09 jili
Greenland not for sale, its leader says in response to TrumpPride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come out
Citius Oncology, Inc. Reports Fiscal Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business UpdateCreateAI Announces Results of 2024 Annual Meeting of StockholdersBiden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. He's converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Biden says the commutations are consistent with a pause on executions put in place by his administration in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Biden says he couldn't let a new administration resume executions. Trump has talked about subjecting drug dealers and human smugglers to the death penalty. A spokesperson for Trump said Biden's decision is “abhorrent" and a “slap in the face” to victims and their families. House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress. The 37-page report was released Monday by the bipartisan panel after a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The report includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz took part in while representing Florida in the House. Congressional investigators concluded that he violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing and he filed a lawsuit Monday trying to block the report’s release. Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has pleaded not guilty to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution. The Manhattan district attorney formally charged Luigi Mangione last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. Mangione's attorney complained during a brief hearing Monday that statements coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough for him to receive a fair trial. Mangione was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his not guilty plea. Man faces murder charges in the death of a woman who was lit on fire in New York City subway A man is facing murder charges in New York City for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames. Police on Monday said the man, identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, had been taken into custody as a person of interest in the case hours after the woman died. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Jeff Carter said he is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after he had been previously removed in 2018. Transit police apprehended the man hours after the fatal fire. Middle East latest: Defense minister acknowledges Israel killed Hamas leader Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel assassinated Hamas’ top leader last summer and is threatening to take similar action against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. The comments by Israel Katz appeared to mark the first time that Israel has acknowledged killing Ismail Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Iran in July. Israel was widely believed to be behind the blast and leaders have previously hinted at its involvement. In a speech Monday, Katz said the Houthis would meet a similar fate as the other members of an Iranian-led alliance in the region, including Haniyeh. He also noted that Israel has killed other leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, helped topple Syria’s Bashar Assad and destroyed Iran’s anti-aircraft systems. Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland, the ice-covered semi-autonomous Danish territory. That's added to the list of allied countries he’s picking fights with, even before taking office on Jan. 20. Greenland insists it's not for sale and Trump's initial calls to purchase it in 2019 came to nothing. But his latest suggestion comes after the president-elect suggested the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal and that Canadians wanted their county to become the 51st U.S. state. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. Magdeburg mourns Christmas market attack victims as fears swirl of deeper German social divisions MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Mourners are laying flowers near the scene of the deadly Christmas market attack as investigators puzzle over the motive of the suspect and his previous encounters with authorities are scrutinized. At the same time there are fears that the rampage could deepen divisions in German society. A church a short walk from the scene of the attack has become a central place of mourning since the suspect drove a car into the busy market on Friday evening and killed five people. Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency. They say he doesn't fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. How faith communities can be welcoming of believers with disabilities this holiday season and beyond This holiday season, some religious congregations across the U.S. are holding events designed to be accommodating to and inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They range from a “Calm Christmas” in West Virginia to an inclusive Hanukkah in New Jersey. Many disabled people, advocates and families want more houses of worship to know that there are ways to fully incorporate and welcome people with these and other disabilities and their families — and not just during the holidays but year round. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25.
