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7xm xyz shutterstock At least six Russian mercenaries have been killed in an attack by an Al-Qaeda-linked group in central Mali. A statement released by the extremists, known by its acronym, JNIM, said on their social media platform that the group had ambushed a convoy of mercenaries working for the Wagner Group on Thursday in the Mopti region, killing fighters and burning vehicles. A Mali security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed an attack on Russian soldiers occurred. The official said several people died while manning a checkpoint in the centre of the country. Russia has capitalized on deteriorating relations between the West and coup-affected Sahel nations in West Africa to send fighters and assert its influence. Russia has capitalized on deteriorating relations between the West and coup-affected Sahel nations in West Africa to send fighters and assert its influence. Wagner has been active in the Sahel, the vast expanse south of the Sahara Desert, with the mercenaries profiting from seized mineral riches in exchange for their security services. Wagner has been present in Mali since late 2021 following a military coup, replacing French troops and international peacekeepers to help fight militants who have threatened communities in the central and northern regions for more than a decade. At the same time, Wagner has been accused of helping to carry out raids and drone strikes that have killed civilians. The incident comes months after the deadliest attack on the group, where approximately 50 Wagner fighters were killed by an al-Qaida ambush on their convoy along the border with Algeria.Neal Maupay incurred the wrath of Everton fans once more after taking aim at his parent club on social media. French striker Maupay joined the Toffees from Brighton in the summer of 2022, but found the net just once after his big-money move. He was allowed to join Brentford on loan last term, and is spending the current campaign out on loan again - this time with Marseille . The 28-year-old is set to join the French club permanently at the end of the season, and has already scored more goals in just 11 games than in a full season with Everton. His parent club have been struggling, with no player scoring more than three league goals for Sean Dyche's side. Everton lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest on Sunday to leave themselves three points clear of the drop zone. That gap could narrow even further if Ipswich beat Chelsea on Monday night, and Maupay appeared to enjoy Everton's struggles. "Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile," the striker wrote . A number of Everton fans took the bait, with some pointing to his dismal goalscoring record at Goodison Park. "Craig Dawson scored more goals for us than you did mate," wrote one, referencing the Wolves defender's brace of own goals in a meeting this season. Another pointed to the fact that former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was able to match Maupay's tally of one goal for the club. While he only has two goals this term, Maupay added four assists in his last four Ligue 1 games after breaking into Roberto De Zerbi's starting line-up at Stade Velodrome. Three of those four matches ended in wins for Marseille, who sit second behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. What did you make of Neal Maupay's comments? Havr your say in the comments section Everton lost their first four Premier League matches of the season but had been beaten just twice in the next 13 outings before Nottingham Forest came to Goodison Park on Sunday. High-flying Forest came away with all three points, though, with goals from Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White sending them second. "At the end of the day, you know I thought their centre-forward Chris Wood, who I have worked with before, was excellent," Everton boss Dyche said after the defeat. "He didn’t get many touches of the ball but his work ethic, his belief, his consistency, his physicality – and then he gets his reward with a goal. "That can often be the difference. I've spoken to our centre-forwards about it because I want them to learn and continue to learn about what it is. It can't all be beautiful, it can't all be pure. I thought he was excellent doing the ugly, hard yards today. I think that gave them a focal point, which they've had all season. "I was speaking to our players about how I consider them to be top players and that's just doing the hard yards, you know, really working hard to fight and graft and work for your team and then your rewards come. That's something we've got to continually learn because we’ve got to find a way of scoring goals." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks may face insurmountable obstacles on their narrow path to the playoffs. Their only hope of reaching the postseason is to win the NFC West, and they're a game behind the Los Angeles Rams after Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. That means the Seahawks (8-7) have to win their final two games and the Rams must lose to slumping Arizona on Saturday for Seattle to sneak into the postseason. Seattle was competitive against Minnesota, which shares the best record in the NFC with Detroit. Geno Smith's 4-yard touchdown pass to AJ Barner gave the Seahawks the lead in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings took advantage of a facemask penalty against Byron Murphy II on their next possession, and Sam Darnold found Justin Jefferson for a go-ahead 39-yard touchdown. A late interception by Smith sealed the loss and put the Seahawks in a tough spot heading into the final two weeks of the season. “We just got to handle our part, which is win out,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. "Then, let the chips fall where they fall. Hopefully, we catch a little luck and we can get in there. But it’s tough in there.” What’s working Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued to shine, finishing with eight receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. He has 1,089 yards this season, becoming the 10th player in franchise history to reach 1,000 yards receiving and the first since DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett both did so in 2020. Smith-Njigba has led the Seahawks in receiving yards in each of the past eight games. “He’s a great player,” Smith said. “Been having a tremendous season. Those things are to be expected of him. I think he’s only going to continue to get better. He’s a fighter. Got a lot of heart. That’s something that goes a long way.” Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald answers questions during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Vikings won 27-24. Credit: AP/Lindsey Wasson What needs help The running game was a non-factor yet again. The Seahawks gained 59 yards on 15 carries for an average of 3.9 yards. Kenneth Walker III had eight rushes for 31 yards, including an 11-yard run that was Seattle's longest of the day. The Seahawks rank 30th in the NFL in rushing yards, and some of the blame will inevitably fall on offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Stock up Although he was intercepted twice, Smith had one of his better games of the season. He completed 72% of his passes (31 of 43) for 314 yards and three touchdowns for a passer rating of 96.5. Smith exceeded 300 yards passing for the fifth time this season and threw for three or more TDs for the second time. “Geno is probably our top competitor on our football team,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “We’re not sitting here with life at the end of December unless Geno has done the things he’s done. He’s a fighter, man. I thought he played a good game.” Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) walks off the field after the 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. Credit: AP/Lindsey Wasson Stock down Tre Brown had a bad series in the second quarter. A sack by Derick Hall on third-and-8 to seemingly force the Vikings to try a field goal was negated by an offside penalty against Brown. On the next play, Jefferson got past Brown for a 14-yard touchdown catch that put the Vikings ahead 14-7. Brown, who started in place of Riq Woolen, hadn’t played a defensive snap since Seattle’s Week 6 loss to San Francisco, and he struggled to contain Jefferson, who finished with 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Injuries Walker left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Macdonald had no updates about Walker on Monday. Key numbers 75 — The Seahawks threw the ball on 75% of their offensive snaps (45 of 60). One of their 15 runs was a 2-yard sneak by Julian Love on a fake punt in the fourth quarter, and another was an 8-yard scramble by Smith. Zach Charbonnet, who ran for 134 yards two weeks ago against Arizona, had one carry for minus-1 yard. Up next The Seahawks play at Chicago on Thursday night. The Bears have lost nine straight.

The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the Hawk air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defence officials acknowledged that the US Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining 5.6 billion dollars (£4.5 billion) in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Mr Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many US and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he will not provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about 4.35 billion dollars (£3.46 billion). Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky decide it is time to negotiate. One senior defence official said that while the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about 1.2 billion dollars (£0.9 billion) remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the US will have provided more than 64 billion dollars (£50.8 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Press Release AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott today lauded Texas’ robust economy with records unmatched by any other state, as Texas continues to attract both large and small businesses in 2024. “Texas is the leading economy in the United States because we move at the speed of business,” said Governor Abbott. “This year, I launched two new state initiatives — the Texas