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i777 Nasdaq surges above 20,000 after US inflation data matches estimates

MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé admitted he is going through a difficult moment as he missed another penalty kick and Real Madrid lost ground to Barcelona in the Spanish league after a 2-1 loss at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. Mbappé had his penalty saved by Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala in the 68th minute, and later Federico Valverde gifted a late goal by losing possession on defense to allow an easy winner by Gorka Guruzeta in the 80th. “Bad result,” Mbappé posted on Instagram. “A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it. A difficult moment but it's the best time to change this situation and show who I am.” Mbappé sent the penalty shot to his right and Agirrezabala dived that way to make the stop. “We knew that he is a good penalty taker,” Agirrezabala said. “He missed the last one and I believed that he was going to choose the same side and luckily that’s what happened.” Mbappé, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the 13th, had also missed a penalty in Madrid’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool in the Champions League last week. He didn’t take the one for the club in a Spanish league match on Sunday, but he scored in the 2-0 win over Getafe to ease some of the pressure on him and the club. But it was another lackluster outing for the France star, who continues to struggle in his first season since finally joining the Spanish powerhouse. “I won’t evaluate the performance of a player because of a missed penalty. Obviously he is sad and disappointed, but you have to move on,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said about Mbappé. “He is not at his best level, but you have to give him time to adapt. You have to give him time to be able to do better.” Ancelotti also downplayed the bad play by Valverde, saying that mistakes can happen to anyone. Valverde had control of the ball but gave it away while trying to get past a couple of Athletic players instead of passing it to a teammate, leaving Guruzeta with an easy run into the area for his goal. Álex Berenguer had put the hosts ahead in the 53td and Jude Bellingham equalized for Madrid in the 78th. The defeat left Madrid four points behind Barcelona, which on Tuesday ended a three-match winless streak in the league with a 5-1 rout at Mallorca. Madrid, which has a game in hand, had won three consecutive league games since a 4-0 loss at home in the “clasico” against Barcelona. Madrid has lost five of its last 11 matches in all competitions. Athletic moved to fourth place with the victory, its fourth consecutive across all competitions. Both matches on Tuesday and Wednesday were moved forward in the schedule because the clubs will be playing in the Spanish Super Cup in January. In the Copa del Rey, first-division clubs Rayo Vallecano, Valencia and Real Betis all advanced over lower-division teams in the second round, but Villarreal lost 1-0 to fourth-division club Pontevedra and Girona fell on penalties to fourth-tier team Logrones. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSoccer Saturday legend Jeff Stelling reveals 'unlikely' place he was asked for a selfie

Britain’s biggest police force set to lose 2,000 officers due to budget cuts

PAUL MERSON forced Mike Dean to admit live on air that he made a MASSIVE BLUNDER in Tottenham's clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two years ago. Spurs defender Cristian Romero somehow managed to escape a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella 's hair in the 2-2 draw at the Bridge. Incredibly, neither Dean nor the video assistant referee deemed the hair pull worthy of sending the Argentine defender for an early bath But on Tuesday night Dean was forced to admit he made a mistake after seeing Cucurella being tugged to the floor by Jack Stephens in Chelsea 's demolition of Southampton . During an appearance on Sky Sports' Soccer Special, the retired ref said: "Unfortunately, I was involved in one of these incidents about three years ago. "I think someone pulled, I think Romero pulled Cucurella's hair . I didn't do it (send him off)." Dean then said of Stephen's dismissal: "But he's clearly done it, he's got to be sent off. It's his second red card of the season. "It has to be a sending off, it can't not be." His assessment of Stephens' moment of madness prompted a bold question from Chelsea fan Merson. He bluntly asked: "But how come the Cucurella one wasn't?" BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S CHELSEA continued their run of fine form with a huge 5-1 win over Southampton under the lights at St Mary's. Here's how the players rated... FILIP JORGENSEN - 8 Made a fantastic save within the opening two minutes to keep Joe Aribo’s close-range shot out. Also made a great stop in the second half. Many Chelsea fans are now calling for him to become the club's No1. MALO GUSTO - 7 Won more duels and made more tackles than any other Chelsea player in the first half. Provided a great assist for Sancho's goal. AXEL DISASI - 7 Scored Chelsea’s opener with a fairly simple header at the front