HORRIFYING video shows the moment a huge fireball sent pedestrians running for their lives on a busy street. Shocking CCTV footage shows flames burning fiercely just yards from unsuspecting passers-by. The huge blast in Brooklyn, New York is believed to have been sparked by a gas leak. Before anyone has time to react, the fireball grows so large that the whole of the frame turns white from the hot glow. The fire can be seen burning several stories high while people turn and run from the scene. Eventually, the blaze dies down and a plume of thick, black smoke can be seen rising into the air. READ MORE The blast happened on the evening of Wednesday, December 11. The U.S. Sun has approached the New York City Fire Department for comment. It comes after a power failure in Downtown Brooklyn left thousands of subway riders stranded underground during the Wednesday evening rush hour. Power was lost just before 5:30 pm between Jay Street/MetroTech and Hoyt-Schermerhorn stations, causing disruption to four separate subway lines. Most read in The US Sun The A, C, F, and G lines all lost power or had to be rerouted. Some 3,500 riders were on two F trains that lost power and had to be evacuated. ConEdison did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun's request for confirmation that the explosion was linked to Wednesday night's subway disruption. Stranded riders were forced to pee between the cars as they waited to be rescued. Cookies were passed around to some of the affected passengers. Some were trapped underground for up to two hours. WHAT to do in case of a gas leak: Smell an odor similar to rotten eggs See a white cloud, bubbles in water, blowing dusty, dying plants Hear a roar, hiss, or whistle Leave immediately and take others with you. If leak is outside, move to safe spot far away Call 911 or 1-800-752-6633 National Grid customers call 1-718-643-4050 Source: ConEdison "People were peeing in between the cars," passenger Anders Nelson, 42, told The Gothamist . "People were passing out cookies. It became a little community thing." Brooklyn City Councilmember Lincoln Restler said on social media the outage may be linked to a manhole explosion in the area. "I was just on scene at State & Smith St, where manhole exploded earlier this evening," he told X. Read More on The US Sun "Street closures in area as first responders investigate. "MTA infrastructure implicated & no rail power between Jay St & Hoyt Schermerhorn. Does not appear related to jail project."I have been LIVE on national television in front of 10 million people on Football Night in America. I have had a final interview with an EVP of ESPN that would determine whether or not I got my dream job of working full-time in fantasy football. And I have been in a hospital bed as a bunch of doctors and nurses scurry around me before they put me under for an intense surgery. And yet, in my entire life, I’ve never been more nervous than I was last Thursday, December 5th at 7:18 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Hold that thought. The town of Cheshire, Connecticut has less than 30,000 residents and my wife and I happen to be two of them. It’s a great, nice city, but it’s small, you know? And our local youth sports programs are no different, including, for example, our local competitive cheer program. The coaches are all volunteers, fitting in practices between their real jobs and their families. The girls on the teams have to share the gym and other facilities with many other local teams, boys and girls, playing all sports. Uniforms and trips come from fundraisers and parents. And the program takes all comers. Meaning, if your child wants to do cheer, all you have to do is sign up and, boom, they are on the team. During the season, the team, among other things, has to support the local same-age junior football teams. In other words, the junior high cheer team has to support the junior high football team, sixth-grade cheer for sixth-grade football team etc., etc. And what THAT means is that instead of doing nothing but focusing on competition cheer, the team has to spend time at football games and pep rallies, learning football cheers and, you know, NOT doing things that would help them with competitive cheer. Compare that to the many professional “all-star” programs out there. These are competitive cheer programs with professional, paid full-time coaches who get to focus on coaching and only coaching. They have private gyms designed for ONLY competitive cheer. They have tryouts and the right to put kids on different, lower-level teams. Let’s be honest. Not all athletes are created equal, don’tcha know, so these All-Star teams get to pick and choose who they want on their privately coached competition teams that have access to exclusive gyms. It is against that backdrop that Cheshire Junior Cheer started their season. A season that included my two daughters. Our three boys are all out of the house these days, but as longtime readers know, I have twin daughters. They just turned 13 in October, and they are amazing. Smart, funny and beautiful. They are also on social media too much; they can be moody and they are often annoyed at their cringey Dad when he occasionally hugs them. In other words, they are typical teenage girls. Girls that have, for years, played various sports and activities. They played soccer for a few years and I’m currently coaching Brooke for her fourth year in basketball. They did dance for quite a while when they were younger, and they played field hockey earlier this year. They started lacrosse last year and there was one ill-fated fall where they tried volleyball. But the main sports my daughters focus on is competitive cheer for Samantha and gymnastics for Brooke. Until this year. When Samantha asked Brooke to join the team. “We need another tumbler.” A tumbler in competitive cheer is someone who does a bunch of moves with different names, but for our purposes they are the ones that do backflips over, and over, and over. It is not something I could ever do, at any age. But Brooke actually won the all-around for her division last year in gymnastics in the state of Connecticut. She didn’t have a ton of experience in all the other aspects of cheerleading, but she can tumble. In that aspect, she was like a lot of the girls on the team. Skilled in one area, needing experience in others. Like, Samantha’s a flyer – you know, the one who gets thrown up in the air and stands on top of other people’s hands during pyramids – and she does great at it, but still. This is only her second year of doing competitive cheer. So, not all, but a decent amount of the team is relatively new to the sport and collectively they don’t have anywhere close to the resources of many of their competitors. But undermanned and underfinanced, they still wanted to give it a go. There’s a long list of what the Cheshire Junior Cheer doesn’t have. But here’s what they did have: an incredible work ethic. These girls worked their tails off all season. Every day after school. Late nights, weekends. They would do what they needed to for the junior high football team – showing up to football games and other events, and then they would get right back to practicing. And they had each other. You see, when they weren’t practicing, they were hanging out. Which doesn’t seem like something, but it very much is. Cheer is a total team sport – you’re lifting people, catching, jumping, flipping ... all moving in rhythm and synchronization. The closer you are as a team, the more you know what your teammate is thinking, and about to do, the better. I think that’s one of the reasons Samantha wanted Brooke on the team, and why Brooke was willing to leave gymnastics to join cheer. They are very close. With each other and with their friends. And as the season went on... ever closer. The other thing they had? Coaches that CARED. They all have lives, families, and jobs, none of which was this team, so you know for them to devote as much time as they did, they had to love the sport and the girls. And they do. They went above and beyond at every step. The team had team mom’s that made sure nothing fell through the cracks. And, I have to say as someone who has had a lot of kids play on a lot of youth teams over a lot of years... this team had a strong set of supportive parents. Now, just because I’m supportive doesn’t mean I understand what I’m