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Lance Terry scored a game-high 22 points, helping lead Georgia Tech to a 92-49 rout of visiting Alabama A&M on Saturday in Atlanta. Javian McCollum added 18 points, while Jaeden Mustaf chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, as Georgia Tech (6-7) won its second game in three outings. Baye Ndongo had 10 points for the Yellow Jackets, who shot 54.1 percent (33 of 61) from the field and made 10 of 21 (47.6 percent) on 3-pointers. AC Bryant and Bilal Abdur-Rahman each led the Bulldogs (4-9) with 11 points. Alabama A&M managed to shoot just 20.8 percent (15 of 72) from the field en route to its sixth straight loss. After London Riley's 3-pointer cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 16-15, McCollum's triple began a 12-0 scoring run, extending Georgia Tech's lead to 28-15 with 5:30 remaining in the opening half. Bryant's layup stopped the Yellow Jackets' run, but McCollum scored five straight points to push Georgia Tech's advantage to 15 at the 4:13 mark. The lead expanded to 18 points before Quincy McGriff's layup trimmed the Bulldogs' deficit to 16. Terry's back-to-back triples jump-started a 12-3 run to close the first half with Georgia Tech ahead 50-25. McCollum led all scorers with 18 first-half points, while McGriff led Alabama A&M with seven. Ndongo's dunk to open the second half started a 10-1 Georgia Tech run, stamped with Duncan Powell's triple with 17 minutes left to push the Yellow Jackets' lead to 60-26. After Angok Anyang knocked down a pair of free throws for the Bulldogs, Terry's fourth triple was followed by Naithan George's layup, extending Georgia Tech's lead to 68-35 with 11:49 left. Jaylen Colon and Terry then traded triples, before Georgia Tech's 13-6 spurt was stamped with Ndongo's layup at the 3:33 mark, giving the Yellow Jackets an 84-44 edge. Georgia Tech's dominant day was stamped with baskets from a pair of Yellow Jacket walk-ons, as Emmers Nichols and Marcos San Miguel each tallied their first career points in the closing minutes. --Field Level Media
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The social media site known as TikTok has been banned from all township devices. Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Honey said staff made the decision for IT and cyber protection. The ban extends to any corporate devices councillors might use for township business. Honey said the decision followed the federal government’s concerns over TikTok and national security. The township ban is just the latest example of governments around the world, from federal to municipal, banning the Chinese-based platform. According to a Nov. 7 article by the CBC, the bans are based on fears that user data could fall into the possession of the Chinese government. The CBC piece said that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has even warned Canadians against using TikTok. “Former CSIS director David Vigneault told CBC...it’s “very clear” from the app’s design that data gleaned from its users “is available to the government of China.” The Canadian government recently ordered TikTok’s Canadian operations to end. However, the app itself is still available.The U.S. Supreme Court heard a challenge against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Monday about past bans on flavored liquids for e-cigarettes and vapes. What Happened: Triton Distribution brought a case to the U.S. Supreme Court , challenging the law that allows the FDA to control the regulation of e-liquids and e-cigarettes. The FDA previously denied Triton’s applications to sell flavored e-cigarettes. The concern is that they could appeal to children and teenagers, as reported by Politico . Cigarette flavors, except menthol, have been banned by the FDA since 2009. A final ruling will not be made by the Supreme Court for months. Justices, though, don’t appear to sympathize with Triton's argument. "Everybody basically knows that flavors are particularly dangerous in terms of kids starting the use of smoking products," Justice Elena Kagan said. Triton has the potential to reapply with the FDA. A company attorney said the incoming Donald Trump administration could make things easier, given his past comments on wanting to save vaping. Some judges believed the FDA was not consistent on its approval process. "Their argument is that the guidance were actually a moving target, that either they weren't clear, or you changed the guidance as time went on," Justice Clarence Thomas said. Read Also: Trump Vows To ‘Save Vaping Again’ Despite Past Partial Ban. Here’s How He Plans To Do It Why It's Important: Under the existing 2009 law, the FDA only approves new tobacco products if they believe they will protect public health. This makes it harder to get new products approved, as the system favors those fighting to get