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Touch Ventures Limited ( ASX:TVL – Get Free Report ) insider Glenn Poswell acquired 9,716,894 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 23rd. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$0.06 ($0.04) per share, with a total value of A$602,447.43 ($374,190.95). Touch Ventures Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 47.60 and a current ratio of 247.98. Touch Ventures Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Touch Ventures Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Touch Ventures and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .TOPEKA, Kan. — Republicans made claims about illegal voting by noncitizens a centerpiece of their 2024 campaign messaging and plan to push legislation in the new Congress requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Yet there’s one place with a GOP supermajority where linking voting to citizenship appears to be a nonstarter: Kansas. That’s because the state has been there, done that, and all but a few Republicans would prefer not to go there again. Kansas imposed a proof-of-citizenship requirement over a decade ago that grew into one of the biggest political fiascos in the state in recent memory. The law, passed by the state Legislature in 2011 and implemented two years later, ended up blocking the voter registrations of more than 31,000 U.S. citizens who were otherwise eligible to vote. That was 12% of everyone seeking to register in Kansas for the first time. Federal courts ultimately declared the law an unconstitutional burden on voting rights, and it hasn’t been enforced since 2018. Kansas provides a cautionary tale about how pursuing an election concern that in fact is extremely rare risks disenfranchising a far greater number of people who are legally entitled to vote. The state’s top elections official, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, championed the idea as a legislator and says states and the federal government shouldn’t touch it. “Kansas did that 10 years ago,” said Schwab, a Republican. “It didn’t work out so well.” Steven Fish, a 45-year-old warehouse worker in eastern Kansas, said he understands the motivation behind the law. In his thinking, the state was like a store owner who fears getting robbed and installs locks. But, in 2014, after the birth of his now 11-year-old son inspired him to be “a little more responsible” and follow politics, he didn’t have an acceptable copy of his birth certificate to get registered to vote in Kansas. “The locks didn’t work,” said Fish, one of nine Kansas residents who sued the state over the law. “You caught a bunch of people who didn’t do anything wrong.” A small problem, but wide support for a fix Kansas’ experience appeared to receive little if any attention outside the state as Republicans elsewhere pursued proof-of-citizenship requirements this year. Arizona enacted a requirement this year, applying it to voting for state and local elections but not for Congress or president. The Republican-led U.S. House passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement in the summer and plans to bring back similar legislation after the GOP won control of the Senate in November. In Ohio, the Republican secretary of state revised the form poll workers use for voter eligibility challenges to require those not born in the U.S. to show naturalization papers to cast a regular ballot. A federal judge declined to block the practice days before the election. Also, sizable majorities of voters in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and the presidential swing states of North Carolina and Wisconsin were inspired to amend their state constitutions’ provisions on voting even though the changes were only symbolic. Provisions that previously declared that all U.S. citizens could vote now say that only U.S. citizens can vote — a meaningless distinction with no practical effect on who is eligible. To be clear, voters already must attest to being U.S. citizens when they register to vote, and noncitizens can face fines, prison and deportation if they lie and are caught. “There is nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that only American citizens can vote in American elections,” U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas, the leading sponsor of the congressional proposal, said in an email statement. Why the courts rejected the Kansas citizenship rule After Kansas residents challenged their state’s law, a federal judge and federal appeals court concluded it violated a law limiting states to collecting only the minimum information needed to determine whether someone is eligible to vote. That’s an issue Congress could resolve. The courts ruled that, with “scant” evidence of an actual problem, Kansas couldn’t justify a law that kept hundreds of eligible citizens from registering for every noncitizen who was improperly registered. A federal judge concluded the state’s evidence showed only 39 noncitizens had registered to vote from 1999 through 2012 — an average of just three a year. In 2013, then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican who had built a