waste management master plan considers a new and controversial incinerator necessary – the amount of waste produced is expected to grow from roughly 2.5 million tons this year to 2.9 million tons by 2028 – experts and activists say that burning trash isn’t the only option. “The trick is reducing and diverting waste,” said Dave Doebler, co-founder of VolunteerCleanup, which has helped remove 800,000 pounds of trash from beaches and parks in South Florida since 2013. Simply put, Doebler said, “the less volume we have to deal with, the less we need to incinerate or throw in a landfill.” And the less that can end up in Biscayne Bay or as toxins in our own bodies. Microplastics have been linked to cancer and infertility and might even play a role in obesity, recent studies show, though their impact is most apparent on Florida’s coast, which not only draws millions of tourists, but sees plastics from across the world washed up. As petrochemicals derived from oil or gas, plastics account for 3.4 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers project that plastic waste in the ocean could amount to about 600 million tons within the next six years – about 150 times the weight of the planet’s total blue whale population combined. Dozens of volunteers gather regularly around Miami-Dade to try to make a difference by combing beaches and parks for plastic bottles and bags. Most of them are designed for just a few minutes of usage and can’t be recycled even if they were thrown in a recycling bin. “People are not aware of how it could affect not just us individuals, but the animals that live here,” said Gabriella Wright, a 16-year-old who has passed up sleepovers and hangouts with friends since she was six to instead gather trash. Though Wright has inspired her friends and family to be more mindful and reduce the amount of plastic they use — for example, by getting reusable water bottles — policies that support such waste-reduction efforts are urgently needed, activists say. State pushback on bans While 12 states, including Maine, Delaware and California, have already imposed some form of plastic bag ban, Florida’s state legislators took a different route in 2008 when they passed a preemption that restricts the right of local governments to regulate plastics, including “containers, wrappings, or disposable bags.” Several local governments, from Surfside to Palm Beach, nevertheless passed plastic bans, citing the will of its residents, but quickly repealed or rescinded these regulations after the Florida Retail Federation (FRF), a lobbying group representing influential retail giants like Publix and Walmart, threatened them with lawsuits. Coral Gables lost a lengthy legal battle to FRF when the state’s Supreme Court declined to hear its appeal over a Styrofoam food container ban in 2020. Miami Beach and Broward County have passed similar resolutions as the one Miami-Dade will be voting on. Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature considered further protecting plastics, which are derived from fossil fuels like oil and gas, with a bill that would have stopped local governments from passing measures restricting its use under public contracts. That bill, however, quickly died after environmental groups’ protests, paving the way for Miami-Dade’s measure. More than 17,000 people have so far emailed the commission in support of the resolution. Statewide, 93 percent of people surveyed by the Department of Environmental protection in 2021 favored regulation of single-use plastics. A total of 82 percent said they’d support it even if it meant an additional fee. Industry warns commission Opposition is again coming from FRF, which sent a letter to the commission that warns of “a significant financial hit” and “unintended consequences that may arise, particularly in terms of negatively impacting small businesses that rely on sales of items packaged in, or utilize, plastic or polystyrene.” FRF did not respond to the Herald’s request to specify how their members would be hurt. Efforts should be focused on improving recycling of plastics, the letter says. But the plastic industry itself has failed to create workable recycling for decades, and has internally expressed doubts that it would ever be possible to do so in an “economically viable” way since at least the mid-70s. In September, California’s state attorney filed a lawsuit accusing ExxonMobil of deceiving the public over the alleged recyclability of plastics for decades. Publix, by far the single-biggest contributor to FRF’s political committee and a major powerhouse in Tallahassee, said it has reduced plastic bag usage by 9.7 billion since 2007 by coaching staff on “proper bagging techniques” and installing bins designated for recycling single-use plastics. Publix declined several requests for an interview and did not reply to a request to elaborate on the data. The Miami-Dade resolution doesn’t limit product types, quantities or their prices, and is limited to future contracts only. “We’re not trying to tell you how to run your household. But we are saying, ‘This is how we want to run our household and our business’,” Higgins said. She believes that Miami Dade, the largest county in Florida, should lead by example. “We can, through our contracting, inspire