how to play fortune gems online
how to play fortune gems online
The Buffalo Bills are back from their bye week and gearing up for a six-week sprint to the end of the regular season. At 9-2, the team has surpassed any reasonable expectations set for it coming into the season. A fifth straight AFC East title is all but guaranteed, and could be wrapped up as soon as Sunday if things go right. The No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs is still in play. As the team prepares to welcome the San Francisco 49ers to Highmark Stadium on Sunday night in a nationally televised game, here is a look at three things that have gone right and three that have gone at least partially wrong thus far: Let’s start with the good: Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, celebrates after running for the game-winning touchdown against the Chiefs at Highmark Stadium on Nov. 17. 1. MVP Allen The Bills’ star quarterback has elevated his game to another level this season, even if he’s not statistically on pace to have his best season. Allen is projected to throw for 3,930 yards and 28 touchdowns, while completing 64.0% of his passes this year. His best season came in 2020, when he threw for 4,544 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 69.2% of his passes. Still, Allen’s generally considered to be having his best NFL season to date. He’s on pace to throw a career-low eight interceptions (he threw 10 in 2020), but his MVP case goes beyond just that. Right or wrong, the MVP discussion will inevitably look at a team’s record, and the Bills are 9-2 in a year many had them pegged as a 10- or 11-win team at max. Allen’s leadership and command of the offense have never been greater, thus strengthening his MVP case. 2. Thefts As the Buffalo Bills come out of their bye weekend, they are 9-2, running away with the AFC East and off to their best start since the 1992 season. Here's a roundtable discussion of The News' Bills writers on the state of the team. The Bills’ defense always stresses the importance of taking the football away, and few teams in the league have been better at it thus far. Buffalo’s 21 takeaways currently ranks fifth, just two behind league-leading Houston with 23 and one behind a three-way tie for second with 22 between Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Minnesota. Buffalo’s 13 interceptions rank fourth in the league, and its eight recovered fumbles is tied for fifth. Conversely, the Bills’ offense is taking good care of the football, with just seven giveaways. Buffalo’s five interceptions is tied for sixth fewest in the league and its two lost fumbles is second to only Detroit (one lost). That’s led to a plus-14 turnover differential that is tops in the NFL. 3. The offensive line The Bills are allowing sacks on just 3.7% of their pass plays – the best number in the NFL. That’s not totally an offensive line stat, as Allen’s elusiveness plays into it, but it definitely says a lot about how the group up front is performing. The Bills have started the same five – left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard David Edwards, center Connor McGovern, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and right tackle Spencer Brown – in every game, save the Week 11 win over the Chiefs, which Brown missed with a sprained ankle. On the ground, the Bills are third in expected points added per rush, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. That number quantifies the net value a ball carrier adds on run plays by translating yards gained into points scored. Again, that’s not totally an offensive line stat, but as Bills head coach Sean McDermott points out after every game, success most frequently starts up front at the line of scrimmages. Here are three things that haven’t always been great: How do the Bills believe they will ever get to the more than 5,000 potential season ticket holder accounts on their waitlist for the new stadium and why advertise for more of them? It likely comes down to the natural attrition that will come with moving to a new stadium − especially when it involves buying a personal seat license, which is relatively new to the Buffalo market, as well as the effort to minimize just how many seats one account holder can purchase, reducing the number of seats held by ticket brokers. 1. Run defense While the Bills are in the middle of the pack in terms of yards allowed per game, ranking 14th at 119.1, they are 30th in terms of yards allowed per carry, at 4.85. Take a look at the upcoming schedule of running backs the team faces: Christian McCaffrey (49ers), Kyren Williams (Rams) and David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions). This concern goes beyond just the short term, though. The Week 4 loss to Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens is tough to forget. It feels like any path to the Super Bowl is going to have to go through Baltimore and/or Kansas City, and the Chiefs should get Isiah Pacheco back soon. The Bills are going to have to get tougher against the run, or else teams will be able to control the clock, and thus the pace of the game. Buffalo is allowing 1.79 yards per carry before contact, which is eighth most in the NFL, according to the league’s Next Gen Stats. That speaks to the defensive line’s inability at times to get to the opposing running back. It’s not been all bad for the run defense, as the team has stuffed opposing rushing attempts, meaning holding them to no gain or for a loss of yardage, on 23.3% of carries, which is the second-best rate in the league. The consistency, however, has lacked, and that’s a potential problem moving forward. 