national reputation advocating tough immigration laws, described the possibility of voting by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally as a serious threat. He was elected attorney general in 2022 and still strongly backs the idea, arguing federal court rulings in the Kansas case “almost certainly got it wrong.” Kobach also said a key issue in the legal challenge — people being unable to fix problems with their registrations within a 90-day window — has probably been solved. “The technological challenge of how quickly can you verify someone’s citizenship is getting easier,” Kobach said. “As time goes on, it will get even easier.” Would the Kansas law stand today? The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the Kansas case in 2020. But in August, it split 5-4 in allowing Arizona to continue enforcing its law for voting in state and local elections while a legal challenge goes forward. Seeing the possibility of a different Supreme Court decision in the future, U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt says states and Congress should pursue proof-of-citizenship requirements. Schmidt was the Kansas attorney general when his state’s law was challenged. “If the same matter arose now and was litigated, the facts would be different,” he said in an interview. But voting rights advocates dismiss the idea a legal challenge would turn out differently. Mark Johnson, one of the attorneys who fought the Kansas law, said opponents now have a template for a successful court fight. “We know the people we can call,” Johnson said. “We know that we’ve got the expert witnesses. We know how to try things like this.” He predicted “a flurry — a landslide — of litigation against this.” Born in Illinois but unable to register in Kansas Initially, the Kansas requirement’s impacts seemed to fall most heavily on politically unaffiliated and young voters. As of fall 2013, 57% of the voters blocked from registering were unaffiliated, and 40% were under 30. But Fish was in his mid-30s, and six of the nine residents who sued over the Kansas law were 35 or older. Three even produced citizenship documents and still didn’t get registered, according to court documents. “There wasn’t a single one of us that was actually an illegal or had misinterpreted or misrepresented any information or had done anything wrong,” Fish said. He was supposed to produce his birth certificate when he sought to register in 2014 while renewing his Kansas driver’s license at an office in a strip mall in Lawrence. A clerk wouldn’t accept the copy Fish had of his birth certificate. He still doesn’t know where to find the original, having been born on an Air Force base in Illinois that closed in the 1990s. Several of the people joining Fish in the lawsuit were veterans, all born in the U.S., and Fish said he was stunned they could be prevented from registering. Liz Azore, a senior adviser to the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, said millions of Americans haven’t traveled outside the U.S. and don’t have passports that might act as proof of citizenship, or don’t have ready access to their birth certificates. She and other voting rights advocates are skeptical there are administrative fixes that will make a proof-of-citizenship law run more smoothly today than it did in Kansas a decade ago. “It’s going to cover a lot of people from all walks of life,” Avore said. “It’s going to be disenfranchising large swaths of the country.”Shares of Match Group, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MTCH – Get Free Report ) have received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-four brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $37.68. MTCH has been the subject of several recent research reports. New Street Research downgraded Match Group from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, December 16th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Match Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating and set a $32.00 price target (down from $40.00) on shares of Match Group in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $33.00 price objective (down from $40.00) on shares of Match Group in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Loop Capital decreased their price objective on shares of Match Group from $35.00 to $30.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. View Our Latest Research Report on Match Group Match Group Stock Performance Match Group declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, December 11th that allows the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the technology company to buy up to 19% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Match Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 6th. Match Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 33.93%. Insider Activity In other news, Director Stephen Bailey sold 801 shares of Match Group stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.61, for a total value of $25,319.61. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $391,900.78. The trade was a 6.