Aston Villa denied last-gasp winner in Juventus stalemate
Caoimhín Kelleher celebrates with is Liverpool team-mates at Anfield (PA) Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher enjoyed another night to remember at Anfield as his penalty save from Kylian Mbappe helped rampant Liverpool to a 2-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Liverpool ended a 15-year wait for a win over Real Madrid as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put them on the brink of guaranteeing a place in the last 16 with a fifth successive win. They say revenge is a dish best served cold and on a chilly night on Merseyside Liverpool finally got one over on their European nemesis for the first time since 2009, also on this ground, with a deserved win. They could even afford the rare sight of Mohamed Salah missing a penalty, moments after Kelleher added another moment to a highlight reel already substantial for a second-choice goalkeeper by saving France World Cup winner Mbappe’s spot-kick. Victory over the 15-time winners has seemed especially long in coming as seven defeats and a draw in the last eight meetings barely tell the whole story after two heartbreaking final losses in 2018 and 2022. And while extending their 100 per cent record to maintain top spot and providing a huge morale boost ahead of Sunday’s visit of Manchester City the result cannot erase the hurt previously inflicted. "I was confident and thankfully went the right way again,” said Kelleher. "It is a big result. It is a massive result for us. We wanted to come out tonight and put on a performance and well done to the lads for doing that." The Cork-born stopper also looked ahead to the massive game against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday as he added: "I think confidence is high in the whole squad. "Man City, we know they have had a tough few results but what a team. We expect a really tough test but this is good confidence for the team and we will go again." Liverpool manager Arne Slot saluted his biggest win yet as Liverpool manager, as he reflected on a stunning start to life as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield. "You know how special it is to play against a team that has won the Champions League so many times,” said the Dutchman. "They were a pain in the ass for Liverpool for many years too. It is a big week and it is pleasing to see. "I didn't have a schedule in terms of amount of points I wanted. You want to implement the playing style as soon as possible. That is not difficult because it wasn't that different to Jurgen's. " It is great to see not only the starters but the players coming on are doing as we expect. If before the season I had counted points for this point in the season I wouldn't have done as much as we have now. "Every time Real Madrid threatened us was from us. I think we can play with more intensity and better with the ball."
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped and rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral. “I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” Macron said at the reopening ceremony. “Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” to Parisians, France and the world. Macron spoke in front of 1,500 guests invited to celebrate the restoration of Paris’ 12th-century cathedral which was nearly destroyed by a fire in 2019. They included world leaders like President-elect Donald Trump , U.S. first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. PARIS (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 splendor. 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. Monumental feats of restoration Inside, 42,000 square meters 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, resounded 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 ($950 million) in donations for the restoration. He last visited in 2021, when the cathedral was cloaked in scaffolding. “It was somber,” he said. “It’s night and day.” 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 recognize 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,” 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 traveled 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. Macron's political woes The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to embattled Macron, whose prime minister was ousted this week , plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil. The French president, who has called Notre Dame's reopening “a jolt of hope,” will address the gathering. He had hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership. Macron's presidency now faces its gravest crisis after the government's collapse this week in a historic no-confidence vote that toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The vote followed months of political gridlock after snap elections in June. Calls are now growing louder from opposition forces for Macron to resign. But he vowed Thursday to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027, and said he'll name a new prime minister within days. As France struggles with economic woes and social unrest, Notre Dame's rebirth celebrations form a stark contrast. 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 armor 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. Sylvie Corbet, Yesica Brumec, Marine Lesprit and Mark Carlson in Paris contributed. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through The AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.Five Below, Inc. Names Winnie Park Chief Executive Officer