supporting. So, like, I went to a final rehearsal, and it seemed strong, but what do I know? Are we good? Are we bad? I honestly had no idea. But my girls seemed happy with it so ... okay. So, this team, comprised of nothing but local girls that live in our small town, headed off to their first competition. “Locals.” This is a meet where they faced off against teams from towns near Cheshire, and if you finished top three at the competition, you moved onto “states.” Which, sure enough, they did. Ok, I thought, well at least we’re not totally terrible. Each “locals” competition sent their teams to the state level and at that competition, the top three teams in the state of Connecticut would move onto “regionals.” I watched all the teams. And after seeing the competition and seeing our team, I turned to another dad and said, “I don’t know anything about cheer, but that seemed pretty good to me. I think we got a shot.” Indeed, we did. We finished top three in the state of Connecticut and moved onto the New England Regional, where we would compete against not just the other two teams that made it out of Connecticut, but the top three teams from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The top three from this competition would go on to the national competition. Man, there were a lot of good teams there and what I learned at regionals is that there are different levels of difficulty for routines. So, when your routine is judged, it’s judged against that level of difficulty. I’m sure I’m explaining it wrong, but in essence, you get credit for the harder you make your routine. And because our team believed they could do anything; they had chosen the highest level of difficulty. There are eight regional competitions in America, and each can send their top three teams to nationals. MANY All-Star teams were there. And so, I’ll be damned, was Cheshire Junior Cheer. That level of difficulty I mentioned ended up proving to be the difference in terms of our score at regionals as, by less than five tenths of a point, the girls once again finished top three and were now heading to NATIONALS in Orlando, Florida. We were the only team in our division (D14, small, level 2) to make it from Connecticut. Which you might remember, if you read this column last week, is why I was in Orlando sitting in something called the Silver Spurs Arena with my wife and all the other Cheer Moms and Dads. It was Thursday, December 5th at 7:18 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. And as I said at the top... I was more nervous than I have ever been at any point in my life. Seriously. My stomach in knots and my heart was beating a million miles a minute. My palms were sweaty, and my arms were heavy. I was an order of Mom’s spaghetti away from being an Eminem song. This was the day all the teams from eight different regionals around the country would compete. The All-Star teams from around the country. The really experienced teams from longstanding, elite programs. And our little team. To me, just getting to nationals was so crazy and amazing that I wasn’t focused on where we would finish. If you had looked at all the teams on paper at the beginning of the year, no one would have even picked us to be here at all. So, I actually didn’t care where we finished. But I wanted them to do great. I wanted this for my daughters, and their teammates, and their coaches. They had worked so hard. It means so much to them. They had overachieved at every step, and I wanted them to finish it off. I wanted them to “Hit Zero” which means no mistakes, no falls, the routine was done perfectly. They had put so much pressure on themselves, worrying about bows and makeup and how to do their hair – things male athletes never have to think about. They had to think about jumps and lifts and backhand springs and a zillion other things I can’t even fathom, all set to music and all in sync with each of their teammates. Teammates they aren’t going to be looking at during the routine because they’re all looking forward, trusting their teammates are doing what they are supposed to. So, I’m in the stands. Love in my heart, hope in my head, and I can only watch. The routine starts. I am holding my wife’s hand. Hard. My heart is beating a million miles a minute. Please, I think. In a weird way, it’s a little like fantasy football, right? You have your team, you love it, and hope like hell it performs, but ultimately there’s nothing you can do but watch and hope. You’re powerless to do anything. It’s up to the players. And in this case, the players...? They NAIL IT. It’s the best they have performed all year long. I am screaming at the top of my lungs, I am high-fiving other parents, I am hugging my wife. I have watched a lot of sports in my life. A lot of games. Seen a lot of big wins by teams I root for. And I’ve never felt as much joy as I did at the end of that routine. The girls just CRUSHED IT. Afterwards, when we went to meet up, both girls ran to Beth and I, and hugged us tight, megawatt smiles beaming across the arena. It was only the best moment ever. The D14 Level 2 Small Cheshire Junior Cheer Rams! The D14 Level 2 Small Cheshire Junior Cheer Rams! The week was a blur and a total blast. The girls celebrated at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and they loved it so much we had to go back a second day. Both parks are HIGHLY recommended. The whole thing was a core memory for them and me. We ultimately finished fifth overall in the entire country, but man it sure felt like first to me. What a season! SO PROUD! GO RAMS! And as we head into the fantasy playoffs, here’s to you feeling something similar. Let’s get to it. Thanks as always to my producer Damian Dabrowski for his help at various points in this column. Here we go: Quarterbacks I Love in Week 15 Sam Darnold vs. Chicago This has been a big news week for failed New York Jets quarterbacks who later put up big numbers with the Vikings. But I don’t want to talk about the quarterback Mark Gastineau wants to beat up. I want to talk about Sam Darnold, the guy who posted a season-high 34.6 fantasy points last week. I’m not going to say Darnold beats that total again this week, but he should at least get close against this Bears defense. Over the past four weeks, Chicago ranks 29th in pass defense and is allowing a league-worst 10.3 yards per pass attempt. During that stretch, three of the four quarterbacks to have faced the Bears went for 20-plus fantasy points ... including Darnold in Week 12 when he put up for 21.1 fantasy points behind 330 passing yards and two touchdowns. Darnold also has 19-plus fantasy points in five of his six games played at U.S. Bank Stadium. Darnold is on my Love List this week and ranked as QB5, while Brett Favre remains at the very top of Gastineau’s Hate List. Kyler Murray vs. New England I know, I know, I know. You’re sick of me hyping Kyler Murray up. Sometimes it’s worked this year. And sometimes... not so much. BUT! Give me one more week. You see, in Arizona’s six wins this season, Kyler Murray is averaging 21.4 PPG. In their losses, he’s averaging just 13.5. Speaking of losing, the Patriots do it quite a lot. That’s why Arizona is a six-point favorite in this game with a top five implied team total for the week. The last three quarterbacks to face New England all scored 21 fantasy points or more, while five of the last six QBs the Pats played went for 17-plus. Also, since Week 6, New England is allowing touchdown passes at the highest rate in the league. Look for Murray to have a nice fantasy day in a Cardinals win. He’s my QB7. Brock Purdy vs. Los Angeles Rams Excluding the snow game in Buffalo two weeks ago, Brock Purdy has scored 17 fantasy points or more in every game he’s played in since Week 5. That’s a sustained run of production. Week 5 was a long time ago. That was before Halloween. Before the World Series started. In fact, it was 637 49ers running back injuries ago. My point is this: Purdy has been playing well for a while. That includes against the Rams. Back in Week 3 against them, he went 22-of-30 for 292 passing yards, three TDs and no interceptions with an additional 41 rushing yards on 10 carries, totaling 25.8 fantasy points. It really is a great matchup for Purdy. Get this: On the season, the Rams are allowing the second-most yards per pass attempt, while Purdy is No. 1 overall in YPA. This game has the second highest