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Insiders own 0.77% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MTCH. Starboard Value LP bought a new stake in shares of Match Group during the third quarter valued at about $361,605,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Match Group by 88.5% during the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 6,263,311 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $190,279,000 after acquiring an additional 2,940,667 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in Match Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $49,053,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in Match Group by 2,732.1% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 1,659,718 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $62,804,000 after purchasing an additional 1,601,115 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Match Group by 75.5% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,271,787 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $69,018,000 after purchasing an additional 977,090 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.05% of the company’s stock. Match Group Company Profile ( Get Free Report Match Group, Inc engages in the provision of dating products. Its portfolio of brands includes Tinder, Hinge, Match, Meetic, OkCupid, Pairs, Plenty Of Fish, Azar, BLK, and Hakuna, as well as a various other brands, each built to increase users' likelihood of connecting with others. Its services are available in over 40 languages to users worldwide. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Match Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Match Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Puma Unveils AI-Designed Sneaker, Sparking Debate on the Future of Fashion CreativityMembers of the Syrian community in Berlin celebrate the end of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's rule. BERLIN - Thousands of jubilant Syrians rallied in Berlin and cities across Europe on Dec 8, waving flags and barely able to contain their joy at the downfall of president Bashar al-Assad. “Finally we are free!” exclaimed Bassam Al-Hamada, 39, among 5,000 people at an exuberant rally in the capital of Germany, where the one million-plus Syrians makes it the largest diaspora in Europe. But Syrians in Athens, Belgrade, Istanbul, London, Paris, Stockholm and Vienna also waved flags in the green, red, black and white colours of the Syrian opposition and made clear their hostility to Mr Assad. Berlin police said more than 5,000 Syrians gathered in a square in the Kreuzberg district. Many waved flags and banners that read “Free Syria” and “Freedom”, flashed “V” for victory signs and chanted “Allahu Akbar! (God is Greatest!)”. Despite a cold drizzle, many came with their families. Children’s faces were painted in the Syrian colours. Passing cars honked their horns. Most Syrians in Germany fled their country after civil war erupted in 2011. A big community now lives in Berlin’s Neukoelln district. “We’re happy. The dictatorship is over. Assad has gone,” said 39-year-old Berlin resident Ahmed, who preferred not to give his last name. “All Syrians are together now,” said the railway technician, who fled the Syrian city of Aleppo in 2015. Members of the Syrian community in Berlin celebrate the end of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s rule. PHOTO: NYTIMES Mr Ahmad al-Hallabi, a 27-year-old mechanic from Aleppo, arrived in Germany through Turkey and Greece in 2015 at the peak of the migrant influx into Europe. “Ten years ago, I was in Syria and saw things no-one should have to see, things that are impossible to wipe from your memory,” he said. “Assad is the worst terrorist imaginable... I hope there’ll be peace and everything Assad and his men destroyed will be rebuilt.” ‘Relief for millions’ Germany’s far right, which has gained popularity on the back of its opposition to the arrival of Syrians and other migrants, quickly raised its fears about more arrivals. “The frontiers are closed, we will not accept any any more,” said Alternative for Germany co-leader Alice Weidel on the X social platform. Many Syrians say they want to return to their war-battered nation. “Like many Syrians, I would like to return to my country to help rebuild it,” said social worker Bassam Al-Hamada, who arrived in Germany in early 2016. Ms Sabreen, 36, an architect, said she planned to help from Germany. “They mainly need expertise and money. All of that, we can gather here for the moment,” added the woman. Like many of the stunned exiles in Berlin, Ms Sabreen called for Mr Assad to answer for the killing and torture of his people in the past 13 years. “He must be tried in the international court in The Hague,” she said. ‘Allah, Syria, freedom!’ Hundreds of ecstatic Syrians celebrated the fall of Assad on London’s Trafalgar Square, hugging each other and chanting “Mabrouk! (Congratulations!)”