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South Korean President Yoon’s impeachment fails as his ruling party boycotts voteOklahoma sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold will enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. A five-star recruit in 2023 out of Denton, Texas, Arnold began this season as the starter, lost his spot and later regained it as the Sooners went 6-6. Monday is the first day that underclassmen can transfer during the winter portal window. Arnold completed 154 of 246 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He also ran the ball 150 times for 444 yards and three TDs, including 25 attempts for 131 yards in the Sooners' 24-3 win over Alabama on Nov. 23. As a freshman last season playing behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold appeared in seven games and was 44 of 69 (63.8 percent) for 563 yards, four TDs and three picks. A former Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Arnold started for Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl last December, when the Sooners lost 38-24 to Arizona. He was QB1 for the 2024 campaign, but three early turnovers caused him to be pulled in a 25-15 defeat to Tennessee on Sept. 21 and replaced by true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Arnold came off the bench to replace Hawkins in a 35-9 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 19, and head coach Brent Venables afterward fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley became the interim play-caller. Venables filled the position permanently on Monday by hiring Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who could bring Cougars QB John Mateer with him to Norman, Okla. --Field Level Media
Is Enron making a comeback? Here's what we know
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(The Center Square) - With the state legislature’s new priority on reducing the state’s high cost of living, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are rolling out proposals to reduce the cost of energy and drug prescriptions. Democrats have held a trifecta in state government since 2010, including supermajorities in the State Assembly and Senate. “It’s clear we must chart a new path forward and renew the California dream by focusing on affordability,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, in his opening floor speech of the new legislative session. Republicans in the State Senate and Assembly unveiled bills to repeal the state’s new Low Carbon Fuel Standards, which will increase fuel costs by $162 billion to fund clean transportation fuel credits that include $105 billion in electric vehicle charging credits and $8 billion in hydrogen credits. The new LCFS standard, approved by the California Air Resources Board — all but two of whose voting members are appointed by the governor — is expected to add up to 65 cents to the cost of each gallon of gasoline next year. Once factoring in other regulations, such as new refinery regulations passed by the governor, Californians will pay up to $1.15 more for gas next year, meaning the average California driver will need to make up to $1,000 more per year in pre-tax income to break even. “Californians already pay the highest gas prices in the nation, and Gavin Newsom’s political agenda is about to make them even higher,” said Senate Minority Leader Jones, R-San Diego, in a statement. “Our Day 1 priority is protecting Californians at the pump. SB 2 will immediately repeal the Newsom Administration’s 65 cent gas price hike and put an end to their most recent price gouging scheme.” State Senator Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, also unveiled a new proposal to reduce drug prices by regulating pharmacy benefit manager middlemen, building on his work from the prior legislative session. Wiener’s office says that “the share of total spending on prescription drugs that goes to drug manufacturers has declined, while over half of every dollar spent on brand medicines goes to pharmaceutical industry middlemen like PBMs.” According to the California Department of Managed Care, prescription drug costs have risen 5 percentage points per year over the last five years, suggesting most of the increases are being accrued by PBMs. Wiener's new bill, SB 41 , would ban “spread pricing,” in which PBMs charge health insurance plans more for drugs than what they pay to reimburse pharmacies, keeping the difference as profit. SB 966, his bill signed into law last year, ensures patient cost-sharing is based on actual drug costs and requires manufacturer rebates to be passed through to reduce patient costs. “When basic life necessities like medication become unaffordable in blue states, working people pay the price,” said Wiener in a statement. “As Democrats, we should be leading on making people’s lives better and more affordable. It’s past time California caught up with other states and put basic protections in place to contain the astronomical cost of basic medications.”None
Sour Grapes: Watch As Neil Degrasse Tyson Dumps on Elon Musk's Plan to Visit MarsThe Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount (and when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why). HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability are subject to change. As someone who tracks deals on a daily basis, I can say two things with certainty: One, after years of scouring the net for deep discounts and sweet promos, I know what a great deal looks like, and two, Walmart has been beating Amazon’s butt in terms of savings events lately. If you’re one of the many who found this year’s Amazon Prime Day underwhelming, I’m here to tell you that Walmart is the true retail queen. Walmart’s Cyber Monday sales event sees massive discounts off of everything from home goods and appliances to clothing and electronics. You can also become a Walmart+ member for only $50 through the end of today. That’s 50% off the typical annual subscription cost, giving you free