Space Commission and the Governor’s Small Business Freedom Council — to further spur economic growth and job creation. Texas has also received numerous awards in 2024, including, Best State for Business, Gold Shovel Award, the Governor’s Cup, and more, showcasing Texas’ investment in our future by partnering with Texas businesses and providing globally competitive and cost-effective financial tools to drive success and innovation. As the eighth largest economy in the world, Texas will continue to slash government regulations that holds our businesses back from thriving in 2025.” Highlights From Texas’ 2024 Economic Development Initiatives: Governor Abbott Launches Texas Space Commission In the spring, Governor Abbott launched the Texas Space Commission and appointed the inaugural members of the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium (TARSEC) Executive Committee at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “As we look into the future of space, one thing is clear: those who reach for the stars do so from the great state of Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “Now, with the Texas Space Commission, our great state will have a group that is responsible for dreaming and achieving the next generation of human exploration in space. Texas is the launchpad for Mars, innovating the technology that will colonize humanity’s first new planet.” The Texas Space Commission works to strengthen Texas’ proven leadership in civil, commercial, and aerospace activity by promoting innovation in the fields of space exploration and commercial aerospace opportunities, including the integration of space, aeronautics, and aviation industries into the Texas economy. The Commission is governed by a nine-member board of directors, who also administer the legislatively created Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund to provide grants to eligible entities. Texas Named Best State For Business For Record-Breaking 20th Year In April, Governor Abbott celebrated Texas again being named the Best State for Business for a record-breaking 20 years in a row. In an annual survey conducted by Chief Executive magazine, Texas was named the Best State for Business by the nation’s leading CEOs thanks to its pro-growth economic policies, no corporate income tax and personal income tax, and world class and highly skilled workforce. “Freedom is a magnet, and Texas offers entrepreneurs and hardworking Texans the freedom to succeed,” said Governor Abbott. “The nation’s leading CEOs continually cite our pro-growth economic policies—with no corporate income tax and no personal income tax—along with our young, skilled, diverse, and growing workforce, easy access to global markets, robust infrastructure, and predictable business-friendly regulations.” The Best State for Business ranking is determined in an annual survey conducted by Chief Executive magazine of CEOs’ assessments of each state’s business climate, workforce, and quality of life. Texas has topped the nation every year since Chief Executive began the ranking.

IRISH RUGBY was in mourning this evening after the death of long-time Leinster strength and condition coach Dave Fagan. The province announced the news as they paid tribute with a touching statement. Irish Rugby also issued a post as they offered their condolences to the former shot putt coaches family. Fagan would have helped some of the top players from Ireland throughout their career in what is a vital position in the province's set up. A statement on Leinster's website confirmed that he died after a short illness. It read: "A Strength & Conditioning Coach with Leinster and Irish Rugby over 27 years, Dave joined the Leinster Branch in 1995 where he worked with the Men’s Senior Team for many seasons before his role evolved to focus on the Academy and sub-Academy pathway systems. "A former shot putt Coach who worked with Team Ireland at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and again in Beijing in 2008. "He also worked with many other athletes from different sports including Gaelic games. "To his family and his wide circle of friends, we offer our condolences on his passing. We are thinking especially of his wife Pam, children Shauna, Ciaran and Eoin and his grandson Finn during this difficult time. "May he rest in peace." Fans and friends also took to social media as they were shocked to learn of Mr Fagan's death. One posted: "Devastated to hear about the loss of Dave Fagan. So many great memories! "He helped people become better versions of themselves. His passion for developing young rugby players in Leinster was larger than life - thoughts and prayers with his family. "Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a hanam." Another penned: "Saddened to hear this news today, Dave Fagan played such a key role in developing the careers of many players from an early age. Sympathy to his family and friends." While a third wrote: "What a legend of a man Dave was. So instrumental in the success of Irish/Leinster rugby. "Was lucky to have worked with and against him. Always great for a night out and sound advice during my early career. He will be a huge loss to the game. RIP Dave."

