On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here . Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There’s no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley’s historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He’s not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP’s first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren’t QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn’t. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP’s new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It’s not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. “I don’t think that’s crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left,” Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven’t reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team’s struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTrump wastes no time to target CanadaThe atmosphere at the concert was electric, with fans cheering and singing along to every song. The synergy between Yamashita and Chou was palpable, as they fed off each other's energy and passion for music. It was a rare treat for fans to witness two music legends coming together to deliver a performance of such high caliber.
In addition to the materials used in the Apple Watch and the glass surface, microscopic imperfections play a significant role in the light adhesion effect. Both the stainless steel casing and the glass surface are likely to have tiny surface irregularities and imperfections that can enhance the static charge buildup and strengthen the attractive force between the two materials.
1 2 Lucknow: The BJP-led NDA's comprehensive win in seven out of nine assembly seats in the state bypolls on Saturday swung the spotlight back on the saffron outfit's organisational firepower and the enduring popularity of CM Yogi Adityanath in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. The BJP won Ghaziabad, Khair, Kundarki, Phulpur, Manjhawan, and Katehari, while its ally RLD cornered Meerapur. The victory threw up a sharp contrast with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in which the BJP faced a debacle, with its tally plummeting from 62 to 33, stoking a wave of resentment and subsequent churning within the party. Yogi led from the front to launch a campaign blitzkrieg on the nine bypoll-bound seats. He addressed as many as 13 rallies and held two roadshows to ratchet up the poll fervour in favour of the BJP and its ally RLD. The CM also deputed a group of 30 ministers in the bypoll seats and himself engaged with the district organisational functionaries to bolster the ground-level coordination between the govt and the organisation. Yogi, in fact, punched holes in the opposition's defence through the "Batenge toh Katenge" poll narrative that sought to stir up the Hindutva card while amalgamating the various sub-castes within the Hindu community. The poll slogan, deftly endorsed by the RSS, BJP's ideological fountainhead, turned out to be a pointed counter to SP's 'Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak' (PDA) card, which was credited to have nudged the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. "The victory of the BJP-NDA in the UP assembly by-elections is a testament to people's unwavering faith in the successful leadership and guidance of PM Narendra Modi. This victory is the result of the security, good governance, and public welfare policies of the double engine govt and the tireless hard work of dedicated workers. I express my gratitude to the respected voters of UP who voted for the good governance and development of Uttar Pradesh and hearty congratulations to all the winning candidates...batenge to katenge...ek rahenge to safe rahenge...," Yogi posted on his X account. Maharashtra Jharkhand Maharashtra Alliance View i Party View Seats: 288 Results Majority: 145 BJP+ 229 MVA 47 OTH 12 Results : 288 / 288 BJP+ WON Jharkhand Alliance View i Party View Seats: 81 Results Majority: 41 INDIA 56 NDA 24 OTH 1 Results : 81 / 81 INDIA WON Source: PValue Analysts said that the bypoll win will not only reaffirm Yogi's position within the party but would also boost the morale of the party to prepare for the high-stakes 2027 assembly elections. The BJP organisational command, at the same time, pushed up its trademark political spadework while structuring its ground-level party organisation. Party state president Bhupendra Chaudhary and state general secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh kept touring the seats to augment the party's organisational network by coordinating with the ground-level workers, identifying key areas for political focus, and ensuring the party's presence is deeply entrenched at the local level. Chaudhary maintained that the party's poll campaign, which was carried out under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi, focused on a developmental agenda and bringing all sections of people together. He said that the opposition's campaign was only centred around negativity and spreading lies. "This has been squarely rejected by the electorate," he said. BJP's poll strategy became perceptible in the Muslim-dominated seats like Kundarki (Moradabad) and Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), which were won by the BJP and its ally RLD, respectively. The win in Kundarki, where BJP candidate Ram Veer Singh, a Thakur, defeated SP candidate Mohammad Rizwan by a record margin of more than 1.4 lakh votes, was much more profound. The seat, with around 65% Muslim electorate, has essentially been a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party. The victory was peculiarly special for the BJP, which won Kundarki after a gap of 31 years. In 1993, BJP candidate Chandra Vijay Singh, aka Baby Raja, a Thakur, defeated Akbar Hussain of Janta Dal by a margin of more than 23,000 votes. The BJP, in fact, kept the contest to itself while positioning squarely against a resurging SP. The party declined to part with Katehari and Manjhawan to another ally, NISHAD party, which contested the seats in the 2022 assembly elections. Nevertheless, the allies stood solidly behind the BJP, helping it register an emphatic win.As the final lift approached, it was clear that the outcome of the competition hung in the balance. Both teams knew that this lift would be crucial, determining the ultimate victor in this epic showdown. With nerves of steel and hearts full of determination, the North Korean and Chinese lifters stepped up to the bar, ready to give it their all.Srinagar, Dec 27: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Scholar Mehnaz Shakeel has secured the first rank in the INSPIRE Fellowship awarded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Mehnaz Shakeel is a PhD scholar in the Division of Plant Pathology at the Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura Campus. The INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) Fellowship aims to support young researchers in pursuing advanced studies in basic and applied sciences, including agriculture. Mehnaz’s research is being supervised by Prof Anwar Ali, who has been guiding her academic work. The fellowship provides monthly scholarship and financial assistance for research-related costs and will support her doctoral studies for up to five years. Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, congratulated Mehnaz on this achievement, noting that it reflects the university’s focus on fostering quality research. “Mehnaz has made the university proud by securing this prestigious fellowship that too with the first rank at the all-India level. We wish her continued success in her academic journey,” he said. This recognition highlights the growing presence of SKUAST-K scholars in national research platforms and reinforces the institution’s commitment to advancing agricultural sciences.
The retired elderly individual's motivation for purchasing such a large number of insurance policies stemmed from a desire to ensure financial security for themselves and their loved ones in the event of unexpected emergencies or health issues. However, the sheer number of policies purchased, including life insurance, health insurance, and various other types of coverage, has resulted in a significant drain on their retirement savings.
The international community has also expressed growing alarm over the escalating tensions between Hairsperson and Russia. Calls for both sides to exercise restraint and engage in meaningful dialogue have been met with a lukewarm response, further highlighting the urgent need for a de-escalation mechanism to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.In addition to government support and enterprise resilience, the collaborative efforts of various trade partners and stakeholders have further contributed to the positive outlook for China's foreign trade. Through strengthened cooperation, enhanced communication, and mutual support, countries and regions around the world have worked together to overcome trade barriers, promote trade liberalization, and facilitate the flow of goods and services. By fostering a conducive environment for trade cooperation and collaboration, these partnerships have created more opportunities for trade growth and expansion.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have sealed national highways and motorways across the country ahead of a protest rally in Islamabad planned for Sunday by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. PTI’s protest is primarily aimed at putting pressure on the govt to end Imran’s more than one-year-long incarceration on what his party claims are politically motivated allegations. In addition, the party wants to speak out against the manipulation of the Feb 8 general elections and demand steps to protect judicial independence, which it claims has been compromised by the 26th Constitutional Amendment. The govt denies this. PM Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has vowed to suppress PTI’s power show with full force and has warned of arrests if anyone comes out to join the demonstration. Govt has deployed security forces, enforced a sweeping ban on gatherings, blocked all roads with shipping containers in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and launched a crackdown on leaders and workers of the opposition party in a bid to stop the protest. According to police 6,325 officers of the Islamabad police, alongside 21,500 personnel from other forces — 5,000 Rangers (paramilitary force), 5,500 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, 9,000 Punjab police personnel, and 2,000 Sindh police personnel have been deployed to stop PTI protesters from entering the capital city. Responding to criticism over sealing Islamabad and blocking main highways and motorways, defence minister Khawaja Asif described these actions as a “lesser evil”, arguing that allowing protesters into the capital could result in greater devastation. However, Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI’s CM of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reiterated the call to all Pakistanis to join the protest. “It is imperative for us to leave our homes to protest the illegal incarceration of Imran Khan,” he proclaimed in a video message. “We all have to reach Islamabad and not leave until our demands are met,” he continued, saying PTI wanted Khan’s release along with the return of its mandate in the last general election, which the party said was rigged to keep it out of power. “Since the protest call is from Imran Khan, we will not go back until our demands are met,” he vowed. Earlier this year Pakistan’s parliament had passed legislation regulating public demonstrations in the capital, including designated protest areas and specific timings for rallies. Violators, according to the law, risk imprisonment of up to three years for illegal gatherings and up to 10 years for repeat offences.Animal cruelty charges after driver runs down kangaroos, mutilates body
Gold prices have been experiencing significant fluctuations in recent days, with today's market showing a downward trend across various major retailers. Investors and consumers alike are closely monitoring these price changes, trying to make informed decisions about their investments and purchases.(Word count: 411 words)
As Zuo showcased the "Monkey Zuo" hairstyle, it was easy to see why he was so pleased with the outcome. The hairstyle featured a combination of textured layers, bold fringe, and unexpected pops of color that added a dynamic and energetic flair to his overall look. Each strand seemed to have a life of its own, creating a lively and animated effect that perfectly complemented Zuo's vibrant personality.