shipping on all items, free local grocery delivery, a Paramount+ subscription and so much more. ( You can read about it here !) It also grants you exclusive access to sales events like Cyber Monday. If you’re already a member, great! We’ve rounded up the absolute best Walmart Cyber Monday deals below that I truly think offer incredible savings to save you some window shopping time and maybe spark some holiday gift ideas. Take a look below, browse the entire sale at Walmart’s site and don’t slack on these deals. I can’t imagine some of these items will last long. HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. A 4.9-star rating is always impressive but a 2-in-1 moisturizer and sunscreen with a 4.9-star rating is basically a unicorn. And yet, we've found one: This Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench moisturizer is packed with hyaluronic acid for top-tier hydration and SPF 45 for adequate sun protection. Per reviewers, it works like nobody's business. Two of the best things you can do for your skin to keep it healthy and prevent premature aging are to 1) Keep it moisturized and 2) use an SPF regularly — yes, even in the cooler months and yes, even when it's not sunny. Grab this moisturizer that doubles as UV ray protection to prevent dryness and other skin damage associated with sun exposure. Promising review: "My ride or die SPF - works so well no white cast and rubs into the skin very smoothly. Leaves a beautiful glow." — Pameal J. "Soooo moisturizing and feels great on skin. I received sample size and fell in love and had to purchase full-size. Doesn't leave skin feeling greasy and absorbs nicely into skin. Doesn't leave a white cast. Performs excellent under makeup and doesn't pill. Excellent sun protection" — Michelle Slim, lightweight, cordless, compact and so powerful, the Dyson V12 Detect is everything you could want in a vacuum and then some. (I should know, I own one.) It has a green laser that better illuminates dust, dirt and debris on the floor, an LCD to show you its suction level and how much battery life is left and plenty of attachments to tackle hair, upholstery and hard-to-reach spots. A single charge lasts about 60 minutes, and the ability to break it down means it'll barely take up space. Trust me, at $200 off , this is well worth the investment. Promising review: “I bought this about a month ago and it has absolutely lived up to the advertising. The weight is perfect for me and I'm 80 years old. The one touch emptying is a real bonus. I'd highly recommend this model.” — Sue W. The latest Apple Watch just released in September, and Walmart has its first discount ever — up to $40 off list price. It has the biggest display yet, with 30% more screen than the previous model, while still managing to be the thinnest and lightest Apple Watch to date. The watch also supports fast-charging, reaching 80% battery life with just 30 minutes of charging. Get it in multiple colors and with a 42- or 46-milimeter screen. I'll let you in on a secret about the K-Express Essential: We haven't seen a worthy deal on Keurigs in about a year. It's marked on "sale" at $40 to $50 so often that in our eyes, that's the standard price. But today? The Keurig is the lowest price we've seen EVER — at any retailer — at $29.88 . If you've ever wanted this thing or wanted to gift it and just held out for any reason, today is the day to take the plunge. This Keurig coffee machine serves up 6- 8- and 10-ounce coffee at the push of a button. The slim design has a removable 32-ounce water reservoir, making it easy to fill, and its drip tray comes out so you can stick your favorite tumbler underneath for travel-ready bean water. It's on sale in so many colors this week that you're bound to find one (or two) to match your kitchen or office. Promising review: “I love this Kuerig, it's exactly what I needed. I was looking for a sturdy K-cup machine that travels well and is compact, this was the perfect. This Kuerig works really fast, and brews a great tasting cup of coffee. I love the color (light green), the ease of refilling the reservoir, the speedy brew time, and the design. I would recommend this product. 👌” — Margaret Apple's popular Beats Solo3 headphones are at a deep, deep discount this week for as much as $130 off their regular list price . These guys use an Apple W1 chip for Apple-specific features (spatial audio, for one) and speedy wireless Bluetooth connectivity that allow you to not just listen to music, but take calls, control your music and activate Siri. They provide up to 40 hours of listening time per charge, plus its rapid-charging feature gives you an additional three hours of playback with just five minutes of charging. Get these over-ear headphones for some crispy, cushy audio, whether you're listening to music or taking phone calls. Promising review: “ they are perfect they sound like surround sound and they are loud but not loud loud they tune everything out you cant hear anything i love them .” — amiyah The Reebok Flexagon Force 4s are super simple training shoes on sale for an extremely attractive price: $30. These mesh lace-ups are plenty breathable for hitting the gym or taking walks, while the brand's FuelFoam midsole has enough cushioning for the softest landings. As their name might suggest, they're ultra-flexible, and with plenty of colors to choose from, you can hit the gym with whatever style you want. Get 'em in men's sizes 6.5-11.5 and women's sizes 5-10. Promising review: “Honestly for the price these are fantastic! These are my 2nd pair, they fit great, look great very comfortable, I used them for the gym and they do not disappoint! And looks good with shorts or sweats, great shoe for the price I'm surprise the price isn't higher” — Sulli Air purifiers