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Max Green’s 16 points helped Holy Cross defeat Regis (MA) 82-46 on Sunday. Green also had nine rebounds and six assists for the Crusaders (8-5). Aidan Richard scored 13 points, going 4 of 6 (3 for 5 from 3-point range). Declan Ryan went 6 of 8 from the field to finish with 12 points. Jamir Harvey finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Pride. Aamyr Sullivan added nine points and five assists for Regis (MA). Dan Grasso finished with six points. Holy Cross took the lead with 19:46 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 36-20 at halftime, with Richard racking up 10 points. Holy Cross extended its lead to 82-43 during the second half, fueled by a 15-2 scoring run. Green scored a team-high 11 points in the second half as their team closed out the win. Holy Cross hosts Loyola (MD) in its next matchup on Thursday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020

Several wounded N.Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukraine: ZelenskyNone

In principle, the money pledged by developed nations for the developing world, of $300 billion a year in climate finance, makes sense. One could dicker over the amount, and many affected countries in the Third World have already described the amount as too little. However, it is only right that the developed world pay the cost of the repair and rehabilitation of the ravages of climate change. After all, climate change is occurring because the developed countries paid no attention to pollution while developing, and poured greenhouse gasses into the skies with abandon. Even now, headed by US President-elect Donald Trump, there are climate change deniers, who feel that there is no need to switch from nonrenewable fuels, and who feel that there should be unrestricted development of fossil fuels allowed. This sentiment exists in developed countries, but also in other countries anxious for development on the Western model. There is also the problem of where to find the money. That it is felt that trillions of dollars are not enough, means that the sums involved are colossal. Only the developed countries can put up the money. However, there is a problem. The countries worst affected by climate change are the ones already the most heavily indebted. The developed world is lending the money, not giving it, and is going to charge interest. The previous loans to underdeveloped countries at least were supposed in theory to lead to development which would generate the revenue that would help pay off the debt. Instead, the loans were meant to be embezzled by the elites the developed world had left behind when they left their colonies, so as to buy their political loyalty. The elites decamped with their ill-gotten gains to the metropoles, leaving behind heavily indebted countries. This time around, the loans will not be used for revenue generation, but to replace losses, or fortify existing structures against damage caused by climate change. There is thus even less chance of enabling repayment. It will encourage embezzlement by the corrupt, and avoidance of debt by the honest. The developed nations are grossly mistaken to think that they can shut the worst affected countries up by getting them further into debt. Perhaps most importantly, they should not forget that they will suffer the effects of climate change too. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Several wounded N.Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukraine: ZelenskyFrench President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday he will remain in office until 2027, when his five-year term ends. He added that he would appoint a new prime minister within days after the resignation on Thursday of the ousted Michel Barnier. The National Assembly passed a historic no-confidence vote against Barnier, marking the shortest tenure for a prime minister in modern French history. Before Wednesday, only one government had ever been ousted – that of Georges Pompidou, in October 1962. In his first public address following the turmoil, Macron criticized the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) and the right-wing National Rally (RN) opposition for their role in the ousting, calling their alliance an “anti-Republican front.” “I won’t shoulder other people’s irresponsibility,” he said. Despite calls from the opposition for his resignation, the president insisted he would fulfill his mandate and ruled out new elections until at least July, as per the French constitution. The country’s constitution does not require a president to step down after his government is ousted. Back in June Macron also stated his intention to remain in office until May 2027, regardless of the outcomes of the summer snap parliamentary elections he called. At that time Marine Le Pen, the RN figurehead, had said only Macron’s resignation would avoid a hung parliament for the remaining three years of his term. He appointed Barnier, a 73-year-old conservative and former Brexit negotiator, in September, angering the NPF, which he’d used to sideline the RN. The Macron-backed minority government has clung to power by playing both sides against each other ever since. Things came to a head over a social security budget proposal in which Barnier tried to cut spending by €40 billion ($41.87 billion) and to raise €20 billion in taxes to deal with a massive deficit. RN threatened a no-confidence vote unless the cabinet made a number of concessions to its “red lines.” France is the second-largest economy in the Eurozone but has “a mountain of debt,” according to Politico, while “its government hasn’t been this fragile nor its parliament so fractured for a generation.” Barnier will stay on as a caretaker PM until Macron can appoint a replacement. It took the French president nearly two months to do so after July’s parliamentary election. Another vote is not an option, because the French constitution forbids this until at least a year has passed. Despite Macron’s bloc coming second in the election, the president has the sole power to name the prime minister, who is not formally required to be a candidate from the dominant party.