2. Tyler Bass The 61-yard field goal that won the game against Miami was one of the best kicks in team history. Bass followed that up with another good showing against Indianapolis in Week 10, but a missed extra point against Kansas City once again led to some doubt creeping in. It felt for most of that game against the Chiefs like the missed extra point was going to loom large, but the rest of the team eventually made sure that didn’t happen. Nevertheless, it feels certain that there is going to come a time that the Bills need to rely on Bass down the stretch, and their confidence in doing so might have understandably been shaken by his miss against the Chiefs. Bass has made 86.4% of his field goals this season (19 of 22), which ranks 15th among qualified kickers (those with at least 16 attempts). Of the 40 kickers in the league who have an attempted an extra point, however, Bass ranks 36th, with a conversion rate of 89.2%. The Bills don’t currently have a kicker on their practice squad, so they’re all in on Bass coming through. He needs to reward them for their confidence. Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard, middle, celebrates his interception against the Chiefs in Week 11. The Bills have 13 interceptions this season, which is fourth most in the NFL. 3. The injury report The Bills’ weekly injury report has needed subtitles at times this season because it’s been so long. By unofficial count, the Bills have had 15 players classified as starters or key contributors who have missed at least one game because of injury. That’s a lot of bumps and bruises. The good news, however, is that the bye week came at the right time. The team opened linebacker Matt Milano’s practice window before the bye, meaning his return should come soon. If he can get back up to speed before the playoffs, he gives the team a great 1-2 punch at linebacker with Terrel Bernard (and if not, Dorian Williams has looked just fine in Milano’s place). Ideally, the team’s run of wrist injuries is behind it. Amari Cooper and rookie Keon Coleman should be closer to 100% coming out of the bye. Rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, who had put together a few nice performances before suffering a wrist injury, is eligible to return from injured reserve starting this week. Veteran defensive end Dawuane Smoot has to miss at least two more games while on injured reserve with a wrist injury of his own, while linebacker Baylon Spector is out for at least two more games because of a calf injury. All of them should be able to return in time for the playoffs, giving the Bills the chance to be as healthy as they’ve been all season at exactly the right time. Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! News Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings waived cornerback Akayleb Evans on Saturday in another setback for their beleaguered 2022 draft class. Evans started 15 games last season, but he had been relegated to a special teams role this year after the Vikings added veteran cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin. Evans was a fourth-round pick out of Missouri, one of three defensive backs among Minnesota's first five selections in 2022. Lewis Cine (first round) was waived and Andrew Booth (second round) was traded earlier this year. One of their second-round picks, guard Ed Ingram, lost his starting spot last week. Evans was let go to clear a roster spot for tight end Nick Muse, who was activated from injured reserve to play on Sunday at Chicago. The Vikings ruled tight end Josh Oliver out of the game with a sprained ankle. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
NoneLand acquisition in Punjab represents a complex and contentious process that intertwines the state’s economic future with the preservation of its agrarian heritage. The narrative of land acquisition in Punjab is one of transformation, where economic development clashes with the cultural and social fabric of rural life. As the state faces increasing pressure to industrialise, urbanise, and modernise its infrastructure, the repercussions of land acquisition on farming communities and their livelihoods cannot be ignored. These are one of the major reasons for the persistent farmers’ unrest in the state. For decades, farming has driven Punjab’s economy and culture. However, the agricultural sector faces a crisis due to issues, such as groundwater depletion, falling crop yields, rising input costs, and climate change. Consequently, the state has embarked on a path of industrialisation and urbanisation to ensure economic growth and modernisation. While these shifts hold promise for the state’s future, they come at significant social and human costs, particularly for its farming communities. The Punjab State Investment Promotion and Industrial Policy, 2019, outlined an ambitious vision for industrial and infrastructural growth, requiring over 50,000 hectares of land to be repurposed for development over the next decade. This policy emphasised large-scale projects like special economic zones (SEZs), the Ludhiana-Kolkata and Amritsar-Kolkata Freight Corridors, Rajpura Industrial Park, and the Katra-Amritsar-Delhi highway. These initiatives aim to revitalise Punjab’s economy by generating millions of jobs, boosting industrial output, and improving logistics. A 2016 report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) estimated that such projects could