don't just eliminate odors; they also capture airborne pollutants and bacteria. This one from Renpho is on mega-sale right now, and reviewers say it's particularly good if you have pets or allergies. People also seem to deeply appreciate that it's very quiet, even in its highest setting. Promising review: “My husband and his rather large cat spend a lot of time together in what used to be my sun room. Needless to say, he doesn't always do a good job keeping the litter box clean %26 and the odor can be bad. I also worried about bacteria. I ordered this air purifier, and the difference is like night and day. No odor anymore. I was so impressed that I bought one for the upstairs... even though I don't have a cat, just 4 wonderful, clean little Yorkies.” — Walmart Customer The Peter Thomas Roth brand is known for skin care products that create noticeable results in an impressively short time. Consider adding its enzyme mask to your skin care regimen, especially if you're trying to restore your glow and improve texture. It works as an exfoliator that removes impurities and dead skin cells from the skin. Promising review: " This mask is wonderful. Felt a difference first time I used it. Definitely makes your skin softer and brighter." — Wendy This 15.6-inch laptop from Lenovo is one of the more popular touchscreen computers out there, and this week it's getting a nifty discount. With 16 GB RAM, 512 GB of internal storage, it's not the most poweerful laptop out there, but you'd be hard pressed to find anything better for under $430 . Promising review: “I use the laptop for school stuff and The Sims 4 and everything runs well. I even have a bunch of mods and cc and it's setting all the way up. Only issue I have is that I have to reconnect to the internet even if I just closed it and not turned it off.” — Sara A massage gun can get those nasty knots out of your body and relieve sore muscles, whether you work out, slouch all day during your desk job or sleep poorly (and, if you're like me, you're doing all three!). This FitRx massage gun comes with its own carry case and plenty of head attachments to really get in there and loosen up. Use it on yourself or ask someone else to vibrate you from your neck all the way down your spine. Promising review: “This is a great device. Did not expect the power of it. Definitely been a huge help with all my muscle issues as well as for my wife. Definitely recommend this device for anyone who is needing a deep tissue massager. Does not disappoint.” — Julio A decent gaming laptop usually cost thousands of dollars, but Walmart is selling one at a ridiculously low price: $500. That's $600 off the Victus budget-friendly laptop by HP with a 15.6-inch screen, up to 10 hours of battery life, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card and 16 GB RAM. Having a carpet cleaner on hand is useful, especially if you've got kids, pets or clumsy adults in the vicinity. The Hoover PowerDash is a cleaner that, unlike most small wet-floor cleaners, is push operation. That means no more bending over the floor and sucking up the nastiness. This device has one tank for clean water and solution and a separate one to isolate dirty water, so you don't have to worry about your carpets still being icky. There's also a brush roll on the end to help dry your wet stains without getting pet (or human) hair tangled. Hot tub season has come around again and until now, we hadn't seen as many inflatable hot tubs with any noteworthy markdowns. Today, it all changes because Intex just marked this 77" x 28" bubble jet spa down with over $100 off! Who doesn't want new underwear? This classic multi-pack of 4.5-inch inseam boxers is baggy enough to wear as shorts at home but still classic enough for underwear. (The red plaid kind of screams "holiday," so yes, we've also just recommended a solid stocking stuffer option for gift giving season.) Get this five-pack in men's sizes S-2XL. Bigscreen televisions are typically expensive, but TCL manufactures wallet-friendly ones fit for living space or budget. If you're looking for a 75-inch whopper of a TV to upgrade your home entertainment, this one is on mega-sale. It has an ultra-HD display with a max resolution of 4K, plus it has all of your favorite streaming services, like Netflix , Hulu and Peacock, plus way more available to download right from its Roku store. Reviewers particularly love its thin panel, easy setup and crisp picture! Promising review: “I have been looking for a new TV for a while. I ended up going with TCL because of its crisp resolution! It has so many great features and never lags. My previous TV had issues keeping internet connection, but with TCL’s TV, it had never dropped internet connection. I’m very happy with my purchase and the quality of this TV! I highly recommend getting this TV if you are looking for a new one!!!” — Kevin11 The Jessica Simpson brand may be known for its stunning shoes but don't sleep on this chic Maxi puffer coat , for example. It's lengthy for keeping your body warm, puffy for a protective outer layer and versatile enough to match with practically anything in your closet. Reach for this coat to bundle up this winter and take 40% off its list price. Get one in various colors and women's sizes S-XL. If you've got a little one in your life, these Sanrio slippers will surely stir up some excitement. These themed, cozy and cushy slippers are available in three characters — Hello Kitty, Keroppi and My Melody — and are perfect for toddlers and young children. A Dyson for $20!? Well, kinda... This styling set is a toy Dyson that actually blows air, but it won't do much good with actual styling or, thankfully, accidentally burning any fingers. It's got a bunch of nozzles and attachments like the real thing, so if