Colorado hands No. 2 UConn second straight loss in Maui
The statement also highlighted the importance of vigilance and cooperation from passengers in maintaining a secure environment while traveling on the metro. Passengers were urged to cooperate with security personnel during the screening process and report any suspicious activities or items they may come across.
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, it's clear that technology will continue to play a central role in our lives. The pace of change shows no signs of slowing down, and new innovations are constantly reshaping the way we work, play, and interact with one another. The rapid advancement of technologies like virtual reality, blockchain, and quantum computing promise to usher in a new wave of possibilities, while also raising new ethical and societal questions that we must grapple with.LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sportsTech billionaire Elon Musk faced accusations of censorship Friday from fellow conservatives after several prominent right-wing accounts who had criticized Musk’s views on immigration said that they subsequently lost access to premium features on Musk’s social media app, X. At least 14 conservative accounts said late Thursday or Friday that X had revoked their blue verification badge, cutting them off from a variety of premium features, including the ability to monetize their accounts through subscriptions and advertising revenue-sharing, according to a review conducted by NBC News. Some accounts said the number of those affected was far higher. The accounts were all still active Friday, but without access to monetization features; some of them said they worried about their ability to keep posting. Some conservatives said they considered X’s actions to be a betrayal by Musk, who purchased the service then known as Twitter in 2022 in part because he said it had unfairly limited conservative speech . Musk has since called himself a free-expression advocate, even as he calls for jailing some of his critics . Musk and X did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. But on Thursday night, about an hour before some conservatives started complaining about losing access to X’s premium features, Musk posted what he called “a reminder” on X. He wrote that the site’s algorithm automatically reduces the reach of a user if they’re frequently blocked or muted by other, credible users. “If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly,” Musk posted . But rather than satisfying people complaining about censorship, the post elicited even more accusations that Musk was shadowbanning his conservative critics, or reducing engagement on their posts without officially disclosing such actions to affected accounts. The actions by X came in the middle of a heated online debate on the subject of future immigration policy under President-elect Donald Trump, with anti-immigration MAGA loyalists denouncing the influence of pro-immigration tech executives and investors such as Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Many of the affected accounts said they were affiliated with one media brand in particular, ConservativeOG. Preston Parra, a 23-year-old influencer and head of ConservativeOG, said he considered the actions by X to be a “political takedown” in retaliation for publicly disagreeing with Musk’s pro-immigration views. He said he plans to keep fighting Musk, not only to get his premium features restored but also to ensure that Trump pursues restrictionist immigration policies. “If anyone thinks for one minute the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA is gonna stand idly by while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs who didn’t get bullied enough in high school, steal our country, they’re mistaken,” Parra said in a text message. He said he believes Musk to be a “Trojan horse” in the Trump camp. Trump announced that Musk and Ramaswamy would lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” to much fanfare, shortly after the Nov. 5 election. But in recent days, after venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan was announced as a White House adviser on AI policy, Trump’s tech-world allies — including Musk and Ramaswamy — have come under deeper scrutiny and criticism from the far-right for their previous statements about or involvement with legal immigration. Musk is an immigrant, having been born and raised in South Africa. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002. At least three of the affected X accounts have more than 1 million followers each, including the accounts of Ryan Fournier and Laura Loomer. Fournier, a co-founder of Students for Trump, said he had had a blue verified badge on the social media app since 2016. He wrote on X that he had “no clue why” he lost it this week. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Premium subscriptions on X include several benefits such as increased prominence in the replies to other accounts’ posts and the ability to apply for sharing ad revenue. Loomer, a far-right activist and close Trump ally , said that X had demonetized her — cutting off her ability to collect subscription fees and other revenue on the site — and had revoked her blue verification checkmark about two days after she began criticizing Musk over tech industry visas. On Tuesday, Loomer wrote on X that tech billionaires “are like termites who have descended upon Palm Beach,” where Trump is working on the presidential transition from his Mar-a-Lago resort. And she kept up her criticism as the week went on. Musk mentioned her in a post Thursday, writing : “Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore.” And hours later, Loomer says her account lost access to premium features. “Looks like Elon Musk is going to be silencing me for supporting original Trump immigration policies,” she posted on X , calling the changes to her account “ retaliation .” She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Andrew Torba, the CEO of the far-right social media app Gab, has in the past praised Musk , but on Friday he criticized the billionaire for silencing others and invited disaffected X users to come to his platform instead. Torba is openly antisemitic and on Friday also posted that people have “two choices: be racist or be replaced.” It’s not the first time that X and Musk have been accused of silencing users, despite Musk’s vowed commitments to free speech. In September, X said it temporarily suspended a journalist for posting private personal information, after he shared a document that appeared to have been stolen from Trump’s campaign. In 2022, the platform suspended the accounts of several other journalists who wrote about Musk. In July, X suspended the account “White Dudes for Harris,” which supported Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump, and in August it temporarily shut down “Progressives for Harris.”