Biden has become notably quiet after the 2024 election and Democrats’ lossTrump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:06 p.m. EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay's surest path to the NFL playoffs is a division championship. The Buccaneers will need help to repeat in the NFC South , but only if they first and foremost give themselves a chance. That means winning their remaining games at home against Carolina and New Orleans, while the Atlanta Falcons lose at least once in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Bucs (8-7) and Falcons share the best record in the division, however Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. Tampa Bay, which has won three consecutive division titles, is the only NFC team that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. “We’ve got to take care of business or else we’ve got no shot,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after a 26-24 loss at Dallas cost the Bucs control of the NFC South race. “This one, we've got to take it on the chin,” Mayfield added. “It's a short week. It's Christmas week. We've got to focus on Carolina and figure out a way to win.” If Atlanta is able to maintain its lead, Tampa Bay could make the postseason as a wild card if the Bucs win out and the Commanders lose twice. Coach Todd Bowles sounds confident that his players understand the challenge ahead and will clean up mistakes that contributed to the end of their four-game win streak. “We’ve got to win a ballgame (this week). If we don’t win a ballgame, we don’t give ourselves a chance,” Bowles said Monday. “We have to focus on us like we’ve been doing,” the coach added. “We have to correct the mistakes, and we have to go out and win Sunday, and we’ve got to win the next week, and then we’ll see what happens after that.” The offense, which ranks third in the NFL at 389.8 yards per game, isn't a fluke. Despite losing to the Cowboys, Tampa Bay finished with 410 yards total offense. It was the team's fifth straight game — as well as an NFL-high ninth overall — with 400-plus yards. The Bucs are seventh in rushing (143.7 yards per game) after ranking 32nd each of the past two seasons. The defense yielded 292 yards passing against the Cowboys, 226 of it in the first half when Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Bowles said shoddy tackling was the biggest issue — not poor coverage. Lamb had one reception for 5 yards after halftime. Mayfield's chemistry with rookie WR Jalen McMillan, who has 27 receptions for 336 yards and five TDs, continues to grow. McMillan had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown — his fourth in the past three games — against Dallas. He was also the intended receiver on Mayfield's deep throw that CB Jourdan Lewis intercepted in the end zone to help the Cowboys hold off the Bucs in the closing minutes. Turnovers were costly against Dallas. The end-zone interception stopped the Bucs from cutting into a 26-17 deficit with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Rachaad White's fumble with 1:31 left ended any hope for a last-minute victory. On both plays, defenders ripped the ball out of the grasp of the offensive player. “We knew they were going to rake at the ball going into the ballgame," Bowles said. "We just have to have two hands on the ball, and we have to fight for it. We have to take better care of the football. That’s priority No. 1.” Bowles said it's too early to project the status of several starters for coming games, including S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee), who has missed the past two games. TE Cade Otton (knee) and LB K.J. Britt (ankle) were inactive against the Cowboys, while reserve WR Sterling Shepard left during the game with a hamstring injury. 80. Bucky Irving leads all NFL rookie RBs with 920 yards rushing. He needs 80 over the next two games to reach 1,000. He scored his seventh rushing touchdown against Dallas. That tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing TDs by a rookie running back in franchise history. Doug Martin set the record of 11 in 2012. Host Carolina on Sunday. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Unai Emery felt his Aston Villa side restored confidence by returning to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League. Morgan Rogers’ fourth goal of the season, an Ollie Watkins penalty and Matty Cash’s finish put Villa 3-0 up after 34 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the second half but the damage had been done as Villa ended their eight-match winless run in all competitions. Emery was relieved to end the unwanted streak but quickly turned his attention to the next fixture against Southampton on Saturday. “We broke a spell of bad results we were having,” the Villa boss said. “We started the first five or 10 minutes not in control of the game but then progressively we controlled. “Today we achieved those three points and it has given us confidence again but even like that it’s not enough. We have to keep going and think about the next match against Southampton on Saturday. “The message was try to focus on each match, try to forget the table. How we can recover confidence and feel comfortable at home. Today was a fantastic match.” Tyrone Mings returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August 2023. Emery admitted it has been a long road back for the 31-year-old and is pleased to have him back. He added: “Mings played in the Champions league but it’s the first time in the league for a year and three months. “I think he played fantastic – he might be tired tomorrow but will be ready for Saturday again. “It was very, very long, the injury he had. His comeback is fantastic for him and everybody, for the doctor and physio and now he’s training everyday.” Brentford fell to a sixth away defeat from seven games and have picked up only a solitary point on the road this season. They have the best home record in the