you know a kid who loves to pretend, this could make a great holiday gift! The massive 1 TB version of Microsoft's latest and greatest Xbox game console is on major sale this week, and not only is it much lower than normal — it also comes with a bonus controller for longer gaming sessions or friendly local competition with friends. Enjoy smooth, powerful 4K gaming in 120 frames per second, and with a subscription to the cloud gaming service Game Pass , you'll never have to buy another game again. Keep in mind that this is the digital-only edition of the console, so it won't play discs, but that could be a relief in saving physical space. Check Out All Of The Cyber Week Deals Related From Our PartnerNEW DELHI: Tata Power on Thursday inked an MoU with ADB for funding ongoing projects worth over $4 billion, aimed at enhancing power infrastructure and green energy. Company CEO Praveer Sinha described it as "a crucial step" towards "innovative financing...". Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET's Workshop is just around the corner!Iowa gaming commission will consider petition seeking to disqualify Cedar Rapids casino
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NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to overtake Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a one-shot lead Saturday over golf's best player going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge. Thomas is trying out a 46-inch driver — a little more than an inch longer than normal — that he previously used for practice at home to gain speed and length. He blasted a 361-yard drive to 8 feet on the par-4 seventh hole and led the field in driving distance. But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69. Thomas was on the verge of falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he was in a nasty spot in a sandy area and could only splash it out to nearly 50 feet. He made that one for a most unlikely birdie, while behind him Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole and made his lone bogey of a windy day. Scheffler never caught up to him, missing birdie chances on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas hit his approach to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to close within one. Scheffler missed birdie chances on the last two holes from the 10-foot and 15-foot range, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt at the last. “I had a stretch at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a shot or two there, but outside of that I did a lot of really good things today,” Scheffler said. Thomas hasn't won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, and a victory at Albany Golf Club wouldn't count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress toward getting his game back in order. “I'm driving it great. I've had a lot of confidence with it,” Thomas said of his longer driver. “I feel like I've been able to put myself in some pretty good spots going into the green. I’m still not taking advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that’s golf and we're always going to say that.” Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group Sunday with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title. Tom Kim put himself in the mix, which he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim got back in the game with a 65 on Friday, and then followed with 12 birdies for a 62. He had a shot at the course record — Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 — until Kim found a bunker and took two shots to reach the green in making a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Even so, he was only two shots behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was four back. “Feel like I’ve been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that’s all I can do,” Thomas said. “I can’t control everybody else or what’s going on, I’ve just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it’s enough come Sunday.” AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfBERNAMA-DPA – Banning smartphones in schools significantly enhances students’ social well-being, according to a recent meta-analysis of five international studies. “The children feel happier and enjoy school more because they spend their breaks talking and playing with each other,” explained co-author of the analysis and Professor of School Pedagogy at the University of Augsburg, Germany Klaus Zierer. Published in the Switzerland-based journal Education Sciences, the analysis looked at studies from Norway, Sweden, Spain, England and the Czech Republic. If students use their smartphone and social media in school, they’re exposed to the risk of cyberbullying there too, Zierer noted. “So a smartphone ban makes school a safe space against it.” A smartphone ban may also have a positive effect on academic performance, he said, although this was difficult to measure in the studies that were examined. “A smartphone ban alone won’t improve learning, of course,” remarked Zierer, but said it at least eliminates disruptions to students’ concentration caused by surreptitiously looking at the devices during class. While Zierer believes smartphones have no place at all in primary school, he said the older that children become, the greater their personal responsibility and media literacy need to be. “The key is to oversee a ban so that it’s not just a rigid framework, but eventually makes checks unnecessary.” BARCELONA (AP) – Try saying “no” when a child asks for a smartphone. What comes after, parents everywhere can attest, begins with some variation of, “Everyone has one. Why can’t I?” But what if no preteen in sight has one – and what if having a smartphone was weird? That’s the endgame of an increasing number