AP News Summary at 7:43 a.m. ESTI’m not an only child, but I’m the only one responsible for having kids

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The New York Giants showed Sunday that their problems extend well beyond Daniel Jones. After benching and waiving their starting quarterback, the Giants didn't have better results in Week 12. They got outgained by 205 yards in an embarrassing 30-7 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first start of the season, Tommy DeVito completed 21 of 31 passes for 189 yards. Mlik Nabers didn't mince words following New York's sixth straight loss. Speaking to reporters after the game, the rookie wide receiver said he's "very" disappointed in the team's "soft as f***" performance. Furthermore, Nabers noted that Jones wasn't the team's problem. "It ain't the quarterback. Same outcome we had with D.J. at quarterback," Nabers said, via The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll . Nabers couldn't pinpoint New York's specific issues, but the No. 6 pick is ready for something to change. "I don't know what it is," Nabers said. "I know I'm tired of losing." Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Nabers caught six of his nine targets for 64 yards. The 21-year-old led the Giants in all three categories, but he felt he didn't get featured until the game was already out of hand. DeVito targeted him four times on a 13-play touchdown drive during the late-third, early-fourth quarter. "Started getting the ball when it's 30-0," he said, per SNY . "What do you want me to do?" When asked why he didn't get more opportunities earlier, Nabers said to "talk to [head coach Brian] Daboll about that." After switching from Jones, New York averaged 4.4 yards per play and scored on one of three red-zone visits. DeVito got sacked four times behind an offensive line that also did Jones no favors. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers shredded the Giants defense for 7.3 yards per play. Baker Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes for 294 yards and was one of four different Tampa Bay players to score a rushing touchdown. At this rate, the 2-9 Giants could have a chance to draft a replacement quarterback early in 2025. They'll have a short week to prepare for a Thanksgiving game against the Dallas Cowboys. Related: Three 'Intriguing' NFL Teams Are Emerging For Daniel Jones

With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter’s resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. “Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation,” political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. – Panama Canal – An important symbol of Carter’s approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. “Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability,” said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, “the most difficult political challenge I ever had,” as he accepted Panama’s highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as “a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom.” During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to “make a very uncomfortable pact with the government,” said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts “did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization,” said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. – ‘Let’s go to the ball game’ – The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. “With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up,” Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro’s blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It “hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants,” said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington’s wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, “he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening,” said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. “Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter’s speech. But he didn’t. He just said, ‘Let’s go to the ball game.'” In the years following Carter’s presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. “Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation,” McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.Laura Loomer, an Elon Musk supporter-turned-critic, says Musk has demoted her account on Twitter/X. Musk has accused Loomer of "trolling for attention." It's a reminder: We've seen Musk run Twitter on a whim. Now that he's got an important role in politics: Will he behave the same way there? Laura Loomer has been kicked off lots of social media sites, including Twitter. After Elon Musk bought the service in 2022, he reinstated her, along with many others who had been booted by Twitter's previous management. Advertisement Now, Loomer claims, Musk's service has demoted her by stripping her account's "premium" blue-check status and other benefits. She says Musk made the move because she was criticizing his stance on immigration. You may be unaware of Loomer — described by Wikipedia as "an American far-right political activist , conspiracy theorist, and internet personality" — and/or the online rock fight about immigration and racism breaking out among different wings of Trump supporters. If so, that could mean you have a healthy relationship with the internet. Good for you. Advertisement If you'd like to know more about the latter, my colleague Hasan Chowdhury has an explainer . You could also, at your own risk, consult Twitter/X's own summary of the story. My point is, you don't need me to tell you about this. I simply want to remind you that — if Loomer's allegation is correct — this would be par for the course for Musk and his social media company. (Musk hasn't denied Loomer's charges, and has told his followers to ignore her because she's " trolling for attention ." I've asked her and Twitter/X for additional comment.) Advertisement As I've noted before, the most consistent thing about Musk's management style at Twitter is his erratic, flip-flopping, inconsistency. Sometimes it's about relatively small stuff, like wooing Don Lemon to start a talk show on Twitter, and then canceling the deal before the show ever started. Sometimes it's about really big stuff — like agreeing to pay some $44 billion for Twitter, then spending weeks in court trying not to buy it. In any case, the only way you can be surprised by stuff like this at this point is if you never paid attention. Advertisement But I do think it's still worth pointing out. Because while Musk's management style at Twitter hasn't changed, his responsibilities have changed. He's no longer just the richest person in the world, who runs important companies like Tesla and SpaceX, in addition to Twitter. Musk may now be the most powerful unelected person in America , given his importance to Donald Trump and his upcoming administration. There's his role at DOGE , for starters. And the fact that he appears to be conducting foreign policy for Trump . And that he used Twitter to temporarily tank a government funding bill this month. Advertisement We don't know how long this arrangement is going to last, and what kind of impact Musk is going to have. But we do know that for now, a man with the power to affect the way the American government operates is the same man who can change the way he runs Twitter depending on how he feels at any given moment. We shouldn't ignore that.