post following Fernandez’s delivery from a corner. TOSIN ADARABIOYO - 5 Appeared to switch off when Southampton scored, almost leaving Aribo on his own in front of goal. Rattled the post with a rocket of a shot in the second half. MARC CUCURELLA - 6 Left Southampton fans furious after going down following a hair pull from Jack Stephens which resulted in a red card. A solid performance, both acting and playing-wise. MOISES CAICEDO - 7 Made some great forward passes at times, including one outstanding trivela through to Felix in the box which almost resulted in what would've been an impressive team goal. ENZO FERNANDEZ - 6 Assisted Disasi’s opening goal with an inch-perfect corner kick but got absolutely humiliated by Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up to Aribo’s equaliser. NONI MADUEKE - 7 Did well to capitalise on a howler from Joe Lumley before assisting Nkunku. Scored Chelsea’s third with a composed strike into the bottom-left corner. Had a few chances in the second half but was fairly wasteful with those. COLE PALMER - 7 Had a a quiet game until he latched onto Nkunku's attempted pass/shot to fire home Chelsea's fourth. He was hooked immediately after getting on the scoresheet. JOAO FELIX - 6 Looked lively throughout but missed a great opportunity late in the first half. Also missed an open header just seconds after the break. CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU - 7 The Frenchman put Chelsea 2-1 up with a relatively easy shot in the opening 20 minutes. Aside from that he was fairly quiet. SUBSTITUTES JADON SANCHO (FOR MADUEKE, 72) Scored his first Chelsea goal shortly after coming on for Madueke. RENATO VEIGA (FOR CUCURELLA, 79) Didn't have too much time to make an impact, especially with Chelsea so in control of the match. KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL (FOR PALMER, 79) Didn't have too much time to make an impact. Dean quickly fronted up to the retired midfielder, saying: "Because I got it wrong. And he's (Stephens) been sent off." The exchange went viral and drew the ire of Chelsea fans. One wrote on X: "You can’t make this up." Another said: "You can't write this s**t." And another said: "He really has no shame." One remarked: " Shameless , Mike Dean ." Another chimed in: "So glad Paul Merson was there to put him in his place." Chelsea thumped struggling Saint 5-1 to narrow the gap between themselves at table-toppers Liverpool to seven points. The Blues will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, travelling across London to take on Spurs.Akume a quintessential leader @ 71 – Bago

Man City crisis deepens with loss to Juventus in Champions League as Barcelona and Arsenal win Manchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus in the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions. City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings and only the top 24 advances. Reaching the knockout stage looked a certainty before the season for a team that was European champion in 2022 and has won the last four Premier League titles. It's not anymore as City manager Pep Guardiola battles injuries and an apparent loss of belief among his players. Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 and Barcelona won 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Juan Soto gets free luxury suite and up to 4 premium tickets for home games in $765M Mets deal DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Mets agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. New York agreed to assist Soto’s family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed he gets uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host despite human rights concerns ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich on Wednesday by the soccer body’s president Gianni Infantino. The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games. The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930. Jimmy Butler says he's not worrying about his future with Heat amid trade speculation Jimmy Butler knows there are tons of questions about his future with the Miami Heat. He might get traded, he might leave as a free agent next summer, he might exercise a $52.4 million option to return to the Heat or he might get a new contract. He isn't sure what will happen. The Heat forward spoke out about trade speculation Wednesday, telling reporters after practice that he doesn’t mind his name being in the rumor mill. US Biathlon officials ignored sexual harassment and abuse of female racers for decades, athletes say Sexual abuse and harassment by coaches and others who held positions of power over women on the U.S. Biathlon team were ignored or excused over decades by officials more concerned with winning medals than holding offenders accountable. That's according to Olympians and other biathletes interviewed by The Associated Press. While the men climbed the sport's ranks, these women say they were forced to end their careers early. The women and others describe a culture of misogyny and say they faced retaliation for speaking up. Three of the men denied allegations they were either part of the abuse or ignored allegations of abuse. A fourth did not respond to AP requests for comment. Tulane QB