create over two million jobs, fuelling substantial economic expansion. Trade-offs accompany progress However, significant trade-offs accompany progress. The lands that once sustained Punjab’s farmers are increasingly being diverted for industrial use, disrupting lives, uprooting communities, and threatening a centuries-old way of life. For farmers, land is not merely an economic asset but a cornerstone of their identity and heritage. Consequently, the loss of agricultural land extends beyond financial hardship, representing a profound social and cultural upheaval. Many farmers, displaced and deprived of their ancestral land, have reported receiving compensation far below market value. For instance, in the case of the Amritsar-Kolkata Freight Corridor, farmers claimed the compensation was insufficient to replace their properties, let alone account for the loss of their way of life. The emotional toll of displacement and estrangement from ancestral land leaves deep scars, affecting not just individuals but entire communities. This displacement is further exacerbated by threats to common lands—shared grazing areas, water bodies, and village commons. These resources are essential for the socio-economic stability of rural communities, yet they are increasingly privatised and encroached upon. The loss of these community resources undermines rural economies and social bonds, depriving villagers of vital safety nets during crises like droughts or crop failures. Despite these challenges, industrialists and developers argue that such land repurposing is essential for economic progress. They see these projects as opportunities to modernise infrastructure, create jobs, and stimulate growth. From their perspective, transitioning from agriculture to industry is vital for Punjab’s future. However, this view often neglects the social costs borne by rural communities, widening the divide between urban beneficiaries and displaced farmers. Striking delicate balance The government, caught between these competing pressures, must strike a delicate balance. On one hand, it needs to foster economic growth to ensure prosperity. On the other, it must protect the livelihoods, identities, and cultural heritage of farming communities. Development should not be a zero-sum game but rather an opportunity to integrate rural communities into the growth process. To achieve this balance, Punjab must adopt a more inclusive and equitable approach. Fair compensation mechanisms should reflect not only the market value of acquired land but also the cultural, social, and emotional costs of displacement. Transparent processes involving community consultations must be implemented to ensure displaced families receive compensation that genuinely benefits them. Monetary compensation alone is insufficient to address the upheaval caused by displacement. A comprehensive rehabilitation programme is essential, offering alternative farmland, access to infrastructure, and vocational training to help affected farmers transition to new livelihoods. Successful resettlement models, such as those implemented in Bangalore, where displaced families received land and skills training, can serve as valuable guides for Punjab. Protecting rural stability also requires safeguarding common lands, which are vital for village cohesion and economic resilience. Shared grazing areas, water bodies, and other community resources must be shielded from privatisation and encroachment. These should be secured for the development of public utilities and social infrastructure. Land pooling mechanisms, which allow industrial projects to exchange developed land for agricultural or cultural land, can help balance development with rural heritage preservation. Sustainability should be central Sustainability should be central to Punjab’s development strategy. High-yield agricultural zones must be designated as protected areas, while precision farming techniques are promoted to enhance productivity without sacrificing land to industry. Industrial and urban projects should incorporate green infrastructure, such as smart water management systems and renewable energy technologies, to minimise environmental degradation and ensure a sustainable future. Governance and accountability mechanisms must also be strengthened. Fast-track courts can expedite dispute resolution, while independent bodies should oversee land acquisition projects to protect rural communities. Transparent governance and strong oversight will reduce corruption and ensure equitable policy implementation. Bridging urban-rural gap Finally, bridging the gap between urban and rural stakeholders is critical. Public awareness campaigns and community engagement initiatives should highlight the cultural and economic significance of land acquisition, ensuring that farmers’ voices are included in policy making. Dialogue between urban beneficiaries and displaced rural communities can foster mutual understanding and cooperation. The story of land acquisition in Punjab is one of balancing traditions with progress. While industrialisation and urbanisation are essential for the state’s economic future, they must not come at the cost of its farming communities. By adopting inclusive, sustainable practices and prioritizing the preservation of cultural identities and livelihoods, Punjab can set a precedent for harmonizing development with the well-being of its people. The state’s future lies in growing together, where development empowers rather than displaces its citizens, especially its farmers. The writer is a retired Punjab-cadre IAS officer. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at sureshkumarnangia@gmail.comTrump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings waived cornerback Akayleb Evans on Saturday in another setback for their beleaguered 2022 draft class. Evans started 15 games last season, but he had been relegated to a special teams role this year after the Vikings added veteran cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin. Evans was a fourth-round pick out of Missouri, one of three defensive backs among Minnesota's first five selections in 2022. Lewis Cine (first round) was waived and Andrew Booth (second round) was traded earlier this year. One of their second-round picks, guard Ed Ingram, lost his starting spot last week. Evans was let go to clear a roster spot for tight end Nick Muse, who was activated from injured reserve to play on Sunday at Chicago. The Vikings ruled tight end Josh Oliver out of the game with a sprained ankle. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLUS stocks are rising near records and adding to last week’s gains. The S&P 500 was 0.1 per cent higher, as of 12:56 p.m. Eastern time, and sitting a bit below its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones added 286 points, or 0.7 per cent, to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.1 per cent higher. Wall Street has kicked off the week with more gains. Credit: AP The Australian sharemarket is set to edge higher, with futures at 4.54 pointing to a rise of 12 points, or 0.1 per cent, at the open. The ASX added 0.3 per cent on Monday. Treasury yields also eased in the bond market amid what some analysts called a “Bessent bounce” after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Bessent has advocated for reducing the US government’s deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through tax and other revenue. Such an approach could soothe worries on Wall Street that Trump’s policies may lead to a much bigger deficit, which in turn would put upward pressure on Treasury yields. After climbing above 4.44 per cent immediately after Trump’s election, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell back to 4.30 per cent Monday, down from 4.41 per cent late on Friday. That’s a notable move, and lower yields help make it cheaper for all kinds of companies and households to borrow money. They also give a boost to prices for stocks and other investments. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks the market’s expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with overnight interest rates, also slid. The Fed began cutting its main interest rate just a couple of months ago from a two-decade high, hoping to keep the job market humming after bringing high inflation nearly all the way down to its 2 per cent target. But immediately after Trump’s victory, traders reduced bets for how many cuts the Fed may deliver next year. They were worried Trump’s preference for lower tax rates and higher spending on the border would balloon the national debt. On Monday, traders went back to increasing their bets for the number of cuts possible in 2025, according to data from CME Group. A report coming on Wednesday could influence how much the Fed may cut rates. Economists expect it to show that an underlying inflation trend the Fed prefers to use accelerated to 2.8 per cent last month from 2.7 per cent in September. Higher inflation would make the Fed more reluctant to cut rates as deeply or as quickly as it would otherwise. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle expects that to slow by the end of next year to 2.4 per cent, but he said inflation would be even lower if not for expected tariff increases on imports from China and autos favored by Trump. In the stock market, Bath & Body Works jumped 14.8 per cent after delivering stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The seller of personal care products and home fragrances also raised its financial forecasts for the full year, even though it still sees a “volatile retail environment” and a shorter holiday shopping season this year. Much focus has been on how resilient US shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. Last week, two major retailers sent mixed messages. Target tumbled after giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart, which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Another big retailer, Macy’s, said Monday its sales for the latest quarter were in line with its expectations, but it will delay the release of its full financial results. It found a single employee had intentionally hid up to $US154 million ($237 million) in delivery expenses, and it needs more time to complete its investigation. Macy’s stock fell 3.3 per cent. Among the market’s leaders were several companies related to the housing industry. Monday’s drop in Treasury yields could translate into easier mortgage rates, which could spur activity for housing. Builders FirstSource, a supplier or building materials, rose 6.8 per cent for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. Among homebuilders, D.R. Horton climbed 6.1 per cent, PulteGroup added 5.9 per cent and Lennar rose 5.5 per cent. In stock markets abroad, indexes moved modestly across much of Europe after finishing mixed in Asia. In the crypto market, bitcoin was trading around $95,300 after threatening to hit $100,000 late last week for the first time. AP The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each we e kday afternoon .