. Syrians greeted each other, many with the opposition flag, and singing: “Syria is ours, not the Assad family’s”. People wave Syrian opposition flags as they gather in Trafalgar Square, in London, on Dec 8. PHOTO: REUTERS Hundreds took part in joyous scenes outside the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, one of the focal points for their 500,000-strong Syrian community in the Turkish city. Several hundred Syrians also gathered outside parliament in central Athens. “Allah, Syria, freedom!” and “together, together, together,” they chanted. “I am happy after these 13 years of displacement, massacres and tens of thousands of people killed in prisons,” said Mr Adel Batal, 29. “I am in Greece because of this regime,” said the man from Aleppo. “My city has been destroyed by this regime.” Syrian residents in Turkey wave Syrian opposition flags as they celebrate, at the Fatih Mosque, in Istanbul, on Dec 8. PHOTO: AFP Syrians also celebrated in the Swiss capital Bern and in Geneva, where several hundred people gathered at the Place des Nations square in front of the United Nations, the RTS state broadcaster reported. Demonstrators sang and waved green-white-black-red opposition flags, while some stamped on pictures of Assad and his father Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria before him. Around 300 jubilant people turned out at the Place de La Republique in Paris, chanting slogans, cheering and clapping. Thousands also gathered in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Vienna. Sweden has Europe’s second biggest Syrian diaspora. “I lost my homeland. My home, my family and my friends, and we fought for 14 years – so yes, today I am happy,” Noura Bittar told Danish television. “Of course, we are worried about what the next step will be, what kind of government will be put in place? But for now, we are just happy.” AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowNeha Sharma , who is known for her roles in Crook and Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, has become the center of attention after being seen walking hand-in-hand with Petar Sliskovic in Mumbai. The paparazzi captured the duo strolling together, with Neha donning a stylish black dress and Petar in casual attire, exuding comfort and happiness. The pictures and videos of their outing quickly went viral, sparking speculation about their relationship status. While Neha, known for maintaining privacy about her personal life, has not commented on the rumours, fans and media are buzzing about the apparent connection. Who is Petar Sliskovic? Petar Sliskovic, 33, is a Bosnian-born Croatian professional footballer with an impressive career as a striker. He debuted professionally with Mainz 05 in Germany in 2011 and later played for clubs such as St. Pauli and Dynamo Dresden. Petar has also made a mark in Indian football, playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) for Chennaiyin FC and, more recently, Jamshedpur FC. ‘Aaj gym ke bahar’: Neha Sharma and Aisha Sharma shell major sibling goals as they pose for paps Known for his goal-scoring prowess and technical skills, Petar has achieved recognition internationally and in India. During his time with Chennaiyin FC in 2022, he scored eight goals and provided four assists in 17 appearances, solidifying his reputation as a formidable striker. Neha, who often shares glimpses of her life on social media alongside her sister Aisha Sharma , has always kept her romantic life under wraps. Her recent public appearance with Petar, however, has seemingly confirmed her relationship status, much to the surprise of her fans. While the couple has not made an official statement, their public display of affection suggests a strong bond. Fans are now eagerly awaiting further updates on this new chapter in Neha’s life.
American and European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday after inflation data cemented expectations that the US Federal Reserve will trim interest rates next month. While the Dow fell slightly, the other two major US indices advanced, led by the tech-rich Nasdaq, which piled on almost two percent to close above 20,000 points for the first time. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
, /PRNewswire/ -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, today announced that it will release financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2025, ended , after the close of the New York Stock Exchange trading session on . On , at , AAR will hold a conference call to discuss the results. A listen-only webcast and slides can be accessed at . Participants may join via phone by registering at . Once registered, participants will receive a dial-in number and a unique PIN that will allow them to access the call. A replay of the conference call will be available for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call at the webcast link and will remain available for approximately one year. AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through four operating segments: Parts Supply, Repair & Engineering, Integrated Solutions, and Expeditionary Services. Additional information can be found at . Director of Investor Relations +1-630-227-5830 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AAR CORP.Rihanna and boyfriend A$AP Rocky make a stylish appearance as they arrive arm-in-arm to Design Miami
Elon Musk calls Trudeau an ‘insufferable tool’ on his social media platform