Mensah transfers to Duke; Mississippi State’s Van Buren, Cal’s Mendoza enter portal Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren Jr. and Cal’s Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah is a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining. He told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men’s basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet acquired by Red Sox from White Sox for prospects DALLAS (AP) — All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet has been acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago. The 25-year-old Crochet was 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts for a White Sox team that went 41-121. It's the most losses for any club since 1900. He was picked for the AL All-Star team in his first season as a starter. Selected 11th overall by Chicago in the 2020 amateur draft, Crochet made his big league debut that September. He had Tommy John surgery in April 2022. Lindsey Vonn savors chance to test out World Cup course as a forerunner in comeback bid at age 40 BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn is trying to take her comeback step-by-step even if there’s plenty of reason to look down the road. For now, the 40-year-old American ski racer was concentrating on testing out the course as a forerunner. Soon, it will be her first World Cup race. Possibly later, the 2026 Winter Games at one of her favorite venues in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Vonn was one of three forerunners to test out the Birds of Prey course before the racers in the field went through a training run. Federica Brignone of Italy had the fastest time on a Birds of Prey course that’s new to quite a few racers.Nasdaq surges above 20,000 after US inflation data matches estimates

As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. People are also reading... Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? Catch the latest in OpinionIt's holiday season, but that doesn't have to mean waiting in long lines for big sales to buy the hottest toy or newest game system. Whether you're a parent, relative, teacher, librarian or just a friend to a young person, consider a book that you can enjoy together. PRESCHOOL 'I Like Your Chutzpah And Other Yiddish Words You'll Like' Written and illustrated by Suzy Ultman “I Like Your Chutzpah and Other Yiddish Words You’ll Like," written and illustrated by Suzy Ultman Penguin Young Readers; Rise x Penguin Workshop Sweet, funny and infinitely readable, this board book contains 12 Yiddish words and their meanings, each accompanied by a simple, colorful illustration that will inspire fun reading voices. Recommended ages: 1 to 3. $9.99, RISE x Penguin Workshop ___ 'The 13 Days of Swiftness: A Christmas Celebration' People are also reading... Written by Tiffany Garland, illustrated by Brooke O'Neill "The 13 Days of Swiftness: A Christmas Celebration," written by Tiffany Garland, illustrated by Brooke O’Neill Little, Brown Books for Young Readers For the littlest Swifties, a play on the classic Christmas song — except instead of 12 days there are 13. Each page has bright illustrations and lots of Easter eggs for the fandom. Recommended ages: 3 and up. $10.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers EARLY ELMENTARY 'Into the Uncut Grass' Written by Trevor Noah, illustrated by Sabina Hahn "Into the Uncut Grass" by Trevor Noah and illustrated by Sabina Hahn One World / Penguin Random House Trevor Noah tells a story of a boy and his teddy bear who venture into the uncut grass, picking up bits of wisdom along the way. Long and quotable, with humor and gentle watercolor illustrations. Per the intro, "it's a picture book, but it's not a children's book. Rather, it is a book for kids to share with parents and for parents to share with kids." All ages. $26, One World ___ 'Proper Badger Would Never' Written by Lauren Glattly, illustrated by Rob Sayegh "Proper Badger Would Never" by Lauren Glattly and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Penguin Young Readers; Flamingo Books Badger was determined to be a perfectly proper guest at his first party, but his instincts may have gotten the better of him. Shred the gift wrapping paper? Never. Dig into the cake before it's served? Of course not. A colorful, texture-rich picture book that leans into joyful chaos. Recommended ages: 4 to 8. $18.99, Flamingo Books ___ 'Attack of the Scones' Written by Josh Funk, illustrated by Brendan Kearney "Attack of the Scones: Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast" by Josh Funk and illustrated by Brendan Kearney Union Square In the sixth installment of the series, Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast take on an alien invasion with the help of their fridge friends. Told in rhyming couplets with whimsical, expressive full-page illustrations. Recommended ages: 5 to 8. $8.99 paperback, $18.99 hardcover; Union Square Kids __ 'Bog Myrtle' Written and illustrated by Sid Sharp "Bog Myrtle" by Sid Sharp Annick Press One sister loves the forest and its splendors; the other is more interested in money. Sharp uses literary devices from irony to alliteration to puns, taking on topics like worker rights and environmental