current users of products to stop smoking or prevent new users from starting. Past appeals courts have approved the FDA's decisions, as reported by NPR . The conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the FDA's decision capabilities. It also threatened to allow all vaping products to hit the market, prompting the challenge with the Supreme Court. With a final ruling likely in June, cigarette and vaping companies could be on the radar of investors. Cigarette manufacturer Altria Group MO owns the NJOY menthol e-cigarette product that has flavored vapes approved by the FDA. Altria was previously an investor in Juul , a leader in the e-cigarette sector. It eventually exchanged its stake for some intellectual property. Maintaining the FDA's current rules would keep Altria as one of the only companies that can sell approved flavored e-cigarettes. A different decision could see Altria quickly face increased competition. British American Tobacco BTI has watched previous attempts to have some vaping products approved denied by the FDA. Turning Point Brands TPI , a past challenger to the FDA's approval process, could benefit if the Supreme Court puts new rules in place. Read Next: Social Media Reacts As Juul Users Get Compensation Through Venmo After $300M Class-Action Settlements: ‘Vaping Actually Paid Off’ Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com The IRS Direct File program, which lets taxpayers file their federal income tax return directly with the IRS for free, is doubling its reach to 24 states for the 2025 tax season, up from 12 states in 2024, the program’s pilot year. The Direct File program will also accept more types of tax situations for the 2025 tax season. While taxpayers who used the system in 2024 could claim a handful of tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit , that list is expanding in 2025 to include the child and dependent care credit , among others. An estimated 30 million taxpayers will qualify for the Direct File program in 2025, the IRS says. More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their federal tax returns through the Direct File program in 2024. About 90% of users said their experience was excellent or above average, according to a survey of about 11,000 Direct File users in 2024, conducted by the General Services Administration. “We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner, in a statement. “Our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily.” The IRS says that taxpayers can use Direct File when the 2025 tax season kicks off in January, and it will be available until Oct. 15, 2025. But the program’s future is somewhat unclear: In December, 29 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, calling for him to end the Direct File program on his first day in office. Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced legislation in July to end the Direct File program. For now, here’s what you need to know about how the IRS Direct File program works, and how to qualify for it. The Direct File program is a new initiative, about to enter its second year, that allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns electronically with the IRS. The no-cost tool guides taxpayers through every part of their federal income tax return. Taxpayers can file using a smartphone, computer or tablet. One of the program’s advantages is that, if you have questions as you’re working on your return, you can get live support directly from the IRS via chat or phone. IRS representatives can answer basic tax questions and help with technical issues in English and Spanish. The Direct File program has income limits, as well as limits on the types of income, deductions and credits you can enter on your tax return. For the 2025 tax season: To be eligible for Direct File, your income can come from the following sources: But if you’re self-employed, or have business or rental income, you can’t use Direct File . Same goes for IRA contributions or distributions: If you have either, you can’t use Direct File. You can use the IRS Direct File program only if you claim the standard deduction — the program isn’t available to people who itemize. But you can claim certain above-the-line deductions: student loan interest , educator expenses and health savings account contributions . You can’t use Direct File if you want to deduct your IRA contributions. The Direct File program allows for the following tax credits in 2025: However, if you want to claim education credits , credits for energy efficient home upgrades or the adoption expense credit , you can’t use the Direct File program. More taxpayers will have access to the IRS Direct File program in 2025. In 2024, the IRS kicked off the program with only 12 states; that number has expanded to 24 states for the 2025 tax season. For some of the states that participate