Over/Under of the week at 49, and San Francisco’s implied team total is the sixth-highest. Purdy is inside my top 10 at the position this week. Others receiving votes: Buffalo has allowed multiple touchdown passes in four of its past five games, while Jared Goff has thrown at least two touchdown passes in five straight home games. Goff is also averaging 23.2 PPG in those games, Detroit has the highest implied team total this week, and Lions-Bills has the highest Over/Under in Week 15 at 54.5. ... You know what? This could very well be the last time Aaron Rodgers is mentioned in the Love section of a Love/Hate column. If the NFL would like to do a pre-game ceremony on the field to commemorate this important moment in league history, I’m okay with it. But I’ll of course need a private jet and a suite at the stadium in order to attend. Thanks! By the way, I want mention this during the ceremony, but Rodgers is listed here primarily because he’s playing the Jaguars this week. Jacksonville ranks 31st in pass defense and is tied for third when it comes to touchdown passes allowed. They’ve also allowed an opposing quarterback to finish in the top 12 for the week in nine of their 13 games. ... Five of the last seven quarterbacks to face Tampa Bay have scored 23-plus fantasy points and put up 275 or more yards through the air. The two that didn’t do it were Tommy DeVito and Aidan O’Connell. Although in fairness to O’Connell, he left early with an injury. And in fairness to DeVito, well I actually don’t have a caveat there. Sorry, Giants fans. Anyway, I like Justin Herbert this week against this Bucs’ pass defense. Quarterbacks I Hate in Week 15 Baker Mayfield at Los Angeles Chargers Baker Mayfield’s matchup this week is bleak. Not as bleak as a person’s last-ever meal in freedom being at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. But still pretty bleak. Get this: The Bengals and the Ravens are the only two teams all season to score more than 20 points against the Chargers. And, obviously, if the Chargers are keeping entire teams off the scoreboard, they’re limiting opposing quarterbacks in fantasy, too. Only six quarterbacks have scored 18-plus fantasy points against LAC this season, and five of them had either a rushing touchdown or 40-plus rushing yards. The Chargers allow the second-fewest yards per pass attempt, and they’ve allowed multiple passing touchdowns in only four games this season (tied for third fewest). I have Mayfield outside my top 20 quarterbacks in Week 15. Jordan Love at Seattle Since Week 8, Jordan Love is averaging 24.8 pass attempts per game. Only Jalen Hurts is averaging fewer over that stretch. Over the same period, the Packers rank 31st in overall pass rate and 26th in red zone pass rate. Hashtag: FreeJordanLove, amiright? But assuming the Packers ignore my #FreeJordanLove campaign as well as they did my years-long #FreeAaronJones appeal, there’s little chance Love puts up big fantasy numbers this week against a Seahawks pass defense that has shown marked improvement of late. Over the past four weeks, Seattle is allowing the fourth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the sixth-fewest fantasy PPG to quarterbacks (15.2). Love also is outside my top 20 at the position this week. Running Backs I Love in Week 15 Chuba Hubbard vs. Dallas Only two running backs this season have 30-plus touches in multiple games. One is Saquon Barkley. The other? Chuba Hubbard. Yeah, it’s good to be included in a sentence with Saquon Barkley in 2024. And now, with both Jonathan Brooks and Miles Sanders injured, Hubbard will get even more work. Backs who have seen 17-plus touches against Dallas this season are averaging 27.7 PPG, and six of those seven backs scored at least one touchdown. By the way, last week Hubbard became the first Canadian running back to rush for 1,000 yards in the NFL since Rueben Mayes in 1986. So, it feels fitting that this week Hubbard is my RB8. Or, for my Canadian readers ... my RB, eh. Zach Charbonnet vs. Green Bay In Zach Charbonnet’s three starts this season, he’s averaging 23 touches, 123 yards per game and seeing a 15% target share. So, the production is there, and this week Charbonnet has a positive matchup against the Packers. Over the past four weeks, Green Bay is allowing the sixth-most fantasy PPG to opposing backs. The four backs who got at least 15 touches against the Packers during that stretch averaged 19.0 PPG and every single one of them found the end zone. The massive 38.3-point game Charbonnet put up last week got a bunch of managers into the fantasy playoffs. Assuming Kenneth Walker III is out again, there’s every reason to run it back with Seattle’s running back. I have him at RB11 this week. Brian Robinson Jr. at New Orleans Through two weeks of the season, the Saints were 2-0 and had outscored their opponents 91-29. They looked like world beaters. Since then, they’ve gone 3-8 and have been outscored by 64 points. You know, looking back, I think the Saints may have started resting for the playoffs a smidge too early. But get this: Since the wheels started coming off in Week 3, the Saints have given up 20-plus fantasy points to a running back in all but one game. They’ve also allowed a league-high 14 rushing scores and 5.3 YPC to the position over that stretch. Considering Brian Robinson has dented the end zone in seven of his nine full games this season, I like him to do it again versus the Saints this week. He’s a top 15 running back. Others receiving votes: The Carolina Panthers look a lot better in recent weeks. Well, as long as you don’t look at their run defense. Over the past four weeks, the Panthers are allowing a league-high 154 rushing yards per game to running backs and 6.0 YPC to the position. So, give me some Rico Dowdle this week against Carolina. Over his past three games, Dowdle has the third-most touches among all backs with 66. ... Over the past four weeks, Cincinnati is allowing 5.2 YPC to running backs, which is the third-most over that stretch. They’ve also given up 15-plus points to a back in every game during that span. So, it’s a great matchup for Tony Pollard this week. ... The Jaguars allow the second-most fantasy points to running backs and are also giving up 150 scrimmage yards per game to running backs this season. So, if Breece Hall somehow plays this week, I love him here. And if Hall doesn’t, I’ll take some Isaiah Davis and Braelon Allen, in that order. And if for some reason Hall, Allen and Davis all don’t play, give me any living human that the Jets ask to run with a football against the Jaguars. Thanks! ... Since Pittsburgh’s Week 9 bye, Jaylen Warren is averaging 72 yards per game. He’s also out-snapped Najee Harris in two of the past three games. And, with George Pickens out last week (and likely out again this week), it’s worth knowing that Warren saw a season-high 21% target share. Soon Pittsburgh’s entire offense might be made out of Jaylen Warren. ... The playoffs are the last place to get cute, so given how often Sean Payton juggles running backs (I’m old enough to remember when Audric Estime was going to get a lot of work in this backfield) starting any Broncos’ running back is definitely risky. So, approach with caution. But if you’re in a pinch and feel like rolling the dice, it’s worth pointing out that in Denver’s last game, Jaleel McLaughlin got his highest snap rate since Week 5 and a season-high percentage (64%) of team RB carries. If he can get that kind of usage again, he’ll have success against a Colts defense that, over the past four weeks, is allowing a league-high 32.7 PPG to running backs. Running Backs I Hate in Week 15 Jonathan Taylor at Denver Since Anthony Richardson returned as the starting quarterback, Jonathan Taylor ranks dead-last among qualified running backs in fantasy points per touch. The reason for that is because he’s seen a huge dip in usage near the goal line and in the passing game. In fact, Taylor is getting just 38% of the team’s goal-line rushes and a paltry 3.9% target share. Now, he faces a Broncos team that, since Week 7, boasts the league’s top rush defense and is allowing a league-low 3.5 YPC. I have Taylor outside my top 20 at the position this week. Rhamondre Stevenson at Arizona Over the past five weeks, Rhamondre Stevenson has finished as a top 20 running back only once. Of course, in Week 11 when he DID finish in the top 20, it was way up at ... wait for it ... wait for it ... wait ... for ... it ... he was way up at RB18. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t worth the buildup. It also may not be worth starting Stevenson this week against the Cardinals. Yes, Charbonnet went off against Arizona last week, but in the four games prior to that one Arizona had been allowing the third-fewest PPG to running backs. And during that stretch from Weeks 9-13, backs facing the Cardinals averaged just 3.7 YPC. Add to it the Patriots have the seventh-lowest implied team total this week and I have Stevenson down at RB25. D’Andre Swift at Minnesota D’Andre Swift has failed to post double-digit fantasy points three weeks in a row now despite getting 88% of Chicago’s RB touches in those games. That streak includes a 9.5-point game against these very Vikings in which he had just 34 total yards on 16 touches and an 8.5% target share. The good news? Swift isn’t the only back to be shut down by the Vikings. (I guess that’s not really good news, huh?) Since Week 9, Bijan Robinson is the only RB to score more than 12.3 fantasy points against the Vikings and - during that stretch - Minnesota is allowing the third-fewest rushing yards per game to backs. Swift is outside my top 25 in Week 15. Pass Catchers I Love in Week 15 Davante Adams at Jacksonville Since Week 9, Davante Adams has a 31.6% target share, which includes 11-plus targets in four of those five games. He has also seen 45% of the Jets’ end zone targets during that stretch. All those targets will go a long way against the Jaguars. Get this: Wide receivers with a target share of at least 25% this season against Jacksonville are averaging 23.6 PPG. Jacksonville’s pass defense makes every receiver just a little bit more explosive. And Davante Adams has a Taco Bell in his house, so he’s already probably very explosive. I have Adams at WR5 this week. Jauan Jennings vs. Los Angeles Rams You’ve all heard the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Well, there’s a similar saying I subscribe to even more: “One man’s sub-tweet is another man’s reason to sub someone into your lineup in fantasy.” It’s very poetic. While Deebo Samuel is deleting social media posts about not getting the ball , Jauan Jennings is ... getting the ball. In the four games Jennings has played with Brock Purdy since returning from injury in Week 10, he has a 33% target share and is averaging 19.5 PPG. The snow game in Buffalo was the only time in that span he didn’t score at least 16 fantasy points. There’s every reason to think Jennings keeps it rolling this week against a Rams defense that, since Week 8, is allowing the fourth-most fantasy PPG to wide receivers. And not for nothing, but Jennings put up an 11-175-3 line on the Rams earlier this season. In fact, not only was it not for nothing, it was for 46.5 fantasy points. Jennings is a top 15 WR in Week 15. Jordan Addison vs. Chicago So much for Jordan Addison’s lack of consistency, eh? Yes, this is another shout out to my Canadian readers since I’m writing about a player in Minnesota (AKA America’s Canada). Anyway, over the past four weeks, Jordan Addison has seen a 29% target share and – maybe more important – a target share of at least 20% in every one of those games. During that stretch, only one receiver has seen more red zone targets than Addison – and that’s Ja’Marr Chase, not his teammate Justin Jefferson. Now, Addison has a great matchup against a Bears team that allows the third-most receptions on deep passes and the fourth-most yards. It’s also worth noting that since Week 10, 45% of Addison’s targets have come on deep passes. And don’t forget when Addison saw the Bears back in Week 12 he went for 8-162-1 on them. He’s a top 15 WR this week for me. Sam LaPorta vs. Buffalo Exciting news! The Lions have remembered that Sam LaPorta exists. Since Week 8, LaPorta has a 20.5% target share and has seen six-plus targets in all but one game over that stretch. He also has three straight games with multiple red zone targets. Given the game environment, (DET once again has the highest implied team total this week and the Over/Under in this game is one of the highest we’ve seen all season at 54.5) LaPorta is top eight play at TE this week. Others receiving votes: Tampa Bay allows the second-most yards and the third-most receptions to the slot. So, the Bucs have their hands full this week against Ladd McConkey . Since Week 8, McConkey has been... McConkculous. I’m gonna make that a thing, dammit. Anyways, you’ll be Glad to start Ladd (see? It can always get worse) as he ranks third among WRs in yards per target (13.1). ... Over the past four weeks, New Orleans is allowing the fourth-most yards per game to perimeter wide receivers. So, I like Terry McLaurin against the Saints, especially in a favorable matchup versus rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. By the way, if you play football and are named Kool-Aid, you should be a fullback or lineman. I mean, come on. Do some research . That dude was a people mover. ... Since DK Metcalf returned from injury four weeks ago, he has been outscored in every game by Jaxon Smith-Njigba , with JSN averaging 18.3 PPG over that span. This week Smith-Njigba faces a Packers defense that allows the seventh-most receptions to the slot. ... I can tell this is an audience that loves slot stats, so here’s another one: Wide receivers who have seen five-plus slot targets against the Lions are averaging 17.5 PPG. Meanwhile, Khalil Shakir has seen five-plus slot targets in seven straight games. Slot stats! Who needs more slot stats!? ... Over the past two weeks, Adam Thielen leads the NFL with a 28% target share. No, really. Thirty-four-year-old Adam Thielen. He also leads all players with 18 slot targets in that stretch. OH YEAH. Slot stats!! And over the past four weeks, Dallas is allowing the fifth-highest catch rate to the slot. LOTTA SLOT!!! ... Minnesota has allowed the most receptions on deep passes this season. Rome Odunze leads the Bears in aDOT, deep targets, and end zone targets. This week, the Vikings and Odunze can join together to make sweet, sweet fantasy points. ... Over the past four weeks, Carolina is allowing the fifth-most PPG to tight ends. For the season, they’ve allowed the most touchdown passes to tight ends (10). That means Jake Ferguson deserves serious starting consideration this week against the Panthers. Pass Catchers I Hate in Week 15 Michael Pittman at Denver Michael Pittman has not seen an end zone target since Week 6. In the eight full games he’s played with Anthony Richardson this season, he has less than 50 receiving yards in six of them. Now, he will go up against a Denver defense that has allowed a touchdown on a league-low 2.8% of wide receiver targets this season. Oh, and Pittman is expected to be shadowed by Patrick Surtain II in this game, too. Honestly, my WR43 ranking for him this week feels almost generous. I guess I’m just in the holiday spirit. DeVonta Smith vs. Pittsburgh The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and A.J. Brown was doing a bit of squeaking this week about not getting the ball. For good reason, too. Ever since their Week 5 bye, the Eagles are averaging a league-low 21.8 pass attempts per game. So, if DeVonta Smith is unlikely to see a ton of volume in this game due to being squeakless, his managers may have to hope for a touchdown. But Pittsburgh is tied for the fourth-fewest touchdowns allowed to wide receivers, while Smith has under 7.0 points in every game this season in which he hasn’t reached the end zone. Not good. Maybe Smith needs to make a squeakquel. But until then, I have him way down at WR38 this week. Cade Otton at Los Angeles Chargers So far this season, the Chargers have allowed just one touchdown on 99 tight end targets. That means a tight end almost literally has a one-in-a-hundred chance of catching a touchdown against them. Only fantasy analysts like Lloyd Christmas like those odds. Since Week 5, only two tight ends (Mark Andrews, Trey McBride) have put up 10-plus fantasy points against the Chargers. But it’s not only a bad matchup for Otton. There’s also the Mike Evans factor. In nine full games with Evans healthy, Otton averages 6.5 PPG and gets a 16% target share. Compare that to games in which Evans is out – 19.3 PPG and 26% target share – and, well, there’s really no comparison. Otton is outside my top 15 at the tight end position in Week 15.Man City blow three-goal lead in Champions League, Bayern beat PSG