Grant Sergent threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns for San Diego (8-3, 6-2 Pioneer Football League) which ended the season with a four-game win streak and winners of six of seven. The Toreros finished in sole possession of second place in the PFL behind Drake (7-1), which clinched the league outright with a 49-10 win over Stetson on Saturday. Drake beat San Diego 30-28 on a walk-off field goal on Sept. 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. Bryce Patterson threw for 133 yards and a touchdown and James Louis ran for a touchdown for the Eagles (7-5, 5-3). ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballNasdaq surges above 20,000 after US inflation data matches estimates
In late November, Australia's federal parliament passed landmark legislation banning under-16s from accessing social media . Details remain vague: we don't have a complete list of which platforms will fall under the legislation, or how the ban will look in practice. However, the government has signalled that trials of age assurance technologies will be central to its enforcement approach. Video games and online game platforms are not currently included in Australia's ban on social media. But we can anticipate how enforcing an online ban might (not) work by looking at China's large-scale use of age verification technologies to restrict young people's video game consumption. In China, strict regulations limit children under 18 to just one hour of online gaming on specified days. This approach highlights significant challenges in scaling and enforcing such rules, from ensuring compliance to safeguarding privacy. 'Spiritual opium' China is home to a large video game industry. Its tech giants, like Tencent, are increasingly shaping the global gaming landscape. However, the question of young people's consumption of video games is a much thornier issue in China. The country has a deep cultural and social history of associating video games with addiction and harm, often referring to them as "spiritual opium". This narrative frames gaming as a potential threat to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of young people. For many Chinese parents, this perception shapes how they view their children's play. They often see video games as a disruptive force that undermines academic success and social development. Parental anxiety like this has paved the way for China to implement strict regulations on children's online gaming. This approach has received widespread parental support. In 2019, China introduced a law to limit gaming for under 18-year-olds to 90 minutes per day on weekdays and three hours on weekends. A "curfew" would prohibit gameplay from 10pm to... Ben Egliston
Nasdaq surges above 20,000 after US inflation data matches estimates
Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 9 December 2024 at 22:30 EET Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 09.12.2024 Espoo, Finland - On 9 December 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows: On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia's Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million. Total cost of transactions executed on 9 December 2024 was EUR 3,645,000. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 210,777,220 treasury shares. Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement. On behalf of Nokia Corporation BofA Securities Europe SA About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: [email protected] Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications Nokia Investor Relations Phone: +358 40 803 4080 Email: [email protected] Attachment Daily Report 2024-12-093 recipes to help you through the busy holiday season
Rolling out new criminal laws CAA major tasks of MHA in 2024A man who was arrested on firearm charges in Pennsylvania on Monday is a “strong person of interest” in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEOBrian Thompson, New York City police said Monday. Luigi Mangione, 26, was spotted at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania by a patron at the fast food joint who apparently recognized him from the images circulated by the NYPD following last week’s shooting and alerted police. The prep school valedictorian was carrying a ghost gun believed to be the one used in the shooting, a suppresser, “multiple fraudulent IDs,” and a handwritten, three-page manifesto that allegedly slammed the health care system. Mangione was arrested by the local police on firearm charges and is considered to be a “strong person of interest in the shooting that shook our city,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a Monday press conference. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said it was a “combination of old-school detective work and new age technology” that helped lead police to Mangione, who has ties to Maryland, California, Hawaii, and does not have an arrest record. The arrest comes as a private funeral was held Monday for Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO who was gunned down as he arrived at the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday for an investors’ conference.