in the IRS Direct File program, your federal return information will be transferred automatically to the state tax website, but in some cases you’ll have to re-enter your information. Visit this IRS Direct File page to get the details for your state. Here is a list of the participating states: If you don’t qualify for the IRS Direct File program, you may have other options to file your tax return for free. In addition to Direct File, the IRS offers the Free File program, in which it partners with online tax software providers to provide free federal income tax return filing. Some providers also allow you to file a state income tax return. For the 2024 tax season, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $79,000 to qualify for the Free File program. That dollar threshold is likely to rise slightly for the 2025 tax season. The IRS also offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides certified volunteers to prepare basic tax returns if you earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled, or speak limited English. You can find a site near you by visiting this IRS page . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
While there was high drama in Alexandra Palace on the first day back after the Christmas break, where Damon Heta threw a nine-dart finish, Humphries enjoyed a serene evening. He beat Nick Kenny 4-0 to set up a mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with two-time champion Peter Wright. Kenny was unable to produce the form that saw him beat Raymond van Barneveld in the previous round and Humphries did not need to be anywhere near his best. “It was one of those games I didn’t want to take for granted,” he said. “I expected a tough game and I wasn’t firing, I felt there is so much more to give, I felt there was more to come out of me. “I didn’t want to give anyone an inch because they can take a mile. “I’m not going to give up this world title without a fight, I wasn’t at my best but when someone pushes me I know I can come up with the goods.” Earlier in the day Heta set the tournament alight on its resumption with a stunning nine-dart finish before bowing out. The Australian, seeded ninth, achieved darting perfection in the second set of his match with Luke Woodhouse to earn a cool £60,000 payday. However, his joy was short-lived as Woodhouse won a thrilling battle 4-3, having trailed 3-1. Heta was millimetres away from throwing a nine-darter in the previous round when he missed the double 12, but he made no mistake this time in the first match after the Christmas break. Heta’s feat was the second time a nine-darter has been thrown in the 2025 tournament and the 16th of all time at the World Championship, following Christian Kist’s effort before Christmas. As well as landing the Australian a hefty payday, it also saw a lucky fan in Ally Pally win a £60,000, with £60,000 also being donated to Prostate Cancer UK. There were several other titanic battles, none better than Gerwyn Price’s sudden-death leg victory over Joe Cullen. Price looked like he was going to have an easy night when he coasted into a 3-0 lead, but Cullen hit back to send it to a decider, which went all the way. Cullen landed a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout to send the tie to a sudden-death leg on his throw but Price hit some big numbers to steal victory. “That was tough, I just wanted to get over the winning line,” he said during his on-stage interview. “He kept coming back, the crowd were way behind him. “I thought I was going to lose, but I kept in there right to the end and got the win. “He played some good darts at the right times. I put myself in that position, I got myself out of it and I’m still in.” Seventh seed Jonny Clayton also battled to victory after squandering a 3-0 lead against Daryl Gurney. Gurney then had six darts to send the decider to a tiebreaker but lost his nerve and Clayton stole a 4-3 win. Stephen Bunting and Peter Wright, who was suffering from a chest infection, enjoyed much more safe passages with routine wins over Madars Razma and Jermaine Wattimena respectively.Jamie Carragher pinpoints the one area Man City need to 'rebuild' after falling to five defeats in a row - as - Daily Mail