sustainability. "This graphic novel is perfect for the quirky, goofy child in your life who loves deadpan humor and 'The Skull' by Jon Klassen," says Sarah Bradley, lead bookseller at Powell's Books. Recommended ages: 6 to 11. $22.99, Annick Press ___ 'My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast' Written by Zoje Stage and illustrated by J.E. Larson "My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast" by Zoje Stage and pictures by J. E. Larson Bad Hand Books Stage's book reimagines the monster under the bed as something far cuter and weirder. One day while cleaning her room, Pru finds a shy little creature called an UnderSlumberBumbleBeast. Includes crosshatch drawings and a glossary of the trickier vocabulary. Recommended ages: 7 to 10. $15.99, Bad Hand Books LATE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE 'Otto Normal's Monsterton: The Disappearance of White Pine Beach' Written by Danielle McKechnie, illustrated by Simon Estrada Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts "Otto Normal's Monsterton: The Disappearance of White Pine Beach" Andrews McMeel Publishing Otto moves with his mom from his normal California town to Monsterton, where they're the only humans among zombies, ghosts and sirens. Otto soon finds himself on a quick-paced adventure. With chunks of text broken up by beautiful digital color illustrations, blurring the line between chapter book and graphic novel, this glossy volume feels special to hold. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $22.99, Simon & Schuster ___ 'The Wild Robot' Written and illustrated by Peter Brown "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Roz the robot is the sole survivor of a shipment gone overboard and has to adapt to the wild. She becomes the de facto mother of Brightbill the gosling, and the forest animals that shunned her otherness begin to form a community around her. Short chapters are punctuated by black-and-white illustrations. The trilogy saw a theatrical adaptation this year, and a special edition of the first volume features full-color inserts from the movie. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $8.99 single paperback, $54 box set, Hatchette Book Group ___ 'The Young Green Witch's Guide to Plant Magic' Written by Robin Rose Bennett, illustrated by Rachel Grant "The Young Green Witch’s Guide to Plant Magic: Rituals and Recipes from Nature" by Robin Rose Bennett and illustrated by Rachel Grant Hachette Book Group This herbalist's chapter book with watercolor illustrations imparts how to use different plants, along with lessons of appreciation and self-acceptance and breathing meditations. There are also recipes for handy concoctions kids can make with minimal adult supervision, such as oatmeal scrub, lavender honey and dandelion pesto. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $16.99, Running Press Kids ___ 'The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science' Written by Kate McKinnon, illustrated by Alfredo Cáceres "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" by Kate McKinnon Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Kate McKinnon of "Saturday Night Live" and "Barbie" fame tells the story of three adopted sisters who, having zero interest in perfecting the 85 ways to properly sit on a velvet fainting couch, find themselves expelled from etiquette school. Their new, extremely uncouth school puts them at the heart of a mystery in which the town is at stake. With fun fonts and the occasional illustration, the novel is a wildly imaginative celebration of strangeness with humor a la Lemony Snicket. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $17.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ___ 'Plain Jane and the Mermaid' Written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol "Plain Jane and the Mermaid" by Vera Brosgol First Second The recently orphaned Jane has a week to get married and get her dowry before she'll be kicked to the streets. Handsome Peter might have accepted Jane's proposal if he hadn't been kidnapped by a mermaid. This full-color graphic novel challenges gender roles and beauty standards through an underwater adventure full of snark and hilarious characters, rivaling Jeff Smith's "Bone." Recommended ages: 10 to 14. $14.99, First Second YOUNG ADULT 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' A trilogy by Holly Jackson "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson Delacorte Press Pip investigates a murder that she thinks another student was wrongly accused of. It's an ambitious project for a high school capstone, but Pip's an ambitious student. A TV adaptation of this true-crime-style story was produced by the BBC and released on Netflix over the summer. . Recommended ages: 14 and up. $14.99 single paperback, $47.97 box set, Ember ___ 'The Calculation of You and Me' By Serena Kaylor “The Calculation of You and Me" by Serena Kaylor St. Martin's Publishing Group Marlowe has great grades and a loving family, two best friends who understand her and all her autistic quirks, and a romantic boyfriend — until he breaks up with her, sending her perfectly categorized world into a tailspin. This sweet, funny, page-turning novel celebrates romance as an act and a