companies to change the product portfolio, to make more in aluminum and less in plastic,” she said. Who profits? Businesses across the county, including Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, have already shown that reducing plastics can work. William Elgar, the director of Zoo Miami, said that his team also decided to tackle its own plastics issue during the pandemic, around the time the zoo opened its Sea Turtle Hospital that has so far removed plastics from some 30 sea turtles. Across the premises, vending machines are now stacked with aluminum water bottles and cans with electrolyte drinks, which helped the zoo cut 340,000 bottles of plastic just last year. “If you think about it, that’s 340,000 bottles and cups less that could get into our oceans, that could get into our water works, our streams, and cause microfilaments and plastic to get everywhere,” Elgar said. The switch hasn’t hurt revenues, Elgar said, in part because the aluminum trash is bought by companies that can recycle it indefinitely. Activists, however, say that recycling isn’t in the best interest of the companies producing plastics, nor in the oil companies’, which are banking on the increase of plastic production as the use of fossil fuels for transportation or heating decline. “If we’re truly going to address or slow down climate change or avert the worst impacts of climate change, we also are going to have to address the emissions that are coming from plastics and petrochemicals, which are expected to rise,” said Renee Sharp, a policy expert at the National Resource Defense Council. Along with other petrochemicals like fertilizer and synthetic fabrics, the International Energy Agency projects that plastics will account for roughly half of the growth in oil demand by 2050. Activists have called plastics the oil industry’s “Plan B.” The only entity that would ultimately be hurt by a ban is the oil and plastics industries, said the Sierra Club’s Ken Russell, a former Miami city commissioner. “It does not hurt the end user, the retail tenant, or, of course, the customer,” Russell said, “and so the real pushback comes from the industry that creates, in this case, the plastics and the Styrofoam.”A few more days remain in Dana Holgorsen’s monthlong crash course on Nebraska and Big Ten football. After that? The new Husker offensive coordinator has no play call at the ready. No script for how December — and potentially 2025 — might go between him and NU. “I’m taking Saturday off,” Holgorsen said. “That’s the only thing I know.” The 53-year-old conducted his second Nebraska press conference Tuesday in a session as transparent as his first. The offensive line blocked well again last weekend against Wisconsin, he said. Receivers were in the right spots and made plays. Emphasis on finishing in the red zone — Big Red netted touchdowns on five of seven trips — paid off. As for future ambitions, the longtime coach didn’t want to get into it. He might start studying up Sunday on players in the transfer portal. He said he assumed — while shrugging his shoulders — he would be calling plays in Nebraska’s bowl game. Coach Matt Rhule has said he would like Holgorsen to stay into next season and beyond if possible. People are also reading... 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I had more fun on Saturday than I’ve had in a long time. There’s an element of being a head coach 13 years not being able to enjoy it like I did on Saturday.” Holgorsen described his first Memorial Stadium game-day experience as “spectacular” and saw progress throughout the offense in a win that produced 44 points. Personnel tweaks — running back Emmett Johnson enjoyed a career day while tight ends Nate Boerkircher and Luke Lindenmeyer were as involved as they had been all season — were the result of competition as Holgorsen saw it during November practices. The coordinator credited Rhule’s culture and players’ “give-a-crap” level that have allowed him to coach effectively in his blunt style. The latest among newly inspired Huskers might be Thomas Fidone — a nine-game starter at tight end this season — who saw a season-low three offensive snaps against Wisconsin while his position mates combined for 91. “I think that motivated Thomas,” Holgorsen said. “Thomas just had the best practice he’s had since I’ve been here. I appreciate his attitude and his understanding. He lined up and he practiced hard for two days so I would anticipate him going in there making plays on Saturday.” Holgorsen also praised receiver Jacory Barney, fresh off being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after rolling up 150 all-purpose yards. The live-wired freshman reminds the coach of his former star playmaker at Houston, Tank Dell, who totaled more than 3,000 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in three seasons with Holgorsen. Even still, Barney earlier in the month was slowed in practice by back tightness. His new OC had to say something. “I was like, ‘Man, I guess you’re not what I thought you were,’” Holgorsen said. “Then a week later he snapped out of it and he’s been good for two weeks.” Holgorsen said Barney is also an example of Nebraska previously using too many players in too many different spots. The former receivers coach has always preferred