Green and Louisiana Tech win 85-79 in OT over Southern Illinois at Gulf Coast ShowcaseImphal, Dec 28 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said the case of 56-year-old Laishram Kamalbabu, who allegedly went missing from the Army camp at Leimakhong on November 25, would be handed over to the CBI. The decision was taken following a meeting of the state cabinet, he said. "Chaired a cabinet meeting at the cabinet hall of my secretariat to deliberate on the means to address the pressing concerns and prevailing situation in the state," he said in a post on X. "The case of Laishram Kamalbabu who had gone missing from the Leimakhong Army camp, will be handed over to the CBI," he added. Kamalbabu, a native of Assam's Cachar district who lived in Khukrul in Imphal West, was a works supervisor for a contractor working with the Military Engineering Services (MES) in Leimakhong Military Station of the 57th Mountain Division, according to the Army. Police had earlier said that over 2,000 security personnel were deployed to search for Kamalbabu, who belongs to the Metei community. Amid protests over his disappearance, state Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo had said that all documents related to Kamalbabu were sent to the Prime Minister's Office as well as the offices of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah. Meanwhile, the CM said the cabinet also decided that the national flag will be flown at half-mast till January 1 to mourn the death of former PM Manmohan Singh. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Regency Centers Co. (NASDAQ:REG) Shares Purchased by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Nov. 24 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 10:30 a.m. ESPNU — ESPN2 — Myrtle Beach Invitational: Portland vs. Princeton, Seventh-Place Game, Conway, S.C. 11 a.m. CBSSN — St. John’s vs. Georgia, Nassau, Bahamas 1 p.m. CBSSN — Rutgers at Kennesaw St. ESPN — Villanova vs. Maryland, Newark, N.J. ESPN2 — Myrtle Beach Invitational: South Florida vs. Wright St., Third-Place Game, Conway, S.C. 3 p.m. CBSSN — Greenbrier Tip-Off: UCF vs. LSU, Third-Place Game, West White Sulphur Springs, W.V. ESPN — Charleston Classic: Oklahoma St. vs. Nevada, Fifth-Place Game, Charleston, S.C. 3:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Florida St. vs. UMass, Uncasville, Conn. 5:30 p.m. CBSSN — Greenbrier Tip-Off: Pittsburgh vs. Wisconsin, Championship, West White Sulphur Springs, W.V. ESPN — Myrtle Beach Invitational: MTSU vs. Bradley, Championship, Conway, S.C. 6 p.m. ESPN2 — Charleston Classic: FAU vs. Seton Hall, Third-Place Game, Charleston, S.C. ESPNU — Yale vs. Delaware, Uncasville, Conn. 8 p.m. ESPN2 — Myrtle Beach Invitational: Ohio vs. Texas, Fifth-Place Game, Conway, S.C. 8:30 p.m. ESPN — Charleston Classic: Drake vs. Vanderbilt, Championship, Charleston, S.C. COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) 1 p.m. PEACOCK — South Florida vs. Louisville, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 4 p.m. ACCN — Bethune-Cookman at Virginia BTN — Washington St. at Iowa FS1 — South Carolina at UCLA COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY 1:30 p.m. ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: Saint Joseph's vs. Northwestern, Championship, Ann Arbor, Mich. COLLEGE FOOTBALL 12:30 p.m. ESPNU — FCS Football Selection Show COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S) Noon ACCN — Stanford at North Carolina 2 p.m. ACCN — California at Duke SECN — South Carolina at Tennessee 3:30 p.m. ESPNU — Southwestern Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Grambling, La. 4 p.m. SECN — Arkansas at Kentucky 6 p.m. SECN — Auburn vs. Oklahoma 7:30 p.m. BTN — Indiana at Ohio St. 8:30 p.m. ESPNU — Mid-Eastern Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Dover, Del. FIGURE SKATING 4 p.m. NBC — ISU: The 2024 Cup of China, Chongqing, China GOLF 1 p.m. GOLF — PGA Tour: The RSM Classic, Final Round, Sea Island Golf Club - Seaside Course, Sea Island, Ga. NBC — LPGA Tour: The CME Group Tour Championship, Final Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla. HORSE RACING Noon FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races 4 p.m. FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 1 p.m. NBATV — Capital City at Maine NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: New England at Miami, Tampa Bay at N.Y. Giants, Kansas City at Carolina, Tennessee at Houston FOX — Regional Coverage: Minnesota at Chicago, Detroit at Indianapolis, Dallas at Washington 4:05 p.m. CBS — Denver at Las Vegas 4:25 p.m. FOX — Regional Coverage: San Francisco at Green Bay, Arizona at Seattle 8:20 p.m. NBC — Philadelphia at L.A. Rams PEACOCK — Philadelphia at L.A. Rams NHL HOCKEY 7 p.m. NHLN — Utah at Toronto SAILING 5 a.m. CBSSN — Sail GP: The Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix - Day 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates SOCCER (MEN’S) 9 a.m. USA — Premier League: Liverpool at Southampton 11:30 a.m. USA — Premier League: Manchester United at Ipswich Town 11:45 a.m. FS2 — Saudi Pro League: Al Fateh at Al Ittihad Noon ABC — Spanish Primera Division: Real Madrid at CD Leganés 6 p.m. FS1 — MLS Cup Western Conference Semifinal: Minnesota at L.A. Galaxy TENNIS 10 a.m. TENNIS — Davis Cup Finals Championship The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .JPMorgan Chase & Co. Raises Position in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF (BATS:IAGG)