Nova Leap Health Corp. enters into Term Sheet to amend its Credit Agreement for up to an Additional $7 million to Support Continued Growth
Russia Nears Deal With New Syria Leaders to Keep Army BasesSWITCH Mobility to redefine urban across India, Europe, GCC with launch of two new low floor electric city buses – EiV12 and E1 Nitin Gadkari officially unveils new line up of SWITCH electric buses for India and world SRINAGAR: SWITCH Mobility Ltd, subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and part of the Hinduja Group, and a leading manufacturer of electric buses and light commercial vehicles today unveiled its contemporary electric bus platform SWITCH EiV12 – the low floor electric city bus for the Indian market. It is India’s First Low-Floor City Bus with Chassis-mounted batteries, featuring a scalable battery capacity of over 400+ kWh. The vehicle was launched by Shri Nitin Gadkari Hon’ble Minister for Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, in the presence of Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group Companies (India), other dignitaries, and industry leaders. On the occasion, SWITCH E1, engineered for the European Market, was flagged off virtually. Both these buses share common design philosophies and EV architecture. The purpose-built SWITCH EiV12 platform is indigenously designed, developed and manufactured for urban city commutes, offering global standards in performance, safety, reliability, and comfort. With seating for up to 39 passengers, the SWITCH EiV12 leads its segment, offering maximum revenue potential for operators. Mr Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group of Companies (India) observed while launching these vehicles “These buses are a tribute to the PM’s Make in India vision: made in India, for India and the World. Switch Mobility is inspired to launch newer vehicles with cutting-edge technology and zero carbon emissions, only because of the wonderful road infrastructure that is coming up in India, owing to visionaries like Modi Ji and implementers like Gadkari Ji.” Mr. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of SWITCH Mobility, said, “The launch of the SWITCH EiV12 and the flagging off of the SWITCH E1 for Spain is a proud milestone for the Hinduja Group and Ashok Leyland, underscoring our commitment to sustainable mobility. In addition to the EiV12 and E1, SWITCH is developing a range of new products to expand our global offerings. At SWITCH Mobility, we are driving a greener future and advancing our long-term vision to democratize electric mobility worldwide.” Mr. Mahesh Babu, Chief Executive Officer, SWITCH Mobility, said, ” At SWITCH Mobility, we’re excited to unveil two new products for India and Europe, both built on our Global EV architecture. These innovations harness cutting-edge EV technology to deliver superior efficiency, safety, and passenger comfort. Our low-floor electric city bus, designed for optimal energy performance and accessibility, has garnered an overwhelming 1,800 orders—proof of the market’s confidence in SWITCH Mobility’s vision for a sustainable urban transport future.” The India electric city bus market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21% by 2030 with an EV penetration of 70%. The total parc for electric city buses is likely to cross 70,000 units by 2030. The SWITCH EiV12 sets a new benchmark in passenger comfort, safety, and technology, reshaping the EV landscape. Its low-floor entry with a kneeling mechanism ensures easy ingress and egress, while the automated wheelchair ramp and dedicated spaces make it accessible for differently abled passengers. Designed with women’s safety in mind, it is equipped with 5 CCTV cameras with no blind spots and includes 5 dedicated seats for women. The expansive panoramic glass area, the largest in its segment, offers superior visibility, naturally lit interiors, and enhanced safety. Powered by SWITCH iON, our proprietary telematics system, the SWITCH EiV12 offers real-time vehicle health monitoring, ITMS and efficient fleet management. Its efficient rear-end dual-gun charging interface not only ensures rapid recharging but also optimizes depot spaces, while an IP67 rated battery lets the bus deal with flooded roads with ease. The SWITCH E1, our latest innovation designed specifically for the European market, showcases cutting-edge engineering with a lightweight monocoque construction, ensuring optimal efficiency and performance. The SWITCH E1 features in-wheel motors and a flat gangway layout throughout the bus, providing seamless movement and accessibility for passengers. With its triple-door configuration (front, center, and rear), the bus offers unmatched convenience for quick boarding and alighting, perfectly suited for urban transit systems. Capable of accommodating up to 93 passengers, including standees, the SWITCH E1 sets a new benchmark in sustainable, passenger-centric public transportation.
Foley is here to help you through all aspects of rethinking your long-term business strategies, investments, partnerships, and technology. Contact the authors, your Foley relationship partner, or our Automotive Team to discuss and learn more. Key Developments Foley & Lardner announced the 2024 installment of its Auto Trends series—A Year in Review: Updates, Trends and the Road Ahead . This series delves deep into the transformative forces shaping the automotive world by providing weekly insights and analysis tailored to help business leaders navigate a shifting market landscape. The first two articles in the series address the regulatory themes and outlook for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , and potential scenarios for a realignment of the EV and EV infrastructure market . manufacturing under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration in the Pitchbook article, “ Manufacturers prep for a new tariff regime .” President-elect Donald Trump in a November 25 social media post stated he would impose additional 10% tariffs on goods from China , and 25% tariffs on all products from Mexico and Canada for the nations’ alleged facilitation of illegal immigration and fentanyl abuse in the U.S. In response, officials from Canada and Mexico indicated retaliatory tariffs would be pursued. [ News coverage of this development is rapidly evolving .] The cost of tariffs on imported vehicles or components would eventually be passed along to consumers in the form of higher vehicle prices , according to commentary from S&P Global Mobility. The New York Times reported the effects of U.S. tariffs on Mexico’s auto industry “would be profound , affecting the price in the United States of popular models like Ford Maverick pickups, Chevrolet Equinox sport-utility vehicles and several variations of Ram trucks.” A number of provincial leaders in Canada recently called for a bilateral trade agreement between the U.S. and Canada that would exclude Mexico. In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that including Mexico in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is his “first choice,” but he is “leaving all doors open.” Political leaders in the U.S. and Canada have expressed concerns over the potential for Chinese goods to avoid tariffs by entering the North American market through Mexico , a claim Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has disputed , as well as the possibility that Chinese companies such as BYD could soon establish manufacturing operations in Mexico. As part of a goal to dismantle Biden administration policies that have been described as equivalent to an “EV mandate,” the incoming Trump administration signaled an intent to weaken the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and the Environmental Protection Agency’s tailpipe emissions requirements . The first Trump administration overturned similar Obama-era vehicle fuel economy and emissions regulations. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation urged President-elect Donald Trump to maintain the $7,500 consumer tax credit for qualifying EV purchases , and to establish policies to accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles . The industry association also suggested revisions to vehicle emissions and fuel-economy regulations , as well as the need to rethink a requirement to equip nearly all new light vehicles with advanced automatic emergency braking systems by 2029. Wood Mackenzie analysis indicates a potential revision or repeal of federal EV subsidies , as well as fuel economy and vehicle emissions rules ,could lower projected U.S. EV sales by nine percentage points to 23% of new light vehicles by 2030 . The analysis also predicts hybrid vehicles could achieve a U.S. market share of 18% by 2030 . Consultancy AlixPartners predicted that up to $129 billion of EV investments in North America through 2027 are “at risk” due to anticipated Trump administration policiesthat are expected to be unfavorable to EVs , as well as the expectation automakers will delay or cancel BEV models and further reduce electrification expenditures. Members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team indicated that establishing a federal framework for autonomous vehicles could be among the Transportation Department’s top priorities, according to unnamed sources in Bloomberg . Foley & Lardner provided highlights from the MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers Annual Conference held on November 12 and 13 in Novi, Michigan. During the conference, at least one automotive analyst remarked on the risk of excessive inventory levels and underutilized manufacturing capacity. OEMs/Suppliers Automotive News summarized remarks by Ford and GM regarding the automakers’ scenario planning ahead of the incoming Trump administration . Stellantis is exploring potential revisions to its manufacturing and sourcing strategies in the event Trump administration policies affect supply chains, and the automaker indicated it could revisit a plan to expand production and sourcing from lower-cost countries if new tariffs are imposed. GM will lay off approximately 1,000 workers worldwide , and a significant portion of the reductions will affect employees at the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. This follows layoffs of over 1,000 software and services employees in August 2024 . A report in The Detroit News estimates Stellantis has laid off over 3,750 hourly workers in the U.S. in recent months. Ford will eliminate 4,000 employees in Europe, equivalent to 14% of the region’s workforce, by the end of 2027 because of economic challenges, increased competition and weaker-than-anticipated EV sales. The majority of the reductions will occur in Germany . Volkswagen’s union workersin Germany could begin mass walkouts in December if an agreement is not reached during negotiations over the automaker’s planned cost reductions. VW’s labor costs in Germany are reported to be higher than competitors that include BMW and Mercedes. Ford will reallocate 400 hourly workers following reduced Bronco production at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, MI. Electric Vehicles and Low EmissionS Technology During a panel at the MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers Annual Conference , purchasing executives at three major automakers assured suppliers of transparency for evolving product plans and EV programs. Volkswagen increased its potential investment in Rivian by $800 million to $5.8 billion, as part of a joint venture to advance both in-vehicle software capabilities and EV development . VW previously invested $1 billion in the EV maker as part of a collaboration announced earlier this year. S&P Global Market Intelligence estimates global private equity and venture capital deal value in EVs and EV components reached $3.32 billion in the first three quarters of 2024, compared to $4.03 billion raised by non-EV companies in the same period. Global private equity deal value in EV charging infrastructure from January through October 18, 2024, reached $1.04 billion, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. This compares to a deal value of $1.11 billion in full-year 2023. Swedish battery maker Northvolt AB filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Separately, Northvolt recently sold certain production assets to Lyten , a California-based lithium-sulfur battery maker. Rivian received approval for a conditional loan of up to $6.6 billion from the Department of Energy to expand EV production. Separately, LG Energy Solution was awarded a five-year battery supply agreement for Rivian’s R2 crossover model. Ford will no longer participate in a joint venture manufacturing plant in Quebec that will produce battery materials for EVs. Construction on the cathode active materials plant is already underway and it is expected to continue, according to a report in La Presse . Workers at the Ford – SK On battery joint venture plant in Kentucky signed union authorization cards to begin a campaign to join the UAW. Stellantis delayed the launch of the 2025 Ram 1500 REV electric pickup truck and its range-extended version to the first half of 2025 from the end of this year. The automaker is also working toward two additional EV launches, the Dodge Charger Daytona muscle car and the Jeep Wagoneer S SUV . EVgo hopes to close a U.S. Energy Department $ 1.05 billion conditional loan guarantee for up to 7,500 fast-charging stalls ahead of the incoming Trump administration. Chinese EV makers delivered 9.75 million EVs to mainland buyers in the first ten months of 2024, reflecting an increase of 34% compared to the same period last year. BYD could surpass Ford in worldwide annual shipments this year, and the milestone would establish the Chinese EV maker as a top 10 global automaker measured by unit volumes. California Governor Gavin Newsom plans to offer EV rebates to consumers in the state if the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualifying EV purchases is eliminated. Stellantis plans to add a hybrid model to the Jeep lineup sometime next year, according to an announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show . Kia intends to produce the 2025 EV6 compact electric crossover at its plant in Georgia , and the vehicle will begin sales in the first half of next year. Hyundai’s 2026 Ioniq 9 electric SUV will have three-row seating and an estimated 300 miles of range. Hyundai and Kia will recall over 200,000 EVs in North America over a defect that may cause the loss of drive power. Automated, Autonomous or Connected Vehicles Technologies GM autonomous driving unit Cruise agreed to pay a $500,000 criminal fine to end claims that it made false statements to federal investigators after one of its vehicles struck a pedestrian. This follows a $1.5 million civil penalty for the same incident. Autonomous technology developer May Mobility launched robotaxi operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan, without human backup drivers in the vehicles. The company previously established driverless operations in Sun City, Arizona. Market Trends and Regulatory Recent appointments announced by the incoming Trump administration include: former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Transportation ; Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer , described as a “pro-union Republican,” to lead the Labor Department ; Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick to head the Commerce Department and have “additional direct responsibility” for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office; and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency tasked to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fined Ford $165 million over claims the automaker delayed the recall of more than 600,000 vehicles with defective rearview cameras. This represents the second largest civil penalty in the agency’s history. Less than a week later, NHTSA opened separate investigations into 457,000 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs over the potential for vehicles to lose power, and roughly 113,000 Ford Expeditions due to the possibility of faulty seat belts. New passenger car registrations in Europe reached 8.9 million units for the first ten months of 2024, reflecting growth of less than 1% when compared to the same period in 2023. In the past decade, venture capitalists have invested approximately $120 billion globally into shared mobility service businesses such as ride-hailing and station-based bike systems. The Federal Communications Commission announced final rules governing cellular-vehicle-to-everything technology in the 5.9 GHz band. This is expected to promote the use of 30 megahertz of spectrum previously reserved for dedicated short-range radio communications for in-vehicle and roadside C-V2X units. Analysis by Julie Dautermann, Competitive Intelligence AnalystWhen Lakshmi Manchu revealed how Ram Charan, Rana Daggubati, and Rakul Preet Singh helped her move to Mumbai from Hyderabad: 'I did not tell anyone because...'China’s exports slow sharply, imports shrink in November