‘It’s bull–’: Rachael Rollins weighs in on charges against Fernandes AndersonNoneCollege Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs, losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama of the SEC but one fewer loss. The inaugural 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta. Alabama left out of playoff as committee rewards SMU's wins over Crimson Tide's strong schedule The College Football Playoff committee took wins over strength of schedule, taking SMU over Alabama for the final at-large spot in the field. The field was expanded from four to 12 teams this season, but that didn’t save the committee from controversy. SMU showed it could compete against a traditional power, losing to Clemson 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal in the ACC title game on Saturday. Alabama had some ups and downs in its first season under coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide had quality wins against Georgia and South Carolina, but lost at Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Big Ten wins playoff selection derby, followed by SEC despite notable Alabama omission College football’s conference shakeup left concerns about two super conferences dominating the playoff field. They weren’t totally unfounded, or 100% born out. The Big Ten, not the Southeastern Conference, was the biggest winner. The ACC scored, too. The Big Ten led the initial 12-team playoff field with four making the cut, topped by a No. 1 Oregon team that was part of the Pac-12 exodus. Then came the SEC — and one notable omission. ACC runner-up SMU got the nod over college football blue-blood Alabama, another blemish in Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Nick Saban’s championship-or-bust successor. Darnold delivers for Vikings with career-high 347 yards and 5 TDs to beat Falcons, Cousins 42-21 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns, both career highs, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away from Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons 42-21 for their sixth straight victory. Darnold added another highlight to his brilliant first season with the Vikings following Cousins' departure in free agency to Atlanta with a 22-for-28 performance and no turnover-worthy plays despite heavy first-half pressure. Jordan Addison had eight catches for 133 yards and three scores and Justin Jefferson racked up seven receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Cousins threw two more interceptions without a touchdown in his return to Minnesota. Saquon Barkley sets Eagles season rushing record and has Dickerson's NFL mark in his sights PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley has broken LeSean McCoy's Eagles franchise record for rushing yards in a season. Barkley has 1,623 yards. He surpassed McCoy's mark of 1,607 yards with a 9-yard run in Sunday's 22-16 win over Carolina. Barkley finished the game with 124 yards, within a yard of his season average. He has four games left and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson's 40-year-old NFL record of 2,105 yards. Dickerson set that record in a 16-game season and Barkley has one more game. Eagles fans serenaded Barkley with “MVP!” chants and McCoy congratulated him on social media. Saints QB Derek Carr injures left hand on dive in 4th quarter of win over Giants EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr injured his left hand late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 14-11 victory over the New York Giants when he went airborne while trying for a first down and crashed to the turf. Carr tried to leap over a Giants tackler and landed at the New Orleans 39-yard line, extending his non-throwing hand to break his fall. He was on the turf for a minute or two before walking to the medical tent. He was examined and slowly walked to an area where X-rays are done. The injury could hurt the already slim playoff hopes of the Saints. Tamar Bates scores 29 points to help Missouri beat No. 1 Kansas 76-67 COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Tamar Bates had 29 points and five steals to help Missouri beat Hunter Dickinson and No. 1 Kansas 76-67. Mark Mitchell scored 17 points in Missouri’s first win over Kansas since a 74-71 victory on Feb. 4, 2012. Anthony Robinson II had 11 points and five steals for the 8-1 Tigers. Dickinson had 19 points and 14 rebounds, but he also committed seven turnovers. The 7-2 Jayhawks have lost two straight on the road after falling 76-63 against Creighton on Wednesday night. Scottie Scheffler ends his big year in the Bahamas with his 9th victory NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler ended his biggest year with another victory. Scheffler was coming off a two-month break and looked as good as ever. He shot 63 in the Hero World Challenge and set tournament records at Albany with a 72-hole total of 263 and a six-shot victory. Tom Kim was the runner-up and Justin Thomas finished third. Scheffler ends his year with nine victories in 21 tournaments. That includes the holiday tournament in the Bahamas and the Olympic gold medal in Paris. It's the third-highest winning percentage in the last 40 years. Tournament host Tiger Woods had two better years. Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive in ski racing return at age 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive again in her ski racing return at 40 years old. Vonn is still getting her ski equipment dialed in and getting used to going full speed again on her new titanium knee. That’s why all that she's reading into being more than two seconds behind in a pair of lower-level super-G races Sunday is that she’s right there. This after nearly six years away from ski racing and an abbreviated prep period. She was 2.19 seconds behind in the first race and 2.06 in the second. Both were won by her American teammate Lauren Macuga. Plane circles MetLife Stadium with message to co-owner John Mara to fix the Giants' 'dumpster fire' EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — A small plane circled MetLife Stadium roughly 90 minutes before New York was to play host to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, asking Giants co-owner John Mara to overhaul the team that has made the playoffs twice since winning the Super Bowl in February 2012. “Mr. Mara, enough. Please fix this dumpster fire!” the message read as it was towed behind the rear of a small plane.Democrats are facing backlash for their take on the recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. As the head of the country’s largest insurance firm, Thompson's murder, by a suspect police believe bore animosity toward the healthcare industry, sparked some controversial reactions. Some on the Left said his murder brought them “joy” because he represented the “greedy” corporations they believe have oppressed millions of Americans. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) condemned the violence but expressed that “you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands.” Warren indicated during an MSNBC interview that she agreed people are angry “with good reason” at the insurance industry. "The visceral response from people across this country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the healthcare system," Warren told the Huffington Post when pressed on social media posts celebrating Thompson’s murder. Warren faced criticism on X for her position, with one user saying the senator “believes that the disgusting act of a crazy communist reflects the hatred of the entire nation for insurance companies.” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also condemned the healthcare industry during a response to Thompson’s death. "I think what the outpouring of anger at the healthcare industry tells us is that millions of people understand that healthcare is a human right and that you cannot have people in the insurance industry rejecting needed healthcare for people while they make billions of dollars in profit," Sanders told the same outlet. Both senators have been rebuked by people who believe they are excusing Thompson’s murder. “We already knew this, but Warren and Sanders have no business being in elected office. They have essentially excused the murder of a healthcare executive, laying the groundwork for additional violence. Disqualifying,” one user said on X. Taylor Lorenz, a journalist who formerly worked for the Washington Post, was also reprimanded after she initially said on Monday that Thompson’s murder sparked “joy” for her. Lorenz’s comments came as she lamented during a Piers Morgan Uncensored interview the “tens of thousands of Americans that [Thompson] murdered” and those who “died because greedy health insurance executives like this one push a policy of denying care to the most vulnerable people.” Thompson’s death “feels like justice in this system when somebody responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans suffers the same fate as tens of thousands of Americans," Lorenz added. Host Piers Morgan asked Lorenz: “How can this make you joyful? This guy is a husband, he’s a father, and he’s been gunned down in the middle of Manhattan.” A report from Network Contagion Research Institute found that six of the top ten most-engaged posts on X about Thompson's murder on the day it occurred “either expressed explicit or implicit support for the killing or denigrated the victim.” “If we had universal healthcare like Bernie Sanders proposed, no one would be shooting insurance CEOs,” one user said . “This needs to be the new norm,” another user wrote, “EAT THE RICH.” Alex Goldenberg, a top adviser at the institute, said that the murder is “being framed as some opening blow in a broader class war, which is very concerning as it heightens the threat environment for similar actors to engage in similar acts of violence,” in comments to the New York Times. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a conservative voice in Congress, also expressed concern on Tuesday that Thompson’s murder had turned his suspected killer, Luigi Mangione, into a “hero” and launched a left-wing “political movement.” "I've been watching this unfold, and I believe it's the beginning of a political movement," Greene said during an interview with Real America's Voice. "What I'm more concerned about is we've seen the Left push for socialized medicine for years, you know?" "Bernie Sanders had Medicare For All," she continued. "I hope this doesn't turn into where they take this guy they're praising ... and make him some sort of hero that they all worship and then pick up the mantra and go after other people." Other conservative commentators, including Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh, have criticized the "radical left-wing" for its stance on Thompson's murder in warnings that political violence "may be coming back." Circumstantial evidence surrounding Thompson’s murder indicated that the gunman bore ill will toward the health insurance industry. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Bullet casings left behind by the shooter at the crime scene had the words “depose,” “deny,” and “delay” written on them. The words are likely a reference to the similar "three Ds of insurance,” “deny,” “delay,” and “defend,” which are tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying claims. The words also mirror the title of a book that denounces healthcare insurers, which became an Amazon bestseller following the shooting. Mangione suffered from chronic back pain and is believed to have undergone spinal fusion surgery last July. At the time of his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s on Monday, Mangione was found with a handwritten document that criticized healthcare companies for putting profits above care, expressed ill will toward corporate America, and included a passage saying, "Frankly, these parasites had it coming.”