NEW YORK — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that's been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor, the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company's board. It also said it doesn't expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger's replacement, and its chair said it's "committed to restoring investor confidence." Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street's frenzy around AI. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what's expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday. Target fell 1.2%. Walmart rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump's latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won't create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar's value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government's budget. The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury ended the day at 4.19%. Get local news delivered to your inbox!F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: As jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all set to march on Islamabad on November 24, the federal government has decided to shut down the mobile and internet services in the country. According to sources, a decision has been made to shut down the mobile and internet services at midnight on Saturday. The Interior Ministry will issue orders to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTI) soon. On Saturday, the government closed motorways and bus stations and blocked several inter-city and intracity roads by placing containers to stop the protesters from reaching the federal capital Islamabad. On the other hand, the PTI leadership has challenged the government that they will reach Islamabad at any cost and the protest will continue until Imran Khan’s release from Adiala Jail, where he has been incarcerated since August 5, 2023. Bushra Bibi will not participate in embattled PTI’s protest Former first lady Bushra Bibi will not participate in the forthcoming protest of the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). In a statement issued by PTI leader Sheikh Waqas Akram on Saturday, it was confirmed that Bushra Bibi will not participate in the upcoming protest. “Bushra Bibi is a housewife, and she will not participate in the protest. We have been discussing this issue regularly for the past five days,” he stated. “Bushra Bibi had no plan to be part of the public gathering,” said Akram. On the other side, Bushra Bibi’s spokesperson, Mashal Yousafzai had also confirmed that the former first lady will not participate in the PTI’s protest. Yousafzai said, “Bushra Bibi will not participate in the protest due to the health issues.”
2024 most challenging year for Nigerian workers, says NLCI'm A Celeb fans were left in hysterics after Melvin Odoom's family and friends made a nod to a major mistake on the show. The radio DJ's social media profile picture was swapped out for a snap of Irish beauty Maura Higgins following a blunder by producers on the ITV show. As Maura chatted to the camera in camp, the caption wrongly stated it was Melvin. It wasn't the only mistake as McFly star Danny Jones was also incorrectly captioned as Radio 1 star Dean McCullough on Friday night's episode. Fans immediately picked up on the mistake - as did Melvin's family and friends who are running his X account while he is in the jungle. One fan wrote: "Whoever is running melvin’s account deserves an award #ImACeleb." Read more I'm A Celeb star reveals they were left with plastic nose after brutal injury A second commented: "Melvin looks different #ImACeleb #imaceleb2024." A third added: "Anyone notice earlier, when Maura was talking they put her name as “Melvin Odoom” had a stinker there." Melvin was earlier involved in controversy in the camp, After winning over viewers with his kindness, he was called out for being 'the real villain' after it was revealed he had smuggled contraband into camp. Melvin had five cupcakes deducted from his prize for the rule break after bringing in salt from home. He defended his actions, saying he had wanted the campmates to experience just one flavorful meal during their time in the Australian jungle. Melvin also revealed he had a major crush on Countdown star Carol Vorderman on the ITV show as he revealed the items he had brought from home to keep him going. He unveiled a pillow adorned with family photos and the surprising addition of Countdown icon Carol. “My dad, my mum and Carol Vorderman. My crush,” he confessed. He later told the Bushtucker Telgraph: "I have been a fan of Carol Vorderman for a very long time, in fact I have a little rap,” he shared. “I know a woman so fine, she's mature like a fine wine. The mandem can't comprehend my 10 out of 10 Carol Vorderman, woo I wanna work her out, check your DMs girl and I'll be waiting."