to let guys settle into a role. He’s also taking a “very large playbook” and trimming it based on what the Huskers can execute best. “My job is to take the thinking out of it for these guys,” he said. “...If it don’t make sense to me, it ain’t gonna make sense to them.” Quarterback Dylan Raiola, with two of his best passing days against Big Ten teams the last two weeks, said time has made him more comfortable with Holgorsen. The freshman has a sense of what play calls are coming and when. “I think everyone on the offense got more comfortable,” Raiola said. “You could kind of see that as we kept progressing throughout the game.” The challenge with Iowa, he said, hasn’t really changed in a quarter century under coach Kirk Ferentz. Holgorsen — a native of Davenport, an hour’s drive east of Iowa City — was a position coach with Texas Tech in 2001 when the Red Raiders met the Hawkeyes in the Alamo Bowl. Iowa won 19-16. It featured swarming linebackers, big defensive lines and an opportunistic secondary even then. “It’s the same thing,” Holgorsen said. “Twenty-some years later it’s the same scheme, the same coach, the same everything.” Holgorsen grew up an Iowa fan “35 years ago” though he said he holds no nostalgia for coaching in Kinnick Stadium now. His own college career began as a player at Iowa Wesleyan in the early 1990s. The coach figures he’s learning a new offense now for the first time since then. He spent weeks using flash cards to learn Nebraska’s terminology and needed occasional help Saturday from offensive assistants when he got tongue-tied on a call. The offense improved from USC to Wisconsin, Holgorsen said. Now the aim is to do it again opposite one of the better defenses in the country to end the regular season. “We’re excited about taking another step,” Holgorsen said. “It’s going to be harder — we all know that.”Donald Trump’s reelection could bring new energy to a Washington state fight for abortion access begun in the courts last year. Earlier this month, Bob Ferguson — then attorney general, now governor-elect — filed a summary judgment motion requesting that an ongoing case challenging restrictions on the common abortion drug mifepristone be decided without a trial. If the judge sides with Ferguson, the Food and Drug Administration could be obligated to revisit their policies on the drug used in more than half of all abortions. According to Brionna Aho, a spokesperson with the Attorney General’s Office, the FDA’s response is expected Dec. 6. “We are continuing to fight for reproductive freedom, including access to mifepristone,” said Ferguson in a news release announcing the motion. “The FDA must remove its unnecessary and unlawful restrictions on this safe and effective medication.” In a joint lawsuit with 18 other attorneys general filed last year in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane, Ferguson and his staff argued that restrictions on mifepristone are illegal, and that the FDA should reevaluate its policies on the drug. In April 2023, Judge Thomas O. Rice approved a preliminary injunction requested by Ferguson that prevents the FDA from interfering with the availability of mifepristone in Washington, Oregon, the District of Columbia, and 16 other states that have signed on to the lawsuit. Rice’s ruling last year was released the same day another decision on mifepristone came out in a Texas lawsuit, in favor of anti-abortion advocates who argued that the already unusually restrictive rules around mifepristone were inadequate. That ruling, which would’ve rescinded FDA approval for the drug, made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where, in June, the Court disagreed, deciding unanimously that the anti-abortion advocates who brought the suit in Texas lacked a legal right to sue . While that case was rejected, abortion challenges are not likely over. Trump has bragged publicly about the reversal of Roe v. Wade enabled by the Supreme Court picks he made during his first presidency, while abortion was an issue in both federal and state elections this year. Mifepristone is limited under what’s known as a Risk Evaluation & Mitigation Strategy, a set of regulations the FDA requires for just 73 drugs, including those with well-established addictive properties or that are known to cause birth defects, for example opioids, thalidomide, and isotretinoin . Mifepristone is also restricted under a policy called Elements to Assure Safe Use, which is typically applied to drugs that carry high risk. For years, abortion rights advocates and providers have argued that the restrictions on mifepristone are scientifically baseless and burdensome, pointing out that there are no similar requirements when mifepristone is prescribed for purposes aside from pregnancy termination. Mifepristone is also commonly used to manage high blood sugar in patients with Cushing syndrome. “There is, truly, zero science or medicine to support it,” said Sarah Prager, a Seattle-area abortion provider and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington. According to Prager, recent changes in how mifepristone is prescribed have made it even more challenging to provide it to patients. “Each individual provider now needs to be registered with each pharmacy that will dispense the medication for them,” she said. “Additionally, mifepristone is a medication safer than many over-the-counter medications and should not have ANY restrictions in use.” The Washington Attorney General’s Office agrees, saying that “The stigma and administrative burdens associated with becoming ‘specially certified’ to prescribe and dispense an abortion medication deters many health care providers and pharmacies from signing up to do so in the first place.” But without the FDA rules, “any qualified health care provider would be able to prescribe mifepristone — just as they can for any other prescription drug, including high-risk drugs such as opioids.” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who is co-leading the lawsuit with Ferguson, agrees: “The restrictions simply are not medically necessary.” In medication abortions, mifepristone is typically paired with a second drug, misoprostol, to end a pregnancy. The same FDA rules do not apply to misoprostol, which can also be used on its own to end a pregnancy , a protocol reproductive health care providers have indicated they would pivot to if mifepristone is further restricted. Beyond broader questions of access, the Attorney General’s Office is also concerned that current restrictions on mifepristone could introduce privacy concerns for patients, especially for those seeking care in Washington from states with abortion-hostile policies enacted since Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was decided more than two years ago. That’s because the restrictions on mifepristone currently include written agreements stating that the drug is being used to induce an abortion or resolve a miscarriage, evidence that could leave patients vulnerable to investigation or prosecution by abortion-hostile state officials.

What state elections say about Indian democracyDonald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling

JERUSALEM — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” Netanyahu's office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but "reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troopsand U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed.Cowboys win wild one vs. Commanders to halt five-game slideUS President- elect Donald Trump pretty recently suggested that Wayne Gretzky who is the legendary hockey player should eventually run for Prime Minister of Canada while humorously referring to him as the future ‘Governor of Canada’, reported Business Insider. ET Year-end Special Reads Two sectors that rose on India's business horizon in 2024 2025 outlook: Is it time for cautious optimism or rekindling animal spirits? 2024: Govt moves ahead with simultaneous polls plan; India holds largest democratic exercise According to Business Insider, in a Christmas Day post on Truth Social, US President- elect Donald Trump claimed that he spoke with Wayne Gretzky and asserted that he could win a national election without even campaigning. Though, at the same time, in spite of the severe encouragement from Donald Trump, Wayne Gretzky eventually expressed no interest in pursuing a political career. The comments of US President- elect Donald Trump were actually a part of a broader critique of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau whose government is actually facing a potential instability due to a looming no confidence vote from his coalition partner Jagmeet Singh of the New Democratic Party, asserted Business Insider. This situation could lead to a new federal election in the country of Canada as early as the month of January. Adding onto that, in his post, US President- elect Donald Trump also reiterated his long standing joke about Canada becoming the 51st US state while proposing significant tax cuts for Canadians if that were to happen, noted Business Insider. The suggestion has eventually sparked mixed reactions among the public and political commentators with some viewing it as a lighthearted jab at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while others express concern over the implications of such rhetoric. 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US President- elect Donald Trump pretty recently suggested that Wayne Gretzky who is the legendary hockey player should eventually run for Prime Minister of Canada while humorously referring to him as the future ‘Governor of Canada’. What was asserted by US President- elect Donald Trump in a Christmas Day post on Truth Social? In a Christmas Day post on Truth Social, US President- elect Donald Trump claimed that he spoke with Wayne Gretzky and asserted that he could win a national election without even campaigning. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Liberal MP accuses opposition MPs of wasting time on another Boissonnault probe