Geothermal energy holds the potential to provide abundant renewable energy at equivalent cost to fossil fuels, and targeted investments could quickly speed its development, according to a new report from Cornell researchers and the nonprofit Clean Air Task Force (CATF). The “ Gaps, Challenges, and Pathways Forward for Superhot Rock Energy ” reports explore current and emerging technologies to expand geothermal energy and identify priority areas for research investments. Subject experts explore technology gaps and strategies to overcome them in drilling, well construction, heat extraction, power production and siting. The siting report is co-authored by Seth Saltiel , assistant research professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, a shared department in the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Chanmaly Chhun , a postdoctoral associate in Saltiel’s lab; Pascal Caraccioli Salinas, a doctoral student in Saltiel’s lab, and colleagues at Cascade Institute. In a superhot rock system, water is injected deep into hot rock, heated and returned to the Earth’s surface as steam that can be used to produce power in electric turbines or to generate hydrogen using a high temperature process. Conventional geothermal energy systems are limited to regions where concentrated heat exists near the Earth’s surface, especially near the boundaries of tectonic plates where the crust is thinner and volcanic activity provides heat. However, next-generation technologies seek to make geothermal energy possible almost anywhere. By drilling deeper into the Earth, geothermal systems could access superhot rock energy (SHR), where rock is heated to 374 degrees Celsius or hotter – temperatures high enough to carry significantly more energy and produce electricity more efficiently. Safely accessing these energy sources will require careful siting and understanding of key subsurface features, such as rock structures, locations of fractures and fault lines, heat flow and heat sources, the researchers found. This is because geothermal project designs rely heavily on detailed characterizations of a proposed site’s temperatures, stress, hydrologic conditions and rock properties – conditions that can change over time as fluids are injected and heat is extracted, Saltiel said. “Unlike other readily scalable renewable energy technologies, the highly site-specific aspects of geothermal power production introduce risk that has been a major obstacle to commercial development,” he said. “By identifying state-of-the-art technologies and opportunities for research and development to improve and validate characterization methods, we hope to help overcome these obstacles and speed commercial development of this technology.” The CATF reports stem from partnerships with multidisciplinary teams, including nonprofit organizations, drilling companies, surface equipment companies, academics and other stakeholders. Saltiel’s collaboration with Terra Rogers , program director for Superhot Rock Energy at CATF, was supported in part by an Innovation for Impact Fund award from the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability . “This report series and its insights were made possible through collaboration across academia, government and industry – a vital element in advancing SHR to commercialization at a meaningful pace,” Rogers said. “By sharing knowledge, resources and investments today, we can meet the clean energy needs of tomorrow.” To access superhot dry rocks, boreholes must be drilled into hard, dense bedrock. Technological innovations developed for current geothermal systems and for hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction already exist to support this concept; however, “significant innovations” are needed to decrease risk and increase efficiency, including advancements in drill rigs, drill bits, sensors and temperature management equipment, the reports find. Cornell drilled a 2-mile-deep exploratory borehole on its Ithaca campus in 2022 to study the capacity for deep geothermal energy to provide Earth-source heat. However, that facility is not expected to delve deep enough to access superhot rocks, which would require drilling at least 6 miles below Earth’s surface in low heat flow areas like the eastern US. Existing research suggests that 2% of the geothermal energy within 3 to 10 kilometers of the Earth’s surface could provide the equivalent of 2,000 times the current energy demand of the United States, according to the CATF report . “Geothermal energy can offer an inexhaustible, always-available source of clean energy,” the report states. “With innovation, superhot rock energy could have the potential to provide long-term, scalable, renewable baseload power in many more places around the world at a scale and cost equivalent to fossil fuels.” Krisy Gashler is a freelance writer for Cornell Atkinson.Oil rises over 1% on large draw from US crude stocks