Inari Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ:NARI) Receives $58.89 Consensus Target Price from Brokerages
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdrawsA boy created AI-generated porn with the faces of girls he knew. Why Toronto police said he didn't break the law
The total on the Steelers-Browns game on “Thursday Night Football” has dropped a whopping five points amid a weather forecast of rain and snow in Cleveland. The consensus total is 361⁄2 after opening at 411⁄2. A Caesars Sportsbook bettor in Nevada wagered $52,500 to win $50,000 on the AFC North clash to go under 37 (-105). “I know the weather is supposed to be bad but it’s also a product of these two teams don’t generate a lot of offense,” Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. Pittsburgh, which has gone over in four of its last five games, is a consensus 31⁄2-point favorite after the line opened at 41⁄2. “Sharps are on Cleveland +4,” Westgate vice president of race and sports John Murray said. “Most of the bigger bets are on Cleveland. The ticket count is very lopsided on Pittsburgh.” The action on the game at Station Sports is also one-sided. “It did go down to 31⁄2 and it was from some sharp play, but 85 percent of the tickets are on the Steelers,” Esposito said. “We’re going to need the Browns.” Pittsburgh (8-2, 8-2 ATS) has won and covered its last five games this season, though the home team has won and covered the last five meetings between these division rivals. Cleveland (2-8, 3-7 ATS) has lost its last two games and seven of its last eight. A Caesars bettor in Ohio wagered $27,295.95 on the Steelers at the alternate line of -81⁄2 (+168). At BetMGM, 90 percent of the spread bets and 84 percent of the money are on Pittsburgh.Land Rover Is Racing a Defender in the Notoriously Rugged Dakar Rally in 2026Hitachi Rail Invests C$100m+ In Next Gen Urban Rail Signalling Technology
ST. PAUL — St. Paul-based Bremer Bank is being acquired by Old National Bank, which has headquarters in Evansville, Indiana, in a transaction valued at $1.4 billion in cash and stock. The deal, which still requires regulatory approval and approval by Bremer shareholders, would combine Bremer’s $16.2 billion in assets with Old National’s nearly $54 billion to create a bank with more than $70 billion in total assets. “This partnership represents an outstanding fit between two highly compatible, relationship- and community-focused banks,” Old National Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said in a joint announcement released Monday, Nov. 25. Ryan said what has made Bremer Bank a leading institution since 1943 aligns closely with the “strategic priorities and cultural principles that have guided Old National’s success for 190 years: a strong deposit franchise, a diversified loan portfolio accentuated by exceptional credit quality, and a passion for investing in and strengthening communities.” “For more than 80 years, we’ve been honored to carry out the legacy of our founder, Otto Bremer,” said Jeanne Crain, president and CEO of Bremer. “When our majority shareholder, the Otto Bremer Trust, reaffirmed its interest in selling Bremer Bank, we appreciated the opportunity to identify a partner through a collaborative process to ensure the best possible outcome for our customers, employees, and our communities. With Old National, we have confidence we found a great fit,” Crain said as part of the joint announcement. The Otto Bremer Trust, a majority owner of Bremer Bank, is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul. Since the trust’s inception in 1944, it has made more than $1.1 billion in grants and program-related investments to more than 4,200 organizations. Once the merger is complete, the trust will have an approximate 11% ownership stake in Old National Bank and a trustee of the Otto Bremer Trust will join the Old National board of directors. The Otto Bremer Trust stated as part of the joint announcement: “All of us at the Otto Bremer Trust are excited that the Bremer Bank legacy of investing in people, places and opportunities continues with one of the most community-minded banks in the nation. This partnership expands the scope of what can be accomplished for and within our communities — civically, socially and economically.” Once the deal is finalized, Old National will become the third-largest bank in the Twin Cities, and the partnership will expand Old National’s reach into several other markets throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. The deal affects 48 Bremer Bank branches in Minnesota and 14 in North Dakota, including six locations in Grand Forks and seven in the Fargo region.LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”