genre. Recommended ages: 13 and up. $14 paperback, $24 hardcover, Wednesday Books ___ 'Lunar New Year Love Story' Written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham "Lunar New Year Love Story" by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham First Second Valentina has one year to prove she doesn't share her family's fate of all romances ending in misery. If she doesn't find lasting love by then, she will give her heart to Saint Valentine and be forever protected from heartbreak. The graphic novel celebrates Asian culture alongside the ups and downs of love. Recommended ages: 14 and up. $17.99 paperback, $25.99 hardcover, First Second Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50 Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more More consumers hope to cut out self-gifting this year. They may be making a mistake. More consumers hope to cut out self-gifting this year. They may be making a mistake. Americans are heading into the first holiday season in years where buying less may be the first thing on their minds. And this year, gift lists may exclude one important person: you.Stacker dug into Deloitte's 2024 holiday retail survey to explore the psychology behind Americans' reluctance to self-gift this year.In the modern era, holiday gifting includes a practice that may seem rooted in consumerism—giving ourselves gifts. However, "self-gifting," psychologists say, carries its own importance. It's one consumers intend to cut back on or eliminate entirely this holiday shopping season, according to Deloitte's 2024 holiday retail survey of over 4,000 U.S. consumers.We've all done it. With hard-to-resist Black Friday deals and hypertargeted advertising, it can be difficult to resist shopping for yourself when doing so for others. Meanwhile, the cost of goods and services has risen faster than usual every year since 2021, when post-COVID-19 pandemic inflation took root in the U.S. economy and altered how we consume.Even so, Americans expect to spend more on gifts this holiday than in the previous five years. Deloitte found that the average person anticipates spending $1,778 this year, a 19% increase from 2019, when the average expected spend was $1,496. Baked into that figure are consumers' expectations of higher prices this season, according to Deloitte.In response, some Americans are signaling they may do less for themselves. About 1 in 3 consumers intend to self-gift this year, down from almost half of all consumers last year, Deloitte found. At least 2 in 5 (43%) won't spend on themselves at all, up from 25% last year.Today, the appeal of giving gifts around winter holidays is nearly universal. The holidays have long been an occasion to show our love for others in the exchange of gifts. Though giving gifts may have emerged from the biblical story of the three wise men, Christmas celebrations were among the first to lean into a commercialized version of the winter holidays. Other religious traditions like the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah have evolved to include gifting as a part of its observance over the winter holiday. Even workplace culture has adopted gifting as a way to foster connections and lift moods with traditions like Secret Santa.This holiday season, though, our modern treat-yourself-culture could be on pause for many Americans.You may also like: How to increase your credit limit and keep a good credit score Ground Picture // Shutterstock More Americans prepared to remove themselves from holiday gift lists Dr. Steve Westberg, a professor of marketing and consumer psychology at the University of Southern California, suggests that the uptick in surveyed adults who say they hope to scale back self-gifting this year may be due to consumer pessimism and financial concern.Faced with more limited options during the pandemic years, Americans bestowed themselves with material goods—some out of practical necessity, others not. Over the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons, Americans hunkered down at home to avoid catching or spreading the latest COVID-19 variant. They bought lots of furniture, electronics, and other items in lieu of spending on travel, outings, and live events.In 2022 and 2023, consumers embarked on so-called "revenge travel" to catch up on international and domestic trips. They attended the live music and sporting events they had missed out on.Today, there are signs that all of that spending is beginning to cause stress for the typical American consumer as prices remain painfully high. Americans' total amount of credit card debt is at an all-time high, and default rates for vehicle loans and credit cards are rising. In almost every major poll leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the economy and inflation were consistently the top issues driving voters to the polls.However, as consumers pull back, there's evidence that self-gifting can positively impact personal well-being. Jacqueline Rifkin, an assistant marketing and management communications professor at Cornell University, describes the practice as a way to self-regulate emotions.Self-gifting can express positive emotions in a way we may recognize as a celebration."You just got a promotion, or you won some big