league, with 19 points from seven matches, but they have the joint worst away record. Bees boss Thomas Frank is confident form will improve on the road. He said: “On numbers we can’t argue we are better at home than away, but on numbers it’s a coincidence. I think two of the seven away games have been bad. “The other games we performed well in big spells. I’m confident at the end of the season we will have some wins away from home.” Frank felt Villa should not have been given a penalty when Ethan Pinnock brought Watkins down. He added: “I want to argue the penalty. I don’t think it is (one). I think Ollie kicked back and hit Ethan, yes there is an arm on the shoulder but threshold and all that – but that’s not the reason we lost.”Argentina’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and several other defendants to stand trial for signing its controversial 1994 memorandum of understanding with Iran over the 1994 terrorist car-bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre. The ruling was reached after the court rejected all defence appeals, court sources informed. The decision means the nation’s top tribunal has endorsed a previous ruling of the Federal Criminal Cassation Court, revoking the acquittals of all defendants and ordering a trial in the case opened by the denunciation of the late AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman. Last September the Cassation Court had quashed Fernández de Kirchner’s acquittal in the case investigating allegations the ex-president sought to cover up the AMIA attack. The court ordered her to stand trial, though her defence lawyers appealed that decision to the Supreme Court. Eighty-five people died in the 1994 AMIA bombing, the worst terrorist attack on Argentine soil, and more than 300 were injured. No-one has ever claimed responsibility for the deadly attack but Israel has accused Tehran of sponsoring it, a position Nisman supported. The case began early in 2015 with a denunciation presented by Nisman claiming that the memorandum signed between Argentina and Iran was an attempt to cover up for those accused of the AMIA attack. He based the complaint on an alleged move by Fernández de Kirchner’s government to remove the Interpol red alert notices issued against the suspects. Fernández de Kirchner, 71, was accused of obstructing an investigation into the 1994 bombing, in connection with the controversial deal her administration brokered with Tehran. In 2013, the then-president Fernández de Kirchner had signed a Memorandum with Iran under which local prosecutors could question the suspects outside Argentina. The Jewish community in Argentina expressed outrage and accused Fernández de Kirchner of orchestrating a cover-up. The treaty never entered into force. The accusations related to it were originally lodged by late AMIA special prosecutor Nisman. Just before he was due to testify before Congress about his claims, the prosecutor was found dead with a gunshot to the head. The cause of death – suicide or murder – remains a mystery. In his indictment, Nisman alleged that in signing the Memorandum, the then-president was trying to clear former Iranian officials, who were wanted internationally via Interpol red alert notices, in exchange for commercial benefits. The judges, however, said that a cover-up could not be proven, nor was their evidence that benefits had been exchanged. They added that the Interpol “red alerts were always in force and still are.” In October, 2021, Tribunal Oral Federal No. 8 acquitted all defendants due to the non-existence of a crime. "The Memorandum, over and above whether it may be considered a hit or miss in political terms, does not constitute a crime," ruled the judges Gabriela López Iñiguez, José Michilini and Daniel Obligado at the time. Their decision was appealed by members of the DAIA Jewish community organisation and the relatives of AMIA victims. -TIMES/AFP/NA Ads Space Ads Space
Jack Vidgen's heartbreaking personal update: 'Shame and guilt'Navigating the risks of Digital Public InfrastructureThe Vancouver Canucks might have a big hole in their lineup for tonight’s game. Quinn Hughes is a game-time decision as the team takes on the San Jose Sharks at home. If he doesn’t play, it’ll be the first game he’s missed this season. Head coach Rick Tocchet broke the news during his pre-game media availability. He said that the 25-year-old skated this morning like normal but is fighting through something. “He’s dealing with a couple of things and we’ll figure it out at game time. He’ll probably want to play, but I’ll make that decision. It just happened last game.” . The injury is affecting Hughes’ hand Hughes’ absence would be sorely felt. The Canucks badly need the defenceman who has been their best player so far this year. He has 40 points in 33 games and is performing better than he did last season when he won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenceman. Even with all their blueliners healthy, the Canucks defence group is a weakness on their roster. They might now have to play not only without Hughes but also . This news comes during a time of turmoil for the Canucks. The team is just 3-3-4 in their last 10 games. A has led to lots of noise in the market. Neither of those two stars are playing well, but they’ll need to find their game tonight to help the team with Hughes possibly not in the lineup. The Sharks are in last place in the Pacific Division, so if there was a game for Hughes to miss, this might be the one. It’s the Canucks last game before a short holiday break. They’ll play their next contest after tonight’s on December 28 against the Seattle Kraken.
NEW YORK , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. ("Codere" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CDRO ). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Codere and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On November 18, 2024 , Codere issued a press release announcing receipt of "a staff determination letter . . . , from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ('Nasdaq'), notifying the Company of the determination from the Nasdaq Staff (the 'Staff') to delist the Company's securities from The Nasdaq Stock Market, given the Company had not filed its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 . . . in accordance with continued Listing Rule 5250(c)(1)[.]" On this news, Codere's stock price fell sharply during intraday trading on November 19, 2024 . Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York , Chicago , Los Angeles , London , Paris , and Tel Aviv , is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz , known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud , breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
TORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 149.50 points at 24,748.98. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 66.69 points at 42,906.95. The S&P 500 index was up 43.22 points at 5,974.07, while the Nasdaq composite was up 192.29 points at 19,764.89. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.47 cents US compared with 69.61 cents US on Friday. The February crude oil contract was down 22 cents at US$69.24 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down six cents at US$3.35 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$16.90 at US$2,628.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down one cent at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian PressUxbridge rider wins Winter Fair eventINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts drafted Anthony Richardson to be their franchise quarterback. On Sunday, they saw how he might be deployed most effectively. Richardson threw only 11 passes in Indy's 38-30 victory over slumping Tennessee , becoming just the third player since 2000 to produce 38 points with fewer than 15 passing attempts. But the second-year quarterback and running back Jonathan Taylor executed the game plan perfectly by combining for 38 carries, 308 yards and four scores. “My job is to pass the ball, deliver the ball, so whenever there’s an opportunity to do so, I’m expected to complete passes, regardless of how long I’ve gone without throwing a pass,” Richardson said. “I’m just trying to do my job the best way I can.” While his stats have not improved dramatically since he regained the starting job, Richardson has made significant progress. He started and finished all five games, the longest stretch of his career. He orchestrated fourth-quarter comebacks on the road against the New York Jets and New England. On Sunday, he broke the franchise record for most TD runs by a quarterback in a season by powering his way in from 5 yards out to tie it at 7 with his sixth TD of the season. And when Indy (7-8) needed a late third-down conversion to close out the victory, Richardson did that, too — firing a 10-yard strike to Michael Pittman Jr. No, he wasn't perfect. A late throw over the middle resulted in yet another interception that cost the Colts a scoring chance in the first half. But Richardson went 7 of 11 with 131 yards and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs with 15 seconds left in the first half to open up a 24-7 lead. And with Richardson and Taylor increasingly feeding off one another, the Colts may just be starting to unleash the full horsepower of what this dynamic duo can do. At least that's the hope as the regular season winds down. “To add that element of (Richardson's) run game was huge,” coach Shane Steichen said. "He had some good runs for us all day. So, him and J.T. back there is huge.” What’s working Ground game. What else? It has been a rollercoaster season for the Colts offense in general as well as the running game. On Sunday, it looked spectacular. Indy broke a 68-year-old franchise record by rushing for 335 yards. Taylor has 76 carries for 421 yards over the last three games and has his first 1,000-yard season since winning the 2021 rushing crown. What needs help Closing out games. Somehow, the Colts went from a 38-7 rout to needing an interception on the game's final play. Maybe that explains why the Colts have played 12 one-possession games this season. If Indy could find a solution, it might not be on the cusp of making the playoffs instead of missing them for a fourth straight year. Stock up C Ryan Kelly. When the three-time Pro Bowl selection went on injured reserve in October, some thought Kelly may have played his last game in Indy. He's in a contract year and rookie Tanor Bortolini played well in Kelly's absence. But Kelly proved his value by making a big difference in the ground game. Stock down RG Dalton Tucker. The undrafted rookie moved into the starting lineup when Will Fries was sidelined with a season-ending leg injury. Then the Colts brought back veteran Mark Glowinski and plugged him into Tucker's spot. Tucker was a healthy scratch Sunday. Injuries WR Alec Pierce (concussion) and LB E.J. Speed (knee) were both inactive in Week 16 and it's unclear what their status will be next weekend. ... Two defensive backs — Jaylon Jones (throat) and Tre Flowers (shoulder) — left and did not return. ... Indy may have avoided a more concerning loss when Pro Bowl LG Quenton Nelson hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter. After slamming his helmet on the sideline, he returned for Indy's last drive. Key number 18 — According to The New York Times, Indy has an 18% chance of making the playoffs heading into its final two games. Next steps Indy still has a manageable schedule with a trip to the New York Giants (2-13) next weekend before a rematch with Jacksonville (3-12) in the regular-season finale. If they replicate their play from the first three quarters Sunday, they're likely to finish with a winning record and maybe get lucky enough to make the postseason. If they play like they did in the fourth quarter, the opposite could happen. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Michael Marot, The Associated PressHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday denounced the International Criminal Court’s issuing of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he would defy it by inviting him to Hungary. In comments to state radio, Orbán accused the ICC, the world’s top war crimes court based in The Hague, of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes,” saying the decision to issue the warrant for Netanyahu over his conduct of the war in Gaza undermined international law and escalated tensions. Member countries of the ICC, such as Hungary, are required to detain suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil, but the court has no way to enforce that. The ICC issued the arrest warrant on Thursday for Netanyahu as well as for his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. In his comments Friday, Orbán, a close Netanyahu ally, called the arrest warrant “outrageously impudent” and “cynical.” He said he would invite Netanyahu to Hungary later Friday and vowed to disregard the warrant if the invitation is accepted. “We will defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him,” Orbán said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó earlier criticized the ICC’s warrant as “absurd.” Israel and its top ally, the United States, are not members of the court. But other Israeli allies, including some of its close European friends, are put in an awkward position by the warrants. Several, including France, welcomed the court’s decision and signaled they might arrest Netanyahu if he visited. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden’s administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” Netanyahu on Friday praised Hungary for its stance on the warrant, saying in a statement: "Against the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary — like our friends in the United States — is displaying moral clarity and standing by justice and truth.” The action by the ICC came as the death toll from Israel’s campaign in Gaza passed 44,000, according to local health authorities, who say more than half of those killed were women and children. Their count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Merkel laments influence of big business on TrumpGophers football adds Nebraska wideout Malachi Coleman via portal
Appeals court upholds nearly $1.3 billion Sandy Hook verdict against Alex Jones
Stryker Corp. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the dayAs the end of the college football season approaches, many teams are beginning to eye which bowl they will be playing in. It also marks the time when coaches that have not met expectations are being fired. The list of fired coaches is already long and growing, likely to be in line with the number of coaches who changed schools or positions in 2023. The schools affected included several from the Bowl Championship Series. Mack Brown, the University of North Carolina (UNC) coach, was let go on Nov. 26. His record of 44-33 over six seasons during his most recent tenure at North Carolina was respectable. He also took his team to bowl games every season, though his 1-4 record in these games was less than stellar. Neal Brown, the West Virginia Mountaineers coach, was let go on Dec. 1. His record of 37-35 over six seasons, with three bowl game appearances (and a 2-1 record), was insufficient to keep his job. Speculations on his successor abound, with former Mountaineer coach Rich Rodriguez certainly in the mix. Ryan Walters, the Purdue Boilermakers coach, was also let go on Dec. 1. His record of 5-19 over just two seasons, including season ending embarrassing losses to Notre Dame and Indiana, likely played into his dismissal. Before feeling sorry for these men, they will all receive handsome buyouts. Neal Brown will walk away with nearly $10 million. Ryan Walters will take home over $9 million. Mack Brown will receive a rather modest $2.8 million. What gets forgotten at these times are the students who had developed close ties to these men. Given how the transfer portal functions, many will look for a new school next season, possibly following their fired coach to his new home. This benefited Indiana this season, when first year coach Curt Cignetti was able to attract several of his best players from James Madison University where he previously coached. There are a number of issues that should be addressed when coaches are fired and paid ridiculous amounts of money for not coaching. These figures not only top faculty salaries, they are well over the salaries earned by every university president and chancellor. The UNC chancellor, Lee Roberts, takes home around $600,000. Gordon Gee, the chancellor of West Virginia University, has a base salary of $800,000. Mung Chiang, president of Purdue, has a salary over $600,000. Yet none of these high-ranking university official salaries come close to the buyouts for the dismissed coaches. It is common knowledge that big time college sports involve big time money. That is why the major television networks pay billions of dollars for the rights to broadcast high profile games involving teams in high profile conferences. So who will pay for these buyouts? The simple answer is all of us. Television contracts are paid for by advertisers. The cost of these advertisements is recouped in the products and services that we purchase. People who never watch a football game are paying for some of these buyouts. When buyouts, let alone salaries paid to employed coaches, become excessive, one must begin to question whether the “tail is (inappropriately) wagging the dog”? Athletic departments often argue that they are self-sustaining, not using general university funds targeted for education. Research suggests that this is not the case. Athletic departments also argue that college sports build school spirit and alumni engagement. The question is at what price are such benefits accrued. Without revenue sports like football and basketball, the professional leagues would need to spend a significant amount of money to build minor league systems to keep their talent pipelines stocked. Names, Images and Likeness (NIL) endorsements have made these revenue sports into minor league feeder systems. Some college students are now earning millions of dollars for being a student and playing on the school team. Of course, such high-profile athletes are the exception, not the rule, with most student-athletes earning a few thousand dollars. What has become clear is that in high profile revenue sports, student athletics are no longer about students. They are about a financial arms race that has driven coach salaries and performance expectations ever higher. When Ryan Day, the Ohio State football coach lost to Michigan for the fourth consecutive year, speculation about his dismissal abounded. Fortunately, he was given a vote of confidence by the institution. Nearly every school would welcome him on their sidelines if Ohio State was foolish enough to listen to their vocal fans and fire him, given his 66-10 record since 2018 and five top-10 rankings in the final Coaches and AP polls. Athletics has a place on college campuses. Yet the financial optics tarnish its image. Most turn a blind eye, hoping to win this financial athletic arms race with national championships. Yet with only one national champion crowned each year, nearly all schools end up disappointed, except perhaps the coaches who end up being let go. They walk away with a treasure trove for failing to meet unrealistic expectations in a no-win situation. Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He applies his expertise in data-driven risk-based decision-making to evaluate and inform public policy.