In a national address following the historic collapse of his government, President Emmanuel Macron attempted to shirk responsibility for the political chaos in Paris and vowed to stay on until the end of his term despite growing calls for his resignation. Speaking from the Élysée Palace on Thursday evening, President Macron declared that he will “never take responsibility” for the actions of others and that the true culprits of the instability facing France is an “anti-republican” alliance between the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition and Marine Le Pen’s populist National Rally (RN) after they joined together to censure the government of Michel Barnier over an attempt to pass effective cuts to social security payments to seniors without a vote in the National Assembly. Macron chastised National Rally MPs for siding with the “extreme left” — ignoring that he sided with the far-left just months ago in the legislative elections — and said that “disorder is the only project which unites them with the extreme left, and this with the complicity of the rest of the New Popular Front.” “The extreme right and the extreme left have united, in an anti-republican front, and because forces which until yesterday governed France have chosen to ally themselves. I would never take responsibility for others,” Macron said. The president also attempted to deny responsibility for choosing former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as his prime minister following the snap legislative elections in July. Macron claimed that he only selected Barnier as a compromise candidate to ensure that the incoming prime minister would not be “censored upon his appointment”. In the end, Barnier lasted just 91 days in office, the shortest tenure for any prime minister in modern French history. After trying to shift blame away from his office, the president sought to put a positive spin on the situation facing France — a country currently without a government and no budget for next year — comparing it to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which will have its reopening ceremony held on Saturday in an event to be attended by incoming U.S. President Donald Trump. “This project was thought to impossible but we did it,” he said. “Because there was a clear direction, a will. Everyone had an essential role for a cause above all of us. This is the same thing we need to do for the nation”. The president also said that he will seek pass a budget before the end of the year, however, it is unclear how he will manage to do so given the divisions in the National Assembly. It is also unclear how Macron will attempt to rescue his own political future from the flames surrounding it. Contrary to early indications, he chose not to name a new prime minister on Thursday, perhaps suggesting that he has not found a worthy candidate willing to take up the job. However, the president repeated his vow to continue serving until the end of his term, saying: “The mandate that you democratically entrusted to me is a five-year mandate and I will exercise it fully until its end.” Macron has largely been absent from frontline domestic politics in recent months, following his disastrous decision to call for snap legislative elections, in which his coalition received fewer votes than the both the leftist New Popular Front and Le Pen’s National Rally. The result of July’s election left the country with an effective three-way split in the National Assembly. This was in large part a consequence of Macron’s doing, with the president having made a desperate last minute electoral alliance with the far-left as it appeared likely that Le Pen’s faction was on the precipice of victory. The electoral chicanery succeeded in preventing his longterm rival from taking control of the parliament, but left the country in an apparently ungovernable position and with few options for remedy, with Macron being constitutionally barred from calling for fresh legislative elections until the middle of next year. During the critical final days of the breakdown of his second government in the year, Macron was on the other side of the planet, having travelled to Riyadh for meetings with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss increased economic cooperation. The president returned to Paris on Wednesday afternoon just shortly before the vote of no confidence, however, by then, the die had already been cast, and Barnier fell just hours later. While the president has vowed to remain in office until the end of his second and final term, which ends in 2027, there are growing pressures both domestically and internationally to make his exit from the political stage. According to an Odoxa-Backbone Consulting survey for Le Figaro, six in ten voters (59 per cent) in France want to see the president resign from his post. Despite his attempts to shirk responsibility for the current instability in the country, nearly half of voters (46 per cent) hold Macron personally responsible, compared to 11 per cent for the National Rally and 10 per cent for the New Popular Front. The calls to resign did not just come from at home, however, with newspapers across Europe calling for the French head of state to step down. In Italy, the Milan-based Corriere Della Sera declared upon the collapse of the Barnier government that “Macronism is dead,” adding: “The idea of ​​clipping the wings and moving towards the center worked in two presidential elections, but collapsed in the face of the social crisis and the unpopularity of the president.” Meanwhile, in neighboring Germany, where the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed just a month ago, leaving power vacuums in the two major capitals of the EU, reviews were similarly negative. The Bavarian broadsheet the South German Zeitung branded Macron as “saboteur of the Republic.” Going further, the Berliner Zeitung wrote: “Today, France is in ruins. The only way out of this deep political crisis is the departure of those responsible: Macron must resign and make way for something new!”