award, you're feeling good, and you want to extend or amplify those good feelings. You can use self-gifting to achieve that," Rifkin told Stacker.Self-gifting can also be a way to deal with negative emotions. Rifkin published research in the Journal of Consumer Research on self-gifting, which revealed that people were least likely to gift things to themselves when under stress or feeling constrained—even though self-gifting can help us regulate during stressful moments."If you're going through a rough time ... you can use self-gifting to pick yourself back up. One of the colloquial ways we think about this is 'retail therapy,'" Rifkin said.Can self-gifting and retail therapy veer into wasteful self-indulgence? Potentially, according to Westberg, who says the reasons we self-gift are similar to those that drive compulsive shopping habits. The act generates a positive emotional response. There's an important distinction, however, that experts draw between the two.Westberg and Rifkin agree that self-gifting stands out from other forms of shopping in that it incorporates intentionality. "You could define self-gifting as being a little more thoughtful in your choice," Westberg explained.Consumer advocates suggest that shoppers looking to cut back on spending create guardrails to help them shop more intentionally. Removing credit card information from our web browser's autofill function or delaying the impulse to "buy now" and creating a wish list instead can elongate the purchase process. Putting space between the initial urge to buy and the purchase can be revealing, too: It clarifies what's really meaningful and worthy enough to justify buying.For others, like Westberg, shopping satisfaction is derived from researching items to self-gift in the future. Westberg's initial inclination when it comes to self-gifting, like many of us, is to reward himself with some kind of "big ticket" item."On the other hand, I don't know that I'll ever actually do that because once I have it, the anticipation aspect is going to go away," Westberg said. "So while I do think about self-gifting myself a car ... I get a lot of enjoyment [from] doing the research. ... [It's] the thoughtfulness that I can put into it rather than having the physical thing."According to Rifkin, our reluctance to give ourselves gifts isn't always born of financial constraints but also a belief that giving ourselves something won't actually make us feel better, even though it can. She advises consumers to remember that gifts can take on different forms this holiday season, and many of them don't cost a thing."It's this intentional behavior that we engage in. It's something you do, you do it on purpose, and you do it for yourself," Rifkin said. "Could it be going for a walk around the block? Absolutely. Could it be dusting off a book that you hadn't read in a while and spending an hour reading it? Yes."Story editing by Alizah Salario. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Kristen Wegrzyn. Dom DiFurio The business news you needThe minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, has said his administration committed a total sum of $1,045,176,470 billion, approximately N177billion for the development of infrastructure in the education sector. This, he said, was inclusive of the N3,500,000,000.00 billion counterpart funding from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), bringing the total commitment of infrastructural development to approximately N177,,000,000,000.00 billion. The minister stated this at the sixth International Conference on Learning Cities held in Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The minister who was represented by the Minister of State FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, also noted that Abuja’s annual budget for the development of education has surpassed the UNESCO benchmark of 26 per cent. Highlighting further the total investment in different sectors of education, Wike said a total of 21 primary and junior secondary schools were renovated while a total of 30 senior secondary schools were also established. Other area of infrastructural investment according to the minister include the tertiary education sector, adding that the FCT Administration has committed the sum of N14,529,622,993 billion for the completion and launch of FCT University, Abaji. He said: “UNESCO generally recommends that member nations have a budgetary allocation benchmark of at least 26 per cent to education. “This benchmark is intended to ensure that countries can adequately address needs of their education system such as teachers, training, infrastructure development and educational technology. “It might interest my audience to know that Abuja’s annual budget for education surpasses the UNESCO benchmark.” Wike, reiterated that the city under his watch has invested heavily in the training and retraining of teachers and educational infrastructure in the six area councils of the territory. He affirmed that the administration has maintained a total commitment to the Abuja Learning City status as emphasised by UNESCO, adding that Abuja city has adopted a “whole school” approach system that promotes peace, security, and tolerance through knowledge, skills and global awareness.