The US has underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict and finding lasting solutions that promote stability and security in the region. The US government has offered its assistance in facilitating dialogue between Israel and Syria to help reach a sustainable ceasefire agreement and pave the way for a comprehensive peace settlement.Former Oiler Vincent Desharnais Facing Early Departure From Vancouver Canucks
And single people are more likely to use mobility tools compared to those who are married, according to researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers looked at information from a group of more than 12,000 adults in England aged 50 to 89 who were tracked over a 13-year period. At the start of the study, 8,225 adults had no mobility difficulty and did not use mobility assistive products (MAPs). Some 2,480 were deemed to have “unmet need” and 1,375 were using mobility aids. During the follow-up period, there were 2,313 “transitions” where people went from having no mobility issues to needing some help with getting around. And 1,274 people started to use mobility aids. Compared with men, women were 49% more likely to transition from not needing mobility aids to needing to use them, according to the study which has been published in The Lancet Public Health. But were 21% less likely to go on to use mobility aids when they needed them. The authors said their study showed “barriers to access” for women. For both men and women, with every year that passed during the study period the need for mobility aids increased. People who were older, less educated, less wealthy or reported being disabled were more likely to “transition from no need to unmet need, and from unmet need to use”, the authors said, with this indicating a “higher prevalence of mobility limitations and MAP need overall among these groups”. They added: “Finally, marital or partnership status was not associated with transitioning to unmet need; however, single people were more likely to transition from unmet need to use compared with married or partnered people.” Jamie Danemayer, first author of the study from UCL Computer Science and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, said: “Our analysis suggests that there is a clear gender gap in access to mobility aids. “Though our data didn’t ascertain the reason why participants weren’t using mobility aids, other research tells us that women are often more likely than men to face obstacles such as cost barriers as a result of well-documented income disparities between genders. “Many mobility aids are designed for men rather than women, which we think may be a factor. “Using mobility aids can also make a disability visible, which can impact the safety and stigma experienced by women, in particular. “There’s a critical need for further research to identify and break down the barriers preventing women from accessing mobility aids that would improve their quality of life.” Professor Cathy Holloway, also from UCL, added: “Not having access to mobility aids when a person needs one can have a big impact on their independence, well-being and quality of life. “Our analysis suggests that women, in particular, regardless of other factors such as education and employment status, are not getting the support that they need.” Professor Shereen Hussein, senior author of the study and lead of the social care group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The research provides compelling evidence of gender disparities in accessing assistive technology, suggesting that cost, design bias, and social stigma are likely to disproportionally affect women. “This underscores the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in the design, production and inclusivity of assistive technologies.”For Guoan FC, the appointment of Setien represents a bold move to bring in an experienced and high-profile manager to lead the team to success. The club's ambitious owners are hopeful that Setien's tactical know-how and commitment to attractive football will bring positive results on the pitch and elevate the team to new heights in the Chinese football landscape.
Boys soccer: Mustangs victorious at Ervin Mendiola Memorial tournament, Falcons finish thirdSam Hicks, defense lead Abilene Christian over Northern Arizona 24-0 to extend 1st trip to playoffs