Putin apologizes for 'tragic incident' but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot down MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. He stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike as the plane attempted to land on Wednesday. Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace.” The Kremlin also says Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Israel detains the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals during a raid DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel’s army has detained the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals. The announcement on Saturday came after health officials said Israeli troops stormed the hospital and forced many staff and patients outside and told them to strip in winter weather. Israel’s military alleges the hospital director is a suspected Hamas operative and says it detained over 240 others. It acknowledges it ordered people outside and that special forces entered the hospital. It says it “eliminated” militants who fired at its forces. Kamal Adwan officials have denied that Hamas operates in the hospital. Abortions are up in the US. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travel Even with abortion bans in place in most Republican-controlled states, the number of people obtaining them has grown slightly. That's part of a complicated picture of the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two and a half years ago. Abortion pills are more common now. So is traveling to other states for care, often on journeys hundreds of miles long. Public support for the right to abortion has also increased since before the ruling. That's been reflected in most ballot measures to add the right to abortion to state constitutions being adopted. Drought, fires and deforestation battered Amazon rainforest in 2024 BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The Amazon rainforest staggered through another difficult year in 2024. A second year of record drought contributed to wildfires that worsened deforestation across the massive forest, which spans Brazil, Peru, Colombia and other Latin American nations and is a critical counterweight to climate change. There were some bright spots. Both Brazil and Colombia reported lower levels of deforestation compared to prior years. Experts say Amazon countries need to do more to strengthen cross-border collaboration and that the global community who reap the benefits of commodities from the rainforest also need to pitch in. Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing more hard-won land in Kursk to Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Five months after their shock offensive into Russia, Ukrainian troops are bloodied by daily combat losses and demoralized by the rising risk of defeat in Kursk. Some want to stay in the region at all costs. Others question the value of having gone in at all. Battles are so intense that commanders are unable to evacuate their dead. Lags in communication and poorly timed operations have cost lives and commanders say they have little way to counterattack. The overstretched Ukrainians have lost more than 40% of the territory they won in the lightning incursion that seized much of Kursk in August. Afghan forces target Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes Afghanistan's Defense Ministry says its forces hit several points inside Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes. Pakistan last Tuesday launched an operation to destroy a training facility and kill insurgents in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. The strikes killed dozens of people. The ministry said Saturday that its forces hit points “serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan.” Pakistan accuses the Taliban of not doing enough to combat cross-border militant activity, a charge the Taliban government denies. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who instituted economic reforms, cremated in New Delhi NEW DELHI (AP) — Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, has been cremated after a state funeral. The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at age 92. Singh’s body was taken Saturday to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.” Later, his body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was prime minister for 10 years until 2014. Sweden embarks on a sober search for more cemetery space in case of war GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AP) — Burial associations in Sweden are looking to acquire enough land for something they hope they’ll never have to do. And that's to bury thousands of people in the event of war. The search follows new crisis preparedness guidelines from the country's civil defense agency and the military. The issue is seen in a new light after Russia's invasion of Ukraine led formerly neutral Sweden to join NATO. Sweden and Finland sent out updated civil preparedness guides in November with instructions on how to survive in war. The guides are similar to those in Denmark and Norway, though they don't mention Russia by name. Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73 LONDON (AP) — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her family said on social media. She was 73. Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement posted to her Instagram account said. Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy. “Romeo and Juliet” won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting. Decades later, the pair brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures over nude scenes in the film they said they were coerced to perform. The case was dismissed by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023. Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California, Mega Millions says At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night. The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Rd. in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. The estimated jackpot was the fifth-highest ever for Mega Millions.