LUKE LITTLER has pleaded for David de Gea to return to Manchester United after Andre Onana's howler against Viktoria Plzen. The Cameroonian was at fault as the Czechs took the lead at the Doosan Arena before the Red Devils fought back to win . Onana , 28, was trying to pass out from the back, but his ball to Matthijs de Ligt was too short. Pavel Sulc collected the ball and squared it to former Watford and Burnley ace Matej Vydra to score. The mistake left Man United fan Littler seething as he reacted on social media. The darts star posted a picture of his television showing the match with the caption: "Bring back Dave". Littler, 17, is referring to goalkeeper David de Gea, who left at the end of his contract in 2023. The Spaniard was out of football for a whole season but is now playing in Italy for Fiorentina . Stats have even suggested that the De Gea is performing as one of the best stoppers in Europe . It is the latest error in Onana's catalogue since joining Manchester United to replace De Gea. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS Earlier in the same game, he clattered into Casemiro, leaving the Brazilian in pain on the ground. In the Red Devils, defeat to Nottingham Forest , Onana was beaten by an effort from Morgan Gibbs-White despite it being down the middle of the goal. Fortunately, Onana was bailed out by his teammates on this occasion. Substitute Rasmus Hojlund netted twice in order to turn the match on its head . The striker benefitted after good work from Amad Diallo as he tapped into an empty net to score the equaliser. He then latched onto a clever pass from Bruno Fernandes to fire home the winner in the 88th minute. After the win, Fernandes came out in defence of Onana and insisted his error should not be "focused on". He told TNT Sports: "We want to play from the back. Everyone knows we have to make the right decision. "Andre missed the pass, but there is nothing we should focus on. It’s not about Andre [Onana] making a mistake, we don’t look at individuals here. "It’s about all the players involved, and we have huge belief in Andre. "He knows he made a mistake, he’s a clever guy, we don’t need to tell him. He’s going to help us when playing out from the back – we trust his qualities on the ball. ANDRE ONANA had his blushes spared by Rasmus Hojlund as Manchester United fought back to win against Viktoria Plzen. Here’s how SunSport's Henry Tomlinson rated the Red Devils stars... Andre Onana - 4 It was a very shaky start to the game in which Onana hurt Casemiro and failed to deal with the host's crosses convincingly. He made a massive error that led to Plzen taking the lead with his poor pass, leaving his defenders with no chance of bailing him out. Diogo Dalot – 6 Dalot made some decent runs forward to join in with the attacks. Defensively was fairly solid and was not often caught out. Noussair Mazraoui - 6 Playing a bit more central, Mazraoui used his pace well to help out at the back. Matthijs de Ligt - 6 He was sold short by Onana's pass that led to the opener but otherwise was fine during the 90 minutes. Lisandro Martinez - 6 Made himself available when Man United got forward but struggled with the physicality of the Plzen attackers. Tyrell Malacia - 6 He offered very little going forward in the wing-back role as he struggled to combine with Marcus Rashford. Casemiro - 6 He moved the ball forward when he could and recovered from an early blow from Onana. Bruno Fernandes - 7 He was lucky to have escaped an early yellow card. Stung the goalkeeper's gloves in the first half with a good effort. His quick thinking set up Rasmus Hojlund to fire in a late winner. Amad Diallo - 8 Diallo was a rare bright spark in Man United's attack against Plzen. It was his run that led to the equaliser, and he used his pace and skill to get past his defender. Marcus Rashford - 4 Rashford was often loose on the ball and surrendered possession in the attacking third. He received the first booking of the game for a needless foul and was lucky not to be sent off in the second half before being hooked by Ruben Amorim. Joshua Zirkzee - 6 Took on the centre-forward role well, held the ball up and linked up play well enough. Subs Rasmus Hojlund 55' – 8 Hojlund showed his striker instincts by being in the right position to grab Man United's equaliser. He then latched onto Fernandes' clever pass to score the winner. Antony 60' - 6 He was involved in the equaliser by linking up with Diallo. Mason Mount 60' - 7 Made a positive impact after coming on and was unlucky not to score as he was denied twice by the goalkeeper after coming into the action. Alejandro Garnacho 80' - N/A Failed to make a positive impact on his short spell on the pitch. Manuel Ugarte 80' - N/A He slotted into the midfield as he replaced Casemiro late on. "The most important thing is we had the resilience and fight to come back. "It's something we’ve been doing for a long time. We know the goalkeepers are good on the ball, they can play. "We normally do it. It didn’t work this time but on many occasions it works. "We trust Andre to keep doing the things he thinks are best. Mistakes happen, and if mistakes happen, goals can happen." Onana's questionable form has even seen Man United be linked with potential replacements. AC Milan's Mike Maignan has been tipped to be a target, but he is also liked by rivals Manchester City.By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS NEW YORK (AP) — A ransomware attack that hit a major software provider last week caused disruptions for a handful of companies over recent days, from Starbucks to U.K. grocery giant Morrisons. Blue Yonder, which provides supply chain technology to a range of brands worldwide, said that it experienced disruptions to services it manages for customers on Thursday, which the third-party software supplier determined to be “the result of a ransomware incident.” Some systems went offline, impacting clients using Blue Yonder’s software. A spokesperson for Starbucks, for example, said that the chain’s ability to manage barista schedules and track hours was disrupted — meaning store leaders across North America are currently being instructed to use manual workarounds. Starbucks maintained that the outage is not impacting how customers are served and that ensuring workers get paid for all hours worked is a top priority. While the company continues to work towards full recovery, the spokesperson added that Starbucks was able to process payroll again as of Tuesday morning. Two of the U.K.’s biggest grocers, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, were also affected — with both telling CNN over the weekend that they had turned to contingency plans to keep operations flowing. A spokesperson for Morrisons confirmed to The Associated Press that the outage “impacted our warehouse management systems for fresh and produce” and that it was continuing to operate on back up systems Tuesday. Sainsbury’s, meanwhile, said Tuesday that its service was restored. Blue Yonder declined to disclose how many of its customers were impacted by the hack. In a statement sent to the AP, a spokesperson maintained that it had notified “relevant customers” and would continue to communicate as needed. The spokesperson also maintained that recovery efforts were still underway — noting that Blue Yonder “has been working diligently together with external cybersecurity firms to make progress,” including the implementation of several defensive and forensic protocols. Blue Yonder’s website touts an extensive global roster of customers — including Gap, Ford and Walgreens. Walgreens and Gap were not impacted following the ransomware attack, spokespeople for the companies said. Ford shared that it was investigating whether the incident affected its operations earlier this week, but had no further updates when reached Tuesday. Blue Yonder, based in Arizona, is a subsidiary of Japan’s Panasonic Corp. Panasonic acquired the supply chain software firm in September 2021.