THE NFL revealed their TV ratings entering Week 12 - and the Kansas City Chiefs lead the way. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have passed the Dallas Cowboys as the NFL 's top TV team. After 11 weeks of game action, the NFL is averaging 17.5 million viewers per game, per the league on X . The number excludes international games on NFL Network and exclusive streaming broadcasts on Peacock and ESPN+. The 17.5 million figure is the most through NFL's Week 11 since 2015. After Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills , the Chiefs extended its lead over the Cowboys as the league's No. 1 TV team. Read More on NFL The Chiefs-Bills matchup had the most TV viewers of the season (31.14 million). Before the game, Kansas City was unbeaten with a 9-0 record. The Chiefs have been part of four of the top five most-watched games through 11. The Cowboys have only been involved in one of those games, as their matchup against the Baltimore Ravens drew 27.3 million viewers. Most read in American Football Dallas has still been a popular team, even in the two blowout losses since quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending torn hamstring injury in Week 9. On Monday Night Football , in Week 11, ESPN received 17 million viewers for the Houston Texans ' 34-10 victory over the Cowboys. The game was the most-watched Week 11 MNF broadcast since 2006. And last week, CBS's broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles ' 34-6 win over Dallas drew 24.61 million viewers. Overall, the NFL's TV ratings have increased despite the election season occurring in the first two months of the league campaign. In 2016, NFL ratings dropped eight percent from the previous year. And this season, ratings remained stable after looking at the NFL's major TV windows in the two weeks before and after the November 5 election. The two weeks before Election Day saw primetime games average 18.48 million viewers, per Nielsen data cited weekly by Sports Media Watch. In the two weeks after Election Day, those same windows averaged 18.18 million viewers. Neither Kansas City nor the Cowboys will have a primetime game in Week 12. Read More on The US Sun However, both will have stand-alone games in Week 13. CBS will air the Dallas-Washington Commanders game on Thanksgiving , while the Chiefs will take on the Las Vegas Raiders as part of Amazon Prime's Black Friday Football matchup.As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? Hosseini is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He wrote this for The Chicago Tribune . Catch the latest in Opinion

Paris, Dec 7 (AP) Howling winds couldn't stop Notre Dame Cathedral's heart from beating again. With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches. The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Île de la Cité, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendour. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral's mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies. The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline — and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. The evening's celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain's Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame's enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France's ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises. Macron's political woes Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre Dame, his voice reverberating through the nave. “I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said, before voices raised in song flooded the space, filling it with harmonies not heard in over five years. “Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” cascading through the luminous interior to Parisians, France, and the world beyond, he said. The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader, whose prime minister was ousted this week, plunging the nation's politics into more turmoil. Macron has called Notre Dame's reopening “a jolt of hope.” Observers say he hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France's unity and resilience under his leadership — a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a grave crisis. Monumental feats of restoration Inside, 42,000 square metres of stonework — an area equal to six soccer pitches — were meticulously cleaned, revealing luminous limestone and intricate carvings. Overhead, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” were used to rebuild the spire and roof, restoring the cathedral's iconic silhouette. The thunderous great organ, with 7,952 pipes ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide, is resounding for the first time since the fire. Its newly renovated console, boasting five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, was a marvel of restoration, reawakening a cornerstone of Notre Dame's identity. Guests gradually filing into the cathedral for the evening reopening ceremonies were awestruck by the renovated interiors, many whipping out cellphones to capture the moment. “It's a sense of perfection,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, which raised nearly half of the 900 million euros (USD 950 million) in donations for the restoration. He last visited in 2021, when the cathedral was cloaked in scaffolding. “It was sombre,” he said. “It's night and day.” Adding to the ceremony's visual splendour, Archbishop Ulrich and the clergy donned vibrant liturgical garments designed by renowned French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his eye-popping pop-art aesthetic, Castelbajac crafted 2,000 colourful pieces for 700 celebrants, blending modern elements with medieval touches. The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian pastor who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn't recognise it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral's revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine's president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.” The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Catholics, Notre Dame's rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence." “It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument — it is a magnificent sign of hope.” The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral's significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had travelled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral's ability to inspire. “She's been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.” Historical details enrich the occasion Guests entered through Notre Dame's iconic western façade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history. Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide. Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral's iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof. But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie. Security is tight for this global event Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris— is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armour and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail is following Trump. Public viewing areas along the Seine's southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens. For many, Notre Dame's rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire. (AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)