An ongoing knee concern means Australian captain Alyssa Healy is no certainty to take back the wicketkeeping gloves during next month’s blockbuster Ashes series. Healy planned to test her troublesome knee behind the stumps in a warm-up game for the Governor-General’s XI against England on January 9 three days before the series opener. But the skipper left the door open for Beth Mooney to keep the gloves during the multi-format series as both were locked into a 14-player squad for the limited overs games. After missing the successful New Zealand series with a knee injury, Sophie Molineux was the key absentee from the squad as Cricket Australia confirmed she would undergo surgery in January. All-rounder Heather Graham was omitted after touring in New Zealand, with young opener Georgia Voll holding her spot in the squad after a superb debut campaign against India. Voll was not called upon in New Zealand as Healy returned to the top of the order as a specialist bat, but the captain said it was exciting to have the powerful right-hander ready to go if needed during the Ashes. “A little bit frustrating for myself personally, because every time someone comes in to take my spot they’ve made runs,” Healy joked. “(But) it’s been amazing, and I think just to see the depth in Australian cricket is there and young players in particular. “It’s been exciting to have (Voll) along for the ride, and obviously to be selected in this squad is justice for what she’s done this summer.” Healy said it would be challenge to keep her knee healthy through the series, suggesting it was no guarantee she would take back the gloves. “(To keep is) the plan – obviously (I’m) named in the Governor-General’s squad and that will be a great opportunity for me to take the gloves for a little bit and see how everything is progressing,” she said. “It’s kind of play it by ear at the moment to see how everything pulls up, but I did thoroughly enjoy running around the field in New Zealand, so if that’s the option and it’s less disruptive to our side, then that could be the way moving forward. “My main niggle concern at the moment is my knee, and having an angry joint in there and flaring that up ... that will be the real test in the next 10 days moving into the series, as to how that pulls up, how that responds to me keeping again.” Top-order option Grace Harris was named for the three T20 games only, leaving 13 players to choose from for the opening 50-over games with a squad for the historic MCG day-night Test still to come. Healy said the delay naming the Test squad was partly to ensure Australia found the right bowling mix based on the conditions and domestic form. It left the door open for the likes of left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle, who played in last year’s Test in India, or WA teenager Chloe Ainsworth to figure in the longer format. “I think you look at the way we’ve shaped up in Test cricket over the last couple of seasons, it’s looked a little bit different to what we’ve done in the white-ball format,” Healy said. “We’ll probably look at that over the next few weeks just to see where all the bowlers in domestic cricket are at and their loads ... and how they’re going to prepare for a Test match. “Knowing it’s pink-ball, knowing it swings a little bit more and what the conditions are going to be like, I think there’s a few players around the country at the moment that could stick their hand up for a baggy green.” Australia’s ODI and T20I Ashes Squad Alyssa Healy (c,wk), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Grace Harris (T20s only) FIXTURE January 12: 1st ODI, North Sydney Oval January 14: 2nd ODI, Junction Oval January 17: 3rd ODI, Bellerive Oval January 20: 1st T20I, SCG (N) January 23: 2nd T20I, Manuka Oval (N) January 25: 3rd T20I, Adelaide Oval (N) January 30 – Feb 2: Ashes Test, MCG (D/N) Multi-format scoring system: Teams get two points for an ODI or T20I win and four points for a Test victory. Australia retained the urn in 2023 after the series was drawn 8-8. Originally published as Alyssa Healy continues to manage knee injury ahead of Ashes series
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A recent advisory from the United States Surgeon General has made it clear — parents and caregivers are burned out. In a 2023 poll of more than 3,100 American parents, nearly 50 per cent reported experiencing debilitating levels of stress most days. Other recent surveys from Canada and the U.S. also found between 20 to 30 per cent of parents are experiencing moderate to severe levels of anxiety that could warrant a clinical diagnosis. When the tasks of the holidays are piled onto this baseline stress, it’s easy to see how the “season of joy” may feel more like the “season of overwhelm.” How can both our society as a whole and parents as individuals dial back the pressure? Structural changes are essential. But scientific insights about child development can also help parents prioritize what matters most and shift how they respond to things that may otherwise trigger anxiety. Much of what is making parents stressed these days is structural in nature: things are more expensive, it’s hard to find affordable child care, parents are more isolated, work is taking up more of parents’ time and children’s engagement with ever-evolving technology brings a range of serious health and safety concerns . These factors disproportionately affect parents who experience poverty, racism, violence or trauma. Addressing them will require substantial political and cultural shifts . But there are smaller factors to tackle as well. Parents today have more access to information than ever before. It’s not just a pediatrician or family member they can turn to for advice, but endless blogs, forums and social media platforms. While online