NoneDorothy’s ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ are being auctioned off for $1.15M
LONDON — Soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a "bubble" during the tournament that does not reflect real life there, a Saudi rights activist warned on Thursday. After FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday, the soccer body president Gianni Infantino acknowledged "the world will be watching" to see positive social change. Human rights groups believe migrant workers' lives will be at risk building stadiums and other projects for the World Cup, and Saudi Arabia's laws limiting freedoms for women and LGBTQ+ people have been criticized at the United Nations Human Rights council. "Western people will be very safe. They will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is," Lina al-Hathloul, a Saudi activist with the London-based rights group ALQST, said. Her sister, Loujain al-Hathloul, was jailed for three years after campaigning to end the Saudi ban on women driving that was lifted in 2018, and lives there under a travel ban. Saudi Arabia is today "a pure police state," Lina al-Hathloul claimed, under the rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose close working ties to Infantino were key to getting the World Cup without a rival bid. The crown prince "has really managed to create this bubble where people only see entertainment and they don't see the reality on the ground," al-Hathloul said. "No one will see tortures in prisons and no one will see executions. You also have the jails full of people just for tweets." Saudi officials stressed during a 15-month bid campaign, made mostly opaque by FIFA, that the kingdom is modernizing fast and hosting soccer's biggest event will drive more change. "We're very proud of the society that we are today," Hammad Albalawi, from the 2034 World Cup bid team, said on Wednesday in Riyadh, stating the kingdom's goals are "to make the citizens global citizens and to welcome guests from all around the world." Only Norway of FIFA's 211 member federations opposed how the 2034 decision was made by acclaim on Wednesday. Two years ago, on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar, Infantino accused Europeans of hypocrisy giving moral lessons to other regions and cultures. On Wednesday, the English Football Association said it got promises from Saudi officials before giving support. "They assured us that they are fully committed to providing a safe and welcome environment for all fans," the English FA said in a statement, "including LGBTQ+ fans." Two days before the vote, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Prince Mohammed in Riyadh and said Saudi Arabia was a key partner in his "number one mission" of economic growth. Starmer, who is an Arsenal fan, said he hoped to watch a game with the crown prince on a future visit to London. "You have some changes," Al-Hathloul said, noting more freedoms for Saudi women to choose what to wear, "but they're not institutional, they're not fundamental, and they're not for everyone."$400 million electric heavy equipment order from China is biggest ever (so far)
LAURA Woods looked radiant as ever as she showed of her blossoming baby bump at Wembley. The stunning ITV host, 37, was on duty to present England's Lionesses' clash with the USA. FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS She is expected her first child with Love Island alumni Adam Collard. Woods announced she was pregnant back in July. She managed to keep her pregnancy a secret throughout the entirety of Euro 2024, before making the announcement before she jetted to Paris to cover the Olympics. But ever since the cat's been out the bag, Woods has been confidently giving fans a glimpse of her growing bump. read more on Laura Woods As always, Woods looked elegant as she reported pitchside. She wore a long black dress that hugged her figure, as well as a long camel coat. Woods matched her black dress with a pair of sturdy black boots. Earlier this month , the TNT Sports host showed off her baby bump on Instagram, where she has over 760,000 followers. Most read in Football Taking to social media she posted an image of her bump alongside the caption: "Bloody hellllll". Woods and Collard announced they were engaged in September. The happy couple started dating last year and the reality TV personality got down on one knee on the beach in Cornwall to pop the big question. Woods then showed off her dazzling ring on live TV while presenting TNT's Champions League coverage. She is yet to announce when she and Collard are set to tie the knot, while she hasn't given a due date for her baby either.Trooper Hanna honor roll grows as more heroes honored
Nokia Corp. ADR falls Thursday, underperforms marketBjork is 'absolutely' confident that Day will return next year at Ohio State
Current, future North Carolina governor's challenge of power-shifting law could be first of manyA Maryland Cracker Barrel fired three of its employees, including a general manager, after the branch allegedly refused to seat 11 schoolchildren with special needs , turning them and seven teachers away. "Senior Cracker Barrel executives met on Monday with leadership and teachers from the school as well as the parent community to hear their concerns directly. We also shared actions we have taken ... to address recent missteps at that store locations," Cracker Barrel's media relations team said on Wednesday. "These actions include completing an internal investigation ... separating three members of the store's team, including the general manager." The group of students and teachers from Charles County Public Schools went to the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on Robert S. Crain Highway on Dec. 3 as part of an initiative called community-based instruction, through which children with special needs can practice their social skills. After being refused seating, the group waited for over an hour to receive their food in to-go containers in order to be able to eat outside, reported 11 Alive. "The alleged treatment of CCPS students and staff at Cracker Barrel is one that no one should experience," CCPS Superintendent Maria Navarro said last Thursday. "However, it is encouraging that the district manager said the business would be willing to work with CCPS to do better." According to Cracker Barrel, while its staff admittedly made mistakes in not following protocol, they did not discriminate against the students due to their special needs. Cracker Barrel also clarified that the group was not refused service. "We did not refuse service to this student group," Cracker Barrel's media relations team said on Wednesday. "But operational breakdowns caused by staffing shortages and poor communication on our part led us to fall well short of our service standards that day." However, Superintendent Navarro pointed out that the group had called the restaurant beforehand in order to plan the scheduled visit, and had communicated the purpose of the visit to restaurant staff, as well as how many people would be in the attending party. "Charles County Public Schools staff notified the establishment of the planned visit, including how many were in the party," Superintendent Navarro told parents and community members on Thursday. "... CCPS staff were reportedly told by restaurant staff that no reservations were necessary." Originally published by Latin Times.How Trump's bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woes
FIBRA Prologis announces successful settlement of its Tender Offer for Terrafina (TERRA 13)The Houston Rockets finally ended a 15-game losing streak against the Golden State Warriors in a dramatic NBA Cup quarterfinal clash on Wednesday night. With a nail-biting 91-90 victory, the Rockets booked their spot in the semifinals. Rockets HC Ime Udoka credited his team’s defense for the hard-fought win, especially pointing to their resilience in the face of adversity. This victory, though, was no easy task. The Warriors were minutes away from extending their historic streak to 16 games. However, the Rockets clawed back from a six-point deficit in the final minute to steal the game, thanks to clutch free throws and some questionable officiating . Just a week after ripping apart his team’s ‘humiliating’ effort against the Dubs, Ime Udoka took great pride in praising their defense. We’re gonna continue to fight and not give up. Got stops when we needed to, hit big shots when we needed to. Got on the floor, loose balls, created that foul... As I’ve said before, you can always rely on your defense when the shots aren’t falling... That’s a recipe for success on the defensive end, for sure . "That's a recipe for success on the defensive end." Rockets HC Ime Udoka applauded his team for their elite defense in the #EmiratesNBACup Quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/Fey3UrOkoD Udoka is a stickler for defensive fundamentals. The Rockets forced the Warriors into 8 shot-clock violations and scored 30 points off 22 turnovers. Keeping the Warriors, a top-five defensive team, off the free-throw line was another key element of their game plan. Houston only allowed 9 trips to the charity stripe, showcasing their defensive discipline (and, of course, the ‘questionable officiating’). The Rockets’ defensive efforts are no fluke. They currently boast the second-best defense in the league, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder , their semifinal opponent. Ime Udoka ’s strategy relies heavily on forcing mistakes from opposing teams and capitalizing on transition opportunities due to their own shooting woes, a formula that proved successful against the Warriors. Charles Barkley does not believe in Ime Udoka and the Rockets Despite their milestone victory, the Rockets faced some heavy skepticism from Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley. The Chuckster does not shy away from providing some tough love to young and old NBA teams alike. On Wednesday, he questioned the ‘prime time readiness’ of the young Rockets, led by Ime Udoka. They don’t have any idea how to play basketball. They play the game strictly on talent...They got a great record, they’re not ready for prime time... They relevant, they got a terrific coach, now they got to learn, like, ‘we got to take care of the ball, we got to stop taking bad shots . "They don't have any idea how to play basketball" Chuck isn't impressed by Houston's run to Vegas pic.twitter.com/nhFui0RmG9 Charles Barkley’s comments pointed to the Rockets’ lack of discipline, particularly in their half-court offense. They boast a putrid 112.2 offensive rating, which in itself, is heavily inflated by their top-5 transition offense in the league. However, this is part of Ime Udoka’s strategy as the Rockets coach has been vocal about his team’s focus on getting up and down the court with their gritty defense. With the semifinal matchup against the Thunder looming, the Rockets will look to continue their momentum. The NBA Cup’s single-game knockout system leaves any outcome up to the imagination, giving the upstart Rockets a chance against the West-leading Thunder. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the final to face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Atlanta Hawks. This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.