Pat Bryant caught a 40-yard touchdown on fourth down with four seconds remaining as No. 25 Illinois rallied for a dramatic 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J. With Rutgers playing cover-zero defense, Bryant caught Luke Altmyer's sidearm toss on fourth-and-13 at the 22-yard line in the middle of the field and ran in from the right side for a 36-31 lead. Bryant's dramatic catch came after Illinois initially decided to attempt a go-ahead 57-yard field goal into the wind. Following a timeout, the Ilini went for it on fourth down. Altmeyer's two-point conversion attempt to Bryant was incomplete, but the visitors recorded a safety on the game's final play. Bryant finished with seven catches for a career-high 197 yards, and his score came after Rutgers took a 31-30 lead on a 13-yard rushing TD by Kyle Monangai with 1:08 left. Monangai gave the Scarlet Knights the lead after Illinois overcame a nine-point deficit on Aidan Laughery's 8-yard TD run with 13:48 remaining and Altmyer's 30-yard run with 3:07 left. Bryant's clutch catch gave Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) eight wins for the second time in three seasons on a day when it committed 11 penalties. Altmyer finished 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and threw two touchdowns. He also gained a team-high 74 yards on the ground as the Ilini totaled 182 rushing yards. Monangai finished with 122 yards on 28 carries and Kaliakmanis completed 19-of-37 passes for 175 yards, but Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) was unable to win a third straight Big Ten game for the first time. Kaliakmanis also rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. The Scarlet Knights saw their losing streak against ranked teams reach 41 games after taking a 17-9 halftime lead and a 24-15 advantage early in the fourth. --Field Level MediaThe emperor penguin that made global headlines after waddling ashore on a beach in Australia has been released back into the wild. Surfers spotted the out-of-place bird on Ocean Beach in Denmark, Western Australia, on November 1. Somehow, the juvenile male had ended up more than 2,100 miles from his home in Antarctica. Carol Biddulph, a registered wildlife caretaker, took the black-and-white bird to her home, where she has a dedicated penguin enclosure. The three-foot-tall penguin was malnourished and weighed just 47 pounds, which is well below the average weight of around 88 pounds for the species. For the last three weeks, Biddulph and her husband, Graham, have been carefully nursing the bird back to health, according to a statement from Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). At first, Biddulph didn’t know what to call the penguin—or whether to name him at all. “I really didn’t know whether he was going to make it to begin with because he was so undernourished,” she says in a video shared with media outlets by the DBCA. But once it seemed like the juvenile would recover, Biddulph started brainstorming. She thought about historical emperors—and her brain landed on Roman emperor Augustus “for some crazy reason,” she adds. “[The] shortened version of Gus just seemed to suit him. So that’s what it is,” she says in the video. Biddulph helped Gus regain weight through a “gentle process of refeeding him, not too fast, not too slow, just right,” she says. She and her husband started by giving him fluids, then moved on to a slurry. Eventually, they began feeding him whole fish. Once he’d made a full recovery, Gus was eating roughly 20 pilchard fish, also known as mulies, three times each day. Before his release, he weighed about 55 pounds and was in a “much chunkier shape,” Biddulph says. As he was regaining his strength, Gus enjoyed standing next to the big mirror in his enclosure. Since penguins are social birds, he might have thought his reflection was a fellow emperor penguin. “I find for other species of penguin that I have in care, the mirror is a must-have, especially when I’ve only got one in at a time,” says Biddulph in the video. “When there’s two or three [penguins], it’s great, they can bounce off each other, but when you’ve just got one, they just need that comfort of knowing they’ve got a buddy.” On the day of Gus’ release, he was placed into a ventilated pet carrier with an ice pack and loaded onto a small DBCA vessel. With Biddulph, her husband, a veterinarian and a wildlife officer on board, the boat sailed out of King George Sound in Albany, Western Australia. Once they reached an undisclosed location in the open Southern Ocean, the caretakers placed the carrier on the edge of the boat and opened one side. Without hesitating, Gus belly flopped into the water below with a splash, took a drink and began swimming. “Magnificent. He just knew where he was supposed to be, didn’t give a backward glance and just disappeared,” says Biddulph in DBCA footage captured on the boat. “It’s just amazing. ... He was ready for it.” For her part, Biddulph says she enjoyed taking care of Gus and will miss him. But at the end of the day, she’s thrilled to see him back where he belongs. “I got into wildlife care ... not to make these birds my pets,” she says. “I want birds to be free, and every one that we care for that goes back to its natural environment means that we’ve done our job well.” It’s still a mystery as to how and why Gus ended up so far from home in the first place. Experts believe he may have been looking for food, then got caught up in a current. To ornithologists, Gus is what’s known as a “ vagrant .” Especially during the spring and fall migrations, it’s fairly common for birds to end up in unusual places—and their appearances are always a treat for birdwatchers. Some vagrants get blown off course by storms, while others have been known to catch rides on boats. Since birds use Earth’s magnetic field to navigate, it’s also possible that disruptions to that field due to space weather might cause them to lose their bearings. But vagrancy largely remains a mystery to scientists. “If a species showed up all the time, we’d just consider that to be part of their range,” says Casey Youngflesh , a biologist at Clemson University, to National Geographic ’s Tatyana Woodall. “Truthfully, we still don’t understand a lot about the marine environment and don’t have a good idea where many animals spend their time.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. Sarah Kuta | READ MORE Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.Chesapeake Gold (CVE:CKG) Hits New 12-Month Low – Should You Sell?SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. "I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success," Allar said Sunday at College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day. "For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us." The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. The Penn State offense is a run-first bunch, led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. "If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich," offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. "I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism." The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. "I've been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy," Allar said. "I think that's been a huge difference for me this year." The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, which sealed the Ducks' 45-37 victory. He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State muscled past SMU 38-10 on a cold, blustery day to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. "For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm," Allar said. "Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game." Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. "He's a football player," Warren said. "He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he's just a football player and that fires up our offense." Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. "I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad."
Supreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's rise JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia’s decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different. And the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. Both the award and the glitzy festival itself are signs of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to shaping a new film industry. The reopening of cinemas in 2018 after 35 years marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Unique among 'Person of the Year' designees, Donald Trump gets a fact-check from Time magazine Donald Trump got something this year that no other person designed Time magazine's Person of the Year had ever received. He got a fact-check of claims that the president-elect made in the interview accompanying the magazine's piece. Trump earned the recognition of the year's biggest newsmaker for the second time, also winning it in 2016 the first time he was elected president. But in a piece described as a “12-minute” read, Time called into question more than a dozen statements Trump made when speaking to the magazine's reporters, on issues like border size, autism and crowd size at a rally. Time said it has fact-checked other interviews in the past, but not for this annual feature. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications.Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd shared some opinions with his audience during an episode of "The Herd" on Thursday, comparing multiple NFL quarterbacks to former Oregon Duck and current Denver Bronco Bo Nix. In a 48-second clip posted to TikTok and various other social media platforms, Cowherd could be heard weighing Nix against other NFL stars including Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love and Brock Purdy. At one point, Cowherd made quite a bold claim, giving Nix, a rookie, the edge over a two-time Pro Bowler. "Here's what concerns me with Jalen Hurts," Cowherd said. "He is very dependent on his legs. Even through nine, 10, 12 games, I think (Nix), in the pocket, is a better pocket passer." "Here's what concerns me with Jalen Hurts. He is very dependent on his legs... I think Bo is better pocket passer." @ColinCowherd decides which QBs he'd take over Bo Nix: pic.twitter.com/gmo7sQ12Xk From there, Cowherd struggled comparing Nix to Love, citing the Packers' starter as a better athlete with a better arm. Still, the Fox analyst noted Love's recklessness as a drawback, failing to decide between the two quarterbacks. Then, Cowherd continued to sing the praises of Nix, picking him over current San Francisco 49er Brock Purdy. "I don't even think it's close. I think it's Bo Nix," Cowherd said. "One's a first-rounder, one's a seventh-rounder. One guy actually won big-time in college at two places. I mean, what's Auburn been since Bo Nix left? Stinkaroony." FS1 Since Nix's departure following the 2021 season, the Tigers have gone a combined 15-20 over three seasons. In their three seasons with Nix at the helm, they went 21-16. Nix will hope to justify Cowherd's claims as the Broncos travel to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PST and the game will air on CBS.Premier David Eby made his annual visit to the B.C. business community this week, but if you were looking for specifics and good news, you were left grasping at straws. Paper straws, which fall apart pretty much right away. As evidence that he’s turned a page with the business community, Eby cited fast-tracking nine wind energy projects. There will be more examples, he promised vaguely, with no hint of what industries or projects he may be favouring. Or why. Or how. Or when. So it’s fair to say Eby is not exactly throwing caution to the wind to attract more investment into B.C. – which is seeing the conclusion of a $100 billion burst in energy infrastructure construction , and virtually nothing in line to replace it. B.C. Chamber of Commerce president Fiona Famulak tried her best to coax a commitment to natural resources out of Eby, asking a question that cited the Mining Association of B.C.’s analysis that it takes 12-15 years to permit a mine in this province. Pushing back, Eby claimed his government had reduced the timeline for mining permits by 40 per cent, but offered no corroborating evidence. Even if we take the premier at his word, that means the 12-15-year review period has been cut to seven to nine years. That’s some thin gruel. And even thinner when one considers it came just minutes after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump put this out on his Truth Social: “Any person or company investing ONE BILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals. GET READY TO ROCK!!!” Or, put another way: “Drill, baby, drill!” How does that affect Canada? It’s better understood that Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs would be incredibly harmful. For example, the softwood lumber tariff has resulted in $9 billion paid by Canadian producers since 2017. That’s by one industry on one product, at a rate less than half of what Trump is threatening. And yet this policy of “fully expedited approvals” could be even more damaging to the B.C. economy. If you’re an investor in oil, natural gas, tech, automobile manufacturing, mining, battery plants, pipelines, large development projects or other big-ticket items, why would you ever come to B.C., when you could get to work in any American state far faster and cheaper? Where your jobs and investment would be welcomed with open arms and the removal of regulatory barriers? By contrast, the BC NDP government has slathered cost and red tape on to business since 2017: multiple tax hikes, anti-employer rhetoric, WorkSafe regulations skewed completely to labour. And their soft-on-crime and drug-friendly policies have ramped up petty crime, again harming business. “When you have a near-death experience as a politician, it focuses the mind,” Eby said at the end of his speech, turning the focus back to himself. That’s all well and good. But it’s our provincial economy and our businesses that are having a near-death experience right now, as the provincial deficit and debt rush out of control, government hiring and costs far outpace the corporate sector that has to pay for them, and both private sector payroll and hiring are falling . America’s arms are wide open. But despite his political near-death experience, B.C.’s premier seems as unfocused and as unhelpful as ever. Jordan Bateman is vice-president of communication at the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association.