President-elect Donald Trump was known for his golf game during his first term in office, and it seems that he's going to continue to keep one of his favorite hobbies after taking office once again in January. The politician owns several courses in America and around the world, and he invited one of the top players in the world to join him for a round. This time, Trump was joined by a former Masters and U.S. Open champion at one of his courses in the state of Florida. The president-elect was joined by Dustin Johnson, as Johnson's brother shared images from the round and warmup sessions on his Instagram account. View the original article to see embedded media. Johnson is one of several golfers to show their support for Trump, joining a list that includes Bryson DeChambeau, John Daly and Anthony Kim. The two-time major winner attended Trump's victory celebration with his wife Paulina, and his father-in-law Wayne Gretzky. Johnson and Trump have golfed together since 2017, one year after Trump won the presidential election for the first time. Their inaugural round came at the Trump National Golf Club in Florida, where they were also joined by another former world No. 1 in Tiger Woods. Trump's golf skills have been the topic of debate on both sides of the political aisle. Icon Sportswire/Getty Images South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol is reportedly excited to meet the President-elect and to play golf with him, as his office said that he "got out his golf clubs for the first time in eight years and resumed his golf practice." Trump also golfs with his 17-year-old granddaughter Kai, the daughter of his oldest son, Donald Jr. Kai is committed to play golf next year at the University of Miami, keeping her close to many of her grandfather's courses and to his home at the Mar-a-Lago Estate in Palm Beach. Trump referenced his golf game during one of this year's presidential debates, getting into an argument with President Joe Biden about who was the better golfer. Given their political differences, it's hard to see Trump and Biden golfing together any time soon, but it's clear that Trump will fit more golf into his second term. Related: Former WWE Executive Expected To Join Trump's White House CabinetVancouver's Bench Accounting abruptly shuts down, with 600 jobs potentially lost

Seibert misses an extra point late as the Commanders lose their 3rd in a row, 34-26 to the CowboysHow major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 12/10/2024

Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia suspended for four years by NADA for refusing doping testENGLAND rugby World Cup hero Steve Thompson has bravely revealed that he often cannot remember the names of his children. Thompson , 46, packed away all the medals, trophies and memorabilia after his shock early-onset dementia diagnosis left him feeling suicidal. 13 England World Cup winner Steve Thompson was diagnosed with early-onset dementia two years ago at the age of 42 13 Thompson often can't remember his children's names 13 Thompson also cannot recall winning England's only World Cup in 2003 13 Thompson won the top honour in Australia with Phil Vickery (L) and Trevor Woodman (R) At the age of 42, the former front row was diagnosed with both dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 2020. Thompson is set to bravely tell all in a TNT documentary that showcases the damage the sport has done to his mind. The loving dad-of-four young kids sat down with ex-team-mate Phil Vickery to share a heartbreaking update in his house in Cheshire . The pair first pointed to pictures of Thompson's young children as he tried to recall their names: Seren, Slone, Saskia and Saxon. READ MORE RUGBY NEWS STORM DEATH England rugby star feared dead after 'trying to escape car' swept away in river SCRUM HALF A CHICKEN Ex-rugby stars 'in Nando's brawl with teens & one punched in head' Vickery began: "What do you remember of 2003?" A defeated Thompson responded: "It's weird. There's nothing there. I can't even remember being in Australia. "The whole lot is gone. And there's nothing there. My life, everything around then, is just not there." Vickery quizzed: "What about anything from when we got back, from the open top bus or the palace?" Most read in Rugby Union HORROR BLAZE Moment house is blown to bits in HUGE explosion with 60 firefighters at scene HOME AWAY FROM HOME Aberdeen perform huge U-turn and SHELVE plans for new £80m stadium FASHION STATEMENT 'Humbled' Rangers fans' favourite wins coveted Man of the Year award RAILLY BAD Mum slams luxury Scots hotel's winter wonderland and £50 'rip off' attraction Thompson said: "No, nothing. It's just not there. My life has turned upside down. Getting lost, memory issues and anger issues. "I went through a massive guilt stage for the kids and Steph. Then I've been close to suicide. You feel like you're the most selfless person if you went. 13 Thompson proposed to Steph in the hours after winning the World Cup 13 David Flatman, Phil Keith-Roach, Steve Thompson and Phil Greening (from left to right) Dramatic moment dad rugby TACKLES 'crim on the run from cops' "When I see myself or see the other lads I feel like a phoney in a way. Like it weren't me that was there. Like I didn't do it." But this flanker-turned-hooker will go down in history a rugby legend, starring in all but one of England 's games en route to World Cup glory . And Thompson had only made his Red Rose debut a year prior against Scotland . His upbringing on one of Northampton’s most impoverished estates and a spell as a doorman meant he was fearless. Perhaps the saddest moment of his sit down with Vickery came when Thompson admitted that he regrets the career he once loved. He heartbreaking said: "The thing with rugby is, if I had my time again, I wouldn't do it. "I'd much rather just go and work on a building site, have a normal life. The way I look at is, that was our job, we got asked to do that. "And you do it to the best of your ability. You don't question anything around it. And that's why we probably did as well as we did." He can’t remember his first concussion, nor the last, just that across one of the great rugby careers he saw ‘the white dots’ most weeks. WHAT IS EARLY-ONSET DEMENTIA? THE word 'dementia' is the name for a set of symptoms that includes memory loss, difficulty thinking, problem solving and struggling with language. A person with dementia will often experience changes in their mood and behaviour. Dementia is often triggered by diseases that damage the brain, including Alzheimer's disease as well as strokes. The disease is thought to be triggered by a build-up of proteins that form abnormal structures, known as 'plaques', in the brain. It's a progressive disease, which means that gradually over time, more parts of the brain are damaged. As this happens more symptoms emerge and get worse. Dementia is considered to be 'early onset' when someone is diagnosed before the age of 65. A study last year found that football and rugby players are six times more likely to have a degenerative brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is linked to repetitive brain trauma. 13 Thompson started the World Cup final in 2003 13 The England rugby team were welcome to Buckingham Palace to be honoured by Queen Elizabeth II The Hemel Hempstead-born star, who grew up in Northampton, started the 2003 final Down Under at hooker. He played for Northampton Saints for nine years, making 195 appearances. After Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal won England their one and only World Cup, Thompson and co. were awarded Order of the British Empire medals by Queen Elizabeth II upon their return. But Thompson cannot recall any of it. While other players retired after 2003, he went on to play in the 2011 World Cup too despite having broken his neck in 2007. Steve’s professional career spanned 13 years until another neck break brought it to a close in 2011. "We treat them like bits of meat that just have to train and do what we tell them to do, and when they're no good we get rid of them - and that's what happens. Steve Thompson 13 Thompson became the first sportsperson to pledge their brain for research last year Credit: PA 13 He wrote 'Unforgettable: Rugby, dementia and the fight of my life' in 2022 In 2020, Thompson was one of a group of players who launched a legal case to sue rugby's governing bodies for negligence. The former Saints stalwart, as well as Michael Lipman and former Wales No8 Alix Popham, were all named as test cases in action being brought against the RFU, World Rugby and Welsh Rugby Union. The case is still ongoing four years later, with four more British & Irish Lions joining the list of players. Lee Byrne, Gareth Cooper, Harry Ellis and Phil Greening, who toured with the Lions between 2001 and 2009, are among a group of 43 who can now be identified. According to the Mail , British law firm Rylands Legal are in contact with over 100 other former players as part of the historic lawsuit. The claimants allege rugby union's governing bodies failed to put in place reasonable measures to protect their health and safety. A trial date for the lawsuit will not be set until 2025 at the earliest. Thompson told The Guardian in 2020: "I don't want the game to stop, but it's just everyone at the top looking down, saying the main asset of this lovely game is the players. "We've got to make sure we treat them like that. "We treat them like bits of meat that just have to train and do what we tell them to do, and when they're no good we get rid of them - and that's what happens. "They're all human beings, and we've got to make sure they have a proper life after the sport as well." Last year, Thompson became the first sportsperson to pledge their brain for research into the consequences of brain trauma, such as CTE, a disorder that is caused by repeated brain injuries. “When it comes to the CTE aspect and the repetitive head injuries, it’s coming from the training as well,” Thompson said on GMB in April. “World Rugby says it’s our number one priority looking after the players, they’re just about to put in another world tournament for clubs." The film documents all of this - from Thompson and his family trying to come to terms with his diagnosis, to him lending his voice to the fight to make rugby safer Thompson, who won 73 England caps, also says he suffers panic attack and forgets his wife Steph’s name sometimes. Read more on the Scottish Sun SCOT MY FIRST RODEO! Popular music festival coming to three Scots cities for first time CHILL OUT Scots to be gripped by grim -10C freeze as weather map reveals temperature plunge He previously told the BBC in April that the memory of his children's birth is now starting to fade. The former hooker, who helped the British Lions secure a 20-17 victory over Australia in 2013, is now the manager of one of his three daughter's U12 football sides. 13 Thompson made 195 appearances for Northampton Saints 13 But he wishes he never played rugby 13 Thompson cannot remember winning the World Cup with England