of parents across Europe who are concerned by evidence that smartphone use among young kids jeopardises their safety and mental health – and share the conviction that there’s strength in numbers. From Spain to Britain and Ireland, parents are flooding WhatsApp and Telegram groups with plans not just to keep smartphones out of schools, but to link arms and refuse to buy young kids the devices before – or even into – their teenage years. After being inspired by a conversation in a Barcelona park with other mums, Elisabet García Permanyer started a chat group last fall to share information on the perils of Internet access for children with families at her kids’ school. The group, called ‘Adolescence Free of Mobile Phones’, quickly expanded and now includes over 10,000 members. The most engaged parents are pushing for fellow parents to agree not to get their kids smartphones until they are 16. After organising online, they facilitate real-world talks among concerned parents to further their crusade. “When I started this, I just hoped I would find four other families who thought like me, but it took off and kept growing, growing and growing,” García Permanyer said. “My goal was to try to join forces with other parents so we could push back the point when smartphones arrive. I said, ‘I am going to try so that my kids are not the only ones who don’t have one’.” It isn’t just parents. Police and public health experts were sounding the alarm about a spike of violent and pornographic videos watched by children via handheld devices. Spain’s government took note of the momentum and banned smartphones entirely from elementary schools in January. Now they can only be turned on in high school, which starts at age 12, if a teacher deems it necessary for an educational activity. The movement in Britain gained steam this year after the mother of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, who was killed by two teenagers last year, began demanding that kids under 16 be blocked from accessing social media on smartphones. “It feels like we all know (buying smartphones) is a bad decision for our kids, but that the social norm has not yet caught up,” Daisy Greenwell, a Suffolk, England-area mother of three kids under age 10, posted to her Instagram earlier this year. “What if we could switch the social norm so that in our school, our town, our country, it was an odd choice to make to give your child a smartphone at 11? What if we could hold off until they’re 14, or 16?” She and a friend, Clare Reynolds, set up a WhatsApp group called Parents United for a Smartphone-Free Childhood, with three people on it. Within four days, 2,000 people had joined the group, requiring Greenwell and Reynolds to split off dozens of groups by locality. Now there’s a chat group for every British county. Parents rallying to ban smartphones from young children have a long way to go to change what’s considered “normal”. By the time they’re 12, most children have smartphones, statistics from all three countries show. In Spain, a quarter of children have a cellphone by age 10, and almost half by 11. At 12, this share rises to 75 per cent. British media regulator Ofcom said 55 per cent of kids in the United Kingdom (UK) owned a smartphone between ages eight and 11, with the figure rising to 97 per cent at age 12. Parents and schools that have succeeded in flipping the paradigm in their communities told The Associated Press (AP) the change became possible the moment they understood that they were not alone. In Greystones, Ireland, that moment came after all eight primary school principals in town signed and posted a letter last year that discouraged parents from buying their students smartphones. Then the parents themselves voluntarily signed written pledges, promising to refrain from letting their young kids have the devices. “The discussion went away almost overnight,” said Christina Capatina, 38, a Greystones parent of two preteen daughters who signed the pledge and says there were almost no smartphones in schools this academic year. Something like a consensus has built for years among institutions, governments, parents and others that smartphone use by children is linked to bullying, suicidal ideation, anxiety and loss of concentration necessary for learning. China moved last year to limit children’s use of smartphones, while France has in place a ban on smartphones in schools for kids aged six to 15. The push to control smartphones in Spain comes amid a surge in cases of children viewing online pornography, sharing videos of sexual violence, or creating “deep fake” pornographic images of female classmates using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Spain’s government said that 25 per cent of kids 12 and under and 50 per cent of kids 15 and under have been exposed to online pornography. The dangers have produced school bans on smartphones and online safety laws. But those don’t address what kids do in off hours. “What I try to emphasise to other principals is the importance of joining up with the school next door to you,” said Principal of St Patrick’s National School Rachel Harper, one of the eight in Greystones to encourage parents to refrain from smartphones for their kids. “There’s a bit more strength that way, in that all the parents in the area are talking about it.” The home isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic offered a firsthand glimpse of their kids staring at screens and getting clever about hiding what they were seeing there – and what was finding them. But if the kids can’t have smartphones, are the parents cutting back their own online time? That’s tough, multiple parents said, because they’re managing families and work online.None
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