sources can build community and confidence, they can also contribute to information overload as panic headlines and contradictory advice often compound parents’ feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. These platforms also tend to showcase idyllic situations that lead parents to create unhelpful comparisons and unrealistic expectations, contributing to feelings of shame and guilt . To counteract these feelings, it’s helpful to remember a few things: children’s development is influenced by many things parents can’t control, there are many benefits to imperfect parenting and independent play and parent wellness matters more than most else. It’s common for people who haven’t experienced discrimination or unexpected challenges to attribute children’s behaviours and outcomes to parents’ choices and efforts. This is an example of “attribution bias,” a bias towards a particular kind of explanation . Developmental science helps dispel this bias by highlighting that children’s development is influenced by many factors other than parenting and beyond parents’ control. First among these is genetics. For example, twin studies have found that genetic factors explain 57-76 per cent of child/adolescent mental illness, 60-84 per cent of picky eating and 60-85 per cent of school achievement. Another is exposure to adverse or positive experiences , such as witnessing violence or being supported by friends and non-parental adults. These types of experiences have substantial effects on children’s physical and mental health. But they are inequitably distributed, based on factors such as income and race . There are big differences in children’s temperaments and how they respond to their environments . The same parenting strategy applied to two different children can lead to two very different outcomes, as you may have observed in siblings. This is why the next time you catch yourself feeling shame or judgment about a child’s behaviour, it’s important to remember parenting choices might not be to blame. Psychologists and pediatricians often recommend certain parenting strategies to support children’s development. But rarely do these providers suggest parents must follow their advice 100 per cent of the time to achieve the desired effects. It’s what happens most of the time that matters. Even when parenting “imperfections” happen, like breaking routines or uncharacteristically snapping at children, they can be seen as opportunities. When “rupture” is followed up by “repair” in the form of acknowledgement, apologies, explanations and/or moments for restoring connection, it can benefit the parent-child attachment relationship and help children build their emotion-regulation skills. By using repair after the overwhelming moments that often happen during the holidays, parents can transform these moments from sources of shame to reasons for pride. Over the past few decades, parents’ worries about children’s physical safety have grown , while children’s unsupervised play time has declined . Many parents are spending more time with their children , hovering or helicoptering over them rather than promoting independent play. No doubt, playing with the support of a responsive adult has many benefits for children’s learning and development . But when it comes to parent involvement in play, sometimes less is more. Research shows that unstructured play — play that isn’t organized by adults and doesn’t have defined goals — is a “ fundamental necessity ” for children’s well-being. Outdoor risky play has enormous benefits for children’s physical and mental health that outweigh many of the perceived safety risks. There are also many unique benefits of playing with peers for both academic and social skill development. With this in mind, if you are a parent who is regularly your child’s main playmate, it may be time to seek more opportunities to take a step back. The holidays can be a great time to start. News and social media feeds are full of panic headlines that can make it seem that certain foods, toys or parenting habits are what make or break children’s life outcomes. It’s easy for parents consuming this media to feel anxious or even want to change their purchases or behaviours in response to every new study. But most headlines overstate the findings of weak studies or small effects. And if following the headlines comes at the cost of parental well-being, it could be doing more harm than good. This is because one of the most consistent and strongest predictors of children’s well-being is having safe, stable and nurturing relationships with caregivers — as both the Canadian and American Pediatric Societies have stated. Children need present and responsive caregivers more than they need any specific foods, presents or new parenting fads. This is why it may be worth considering what you can do to support yourself or other parents’ well-being this year. This could mean providing practical or social support to the parents around you or just making them feel heard and understood . With high parental stress , it’s more important than ever for everyone to replace judgment with empathy and advice with real support. And for parents, let’s try to distinguish what we can and can’t control, practise self-forgiveness in tough times, allow ourselves moments to do less and focus in on what matters most. It might help us experience more moments of joy in this holiday season and through all the seasons of parenthood. Nina Sokolovic has worked in several roles at non-profit and government organizations that support the well-being of children and parents, including her current as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Ontario Public Service. She previously received funding for her research from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.