A contestant on ITV's Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? Celebrity Special was accused of cheating during Sunday's (December 29) episode after they called a star of quiz show The Chase for an answer. Host Jeremy Clarkson was back at the helm for a star-studded edition of the popular game show, with celebs vying to win a cool £1 million for their chosen charities. Jools Holland kicked things off, playing for Prince's Trust and Caring Hands, before passing the baton to comedian Nina Wadia and ex-Rugby Union ace Ugo Monye. But it was Nina's choice of phone-a-friend that raised eyebrows she opted to call none other than Paul Sinha, a familiar face from ITV's own quiz battleground, The Chase, reports the Express . Nina, previously seen on Strictly Come Dancing , found herself stumped by a question about the demolition of a prison in 1987 where Rudolf Hess had been the sole inmate. Without hesitation, she reached out to Chaser and comic Paul Sinha for help. Even host Jeremy Clarkson couldn't hide his surprise, exclaiming: "From The Chase? Let me get this straight, you're actually contemplating, shall I ask the audience or should I ask someone from The Chase?" Paul didn't disappoint, confidently identifying option B, Spandau, as the correct answer. Social media buzzed with reactions, with one viewer jesting on X: "You can't ring Paul Sinha, that's cheating." Another chimed in with disapproval: "Phoning a chaser on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire that shouldn't be allowed." Some fans were more forgiving, with one commenting: "No wonder she's laughing with a phone a friend called Paul Sinha." Nina ultimately pocketed £32,000 for her chosen charity JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), after being tripped up by a question about the Shakespearean origin of the contemporary phrase 'there's method in my madness'. The comedian, recognised for her parts in Goodness Gracious Me and EastEnders , was torn between Hamlet and Macbeth. She decided to Ask The Audience, who were equally divided over the two choices. She locked in Macbeth as her final answer, but alas, it was Hamlet, marking the end of her stint on the show. Viewers are keeping their fingers crossed for more celebrity editions of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire from ITV , given the stellar roster of celebs that have previously graced the show, all eager to scoop up a hefty sum for charity. Prior to airing, there were whispers that this special would be "the best season yet". This comes hot on the heels of news that the host of Clarkson's Farm had a recent health scare, undergoing emergency heart surgery following a severe illness while on holiday. In his column for the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson shared his harrowing ordeal, describing how he suddenly found himself unable to rise from the breakfast table, questioning whether his "limbs were working properly". However, it wasn't just the Covid saga that hit Jeremy; he found everyday activities like swimming and walking a challenge. After experiencing a worrying "tightening in his chest" upon his return to the UK, Jeremy was swiftly whisked off to hospital by ambulance. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Celebrity Special is streaming on ITVX.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced continued testing of hypersonic ballistic missiles during the ongoing conflict with Ukraine following the launch of such a missile against Ukraine. On Friday, November 22, Putin ordered the acceleration of production of the new hypersonic missile known as “Oreshnik.” This missile, which Russia claims travels at ten times the speed of sound, was reportedly used for the first time Thursday to target locations in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. While the Kremlin has refrained from commenting directly on the missile launch toward Ukraine, Putin stated during a meeting with Russian military officials, “We will continue these tests, including under combat conditions.” Putin described the first use of the “Oreshnik” missile as a successful test and indicated that more launches would follow. Russian state media reported that the intercontinental ballistic missile, also known as RS-28 Sarmat or “Oreshnik,” travels at speeds ten times faster than sound, making it impervious to existing defense technologies. However, Ukraine has announced that it is actively developing aerial systems to counter this weapon. The introduction of hypersonic missile technology into the Ukraine conflict marks a significant escalation in the arms race, raising concerns among global military and political observers. Experts warn that these advanced weapons could destabilize the region further and complicate peace negotiations. International calls for restraint have grown louder, urging Russia and Ukraine to avoid the use of increasingly destructive technologies. The escalation highlights the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a broader and more dangerous confrontation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ΔAfraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts