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AP News Summary at 6:01 p.m. ESTPedro escaped punishment after swinging an arm at Bees substitute substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact. VAR reviewed the second-half incident but deemed there was no violent conduct. Frank and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler disagreed about the decision. “As I understand the rules, you can’t swing your arm to try to hit someone,” said Frank. “If you hit them or not, it’s a red, that’s the way I understand the rules.” Frank spoke to the match officials, including referee Andy Madley, about the flashpoint at full-time. “They haven’t seen the situation yet, not on TV afterwards,” said Frank. “To be fair to him, I think the angle can be tricky so that’s why you’ve got VAR.” Asked about Frank’s assessment, Hurzeler replied: “Interesting opinion. I see it completely different. “For me, it’s not a red card. He tried to get free from a person.” Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six top-flight games. Albion dominated for large periods and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken made some important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Brentford a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Hurzeler thought the jeers at full-time were unfair. “The team doesn’t deserve that because in all the games we had in the last weeks they were all good, they were all intense, they were all where we thought we deserved more” said the German, whose team have lost to Fulham and Crystal Palace and drawn with Southampton, Leicester and West Ham in recent matches. “We try to work hard to satisfy our supporters, we try to give them what they deserve, we try to make them proud. “But the Premier League is tough. We know there will be (tough) periods we have to go through, especially with this young squad. “We try to stick together, find the positive and keep on going.” Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. Frank, who is awaiting news on Flekken and defender Ben Mee, who also left the field injured, said: “I thought it was a fair point. “Brighton were better in the first half, no big, clearcut chances, and I thought we were better second half. “Overall, I’m happy with the performance, especially the way we defended. “We haven’t had too many clean sheets this season, so in that context I thought it was very impressive against a good Brighton team. “We know we have a lot of players out – we get two more injuries during the game. “The way the players showed their mentality and character and dug in was hugely impressive.”
Dragons officially sign Australian rugby star ahead of Christmas break
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin bucked his party in 2021 when he refused to support a $1.8 trillion bill on taxes, social programs and clean energy, thus dooming President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" initiative. Then this month, in one of his final actions as a member of Congress, he also bucked his party and voted against a nominee that would have continued the Democratic majority on the National Labor Relations Board once both he and Biden leave office. In between, Manchin played outsized roles in Biden's economic stimulus program and his infrastructure bill, as well as the smaller climate change and health care law that came out of the wreckage of Build Back Better. In exit interviews, Manchin, I-W.Va., said his former party had gone too far to the left and left him in a position he did not want — the one individual who could make or break legislation. "I did not run for that position," Manchin told the Washington Post. "I did not try to wedge myself in that and be the deciding vote." He said he made it clear once the Democrats won the trifecta of the White House, Senate and House in 2021 that he was not going to be a guaranteed "yes" vote. "I don't work for you," he said he told his colleagues, according to the Post interview. "You didn't hire me and you can't fire me. I work for the people of West Virginia on behalf of the United States government. That's who I have to answer to, and if this stuff doesn't make sense no matter how bad you want it, I can't vote for it." None of Biden's major accomplishments — the economic stimulus package, the infrastructure law, the climate change and health care measure, and the funding to bring manufacturing, including those of computer chips, back to the U.S. — would have passed without Manchin's vote. "Each of these victories required senators to come together from both sides of the aisle to find solutions for Americans," he said on the Senate floor earlier this month in his farewell speech. "These were bills that just made common sense. And when each side could take just a little step to find common ground, powerful things have happened." In his closing weeks as a senator, he touted funding in those bills for clean energy manufacturing in West Virginia coal communities, for a new hanger at a small West Virginia airport and for a carbon storage hub in the state. He singled out the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (Arch2), which will receive up to $925 million in federal funding for projects in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. "You can't eliminate your way to a cleaner environment, you can innovate it," Manchin said in his floor speech. "That's why we funded the development of regional hydrogen hubs and made sure one of them would be in the Appalachia region." His closing words on the Senate floor also talked about the need for lawmakers to work together, and his support for the filibuster that requires 60 votes — support from both parties — to pass legislation. But it didn't always work, he said. Popular legislation such as overhauling immigration laws and expanding background checks for guns failed, he said. "These opportunities were missed because we've let politics get in the way of doing our job," he said in his floor speech. "I am not saying that dealing with politics is easy. It's not. It's messy. I've had my share of tough votes. At times, I have felt like the whole Senate was united — in being upset with me. So sometimes I guess we did come together." Harsh words for Democrats Manchin officially left the Democratic Party in May and registered as an independent. He continued to caucus with his fellow Democrats until the end. But he's leaving office with some harsh words for the party he left behind. After all, he said, he wasn't the only person who left the Democratic Party. "The brand got so bad. The 'D' brand has been so maligned from the standpoint of — it's just — it's toxic," he said in the CNN interview. He said Democrats have been telling people what they have to believe in and what they have to do, no matter how outrageous. "The Democrat I grew up being, they wanted to make sure that people had an opportunity for a good job, a good pay," he told CNN. "I will protect you. Just don't try to mainstream it. And the Democratic Party, the Washington Democrats, have tried to mainstream the extreme. ...They have — they have basically, expanded upon thinking, well, we want to protect you there, but we're going to tell you how you should live your life." He never endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in 2024, and said the election results showed that Americans didn't want someone on the left. He said it was "nuts" and "completely insane" to say Harris lost because she wasn't progressive enough. The problem was that her liberal voting record made it hard for her to pivot to the center in the fall campaign, he said, "They're saying if Kamala would have been who she always has been, pretty far to the left, it would have been better for her. That's crazy," Manchin told CNN. "Basically, she was having a hard time trying to come back to the middle and then speak about it with any conviction. If you try to be somebody you're not, it's hard." Manchin resisted entreaties that he run for president as an independent in 2024, lest he be a spoiler. But he said there was room for a real third party. "The centrist part of both parties," he said on CNN. "So the centrist moderate vote decides who's going to be the president of the United States. And when they get here, they don't govern that way. Neither side does. They go to their respective corners. So if a centrist had a voice and had a party that could make both of these, the Democrat and Republican Party come back, OK, that would be something." Manchin told CNN that the new organization would be called the American Party, and while he wouldn't lead it, "I'll be the best cheerleader they've ever had." (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The Minnesota Vikings came out on top in an NFC North battle with the Packers which ended much closer than it should have. The Vikings were leading 27-10 with 7 minutes left in the game but they ended up squeaking out a 27-25 victory to move to 14-2 on the season. A Whole Lot Of Nothing The Minnesota Vikings defense forced a fumble on Green Bay’s first offensive drive. The Vikings offense settled for a punt that pinned the Packers deep in their territory. On the following drive, the Minnesota defense forced a 3-and-out, and the Packers punted. The Vikings were moving the ball on their next until a couple of incompletions stalled the drive. They chose to send out Will Reichard for a 57-yard field goal attempt. Unfortunately, he was just short as he hit the crossbar and missed. The Flood Gates Began To Open Green Bay’s following drive had them moving down the field with a vengeance. There was a questionable low block call on Harrison Smith to extend the drive. The Packers settled for a field goal after a goal-line stand by the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers led 3-0 with 2 minutes left in the 1st quarter. Aaron Jones got things going in the run game for the Vikings on their next offensive drive. Sam Darnold found Jordan Addison for a few completions. However, Jalen Nailor got wide-open for a 31-yard TD pass from Darnold. Reichard made the extra point and the Minnesota Vikings led 7-3 with just under 12 minutes left in the half. Minnesota Vikings Get Close To Another Touchdown But Settle for a Field Goal Darnold got big completions to Hockenson and Nailor. There was also a big pass interference call on Keisean Nixon that extended the Minnesota Vikings drive. Reichard nailed a short field goal attempt after Darnold overthrew Jefferson in the endzone. The Vikings led 10-3 with just over 2 minutes left in the first half. Packers Start Moving The Ball But Stall, Packers’ Penalty Helps Vikings Make a Field Goal The Packers were moving the ball against the Vikings until an illegal formation penalty against a Packers WR stalled the drive. The Minnesota Vikings got a huge completion from Darnold to Hockenson. Sam Darnold took a big sack that moved the Vikings out of field goal range. The Packers got an offsides penalty so the Vikings got another chance at a field goal after Reichard missed the 55-yard field goal attempt. The Packers took a timeout to try to ice Reichard but then he made the 50-yard attempt. The Vikings led 13-3 going into halftime. The Vikings’ Offense Starts the Second Half With a Quick TD Drive, and Green Bay Forces the First Turnover Darnold got completions to Nailor and Jefferson. The drive was capped off with a beautiful pass from Darnold to Addison in the endzone. The Minnesota Vikings led 20-3 with just under 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The Vikings defense made a stand and forced a 3-and-out by the Packers. Packers’ punter Whelan was only able to get a 29-yard punt to MIN-30. The pass protection failed Darnold on the next drive as he got hit hard and threw an INT to Carrington Valentine. The offense was able to take advantage of the turnover as Josh Jacobs ran it into the endzone. The Minnesota Vikings still led 20-10 with just over 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Vikings’ Offense Recovers From INT As Cam Akers Takes a Screen Pass To the House Darnold completed longer passes to Aaron Jones, Justin Jefferson, and Addison. Jones had a couple of bigger runs before the Vikings ran a screen to Cam Akers for a TD. After a successful extra point attempt by Reichard, the Vikings led 27-10 with 51 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. The Packers Move The Ball Until An Illegal Formation Penalty Stalls the Drive The Packers were able to convert on a third-down attempt and were moving down the field. The Minnesota Vikings defense came up big again and forced the Packers to punt. The Vikings started their next offensive drive hot when Darnold completed a 37-yard pass to Jefferson. However, their drive ultimately stalled out after a run for loss by Ty Chandler and an incomplete pass from Darnold that was intended for Jefferson. The Minnesota Vikings settled for another field goal attempt, this one being from 43 yards out. Unfortunately, Reichard missed just enough to hit the left upright and the ball bounced away from the uprights. The Packers Take Advantage Of Missed Field Goal, Get Their Second TD Of Game The Packers started their next drive at their 33-yard line. After a sack by Blake Cashman, it looked like the Minnesota Vikings were ready to close out the game and have an easy double-digit victory. However, that could not be further from the truth as Jordan Love completed consecutive passes to Bo Melton and Tyler Kraft. This moved them down to the 19-yard line and Josh Jacobs ran it into the endzone for a touchdown. Fortunately for the Vikings, there was an offensive holding penalty called against the Packers and the points were taken off of the board. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Packers continued moving the ball down the field and found the endzone. This time it was Emanuel Wilson who found paydirt for the Packers. They chose to go for two and their attempt was successful due to the pass from Love to Romeo Doubs. The Minnesota Vikings still led at this point but it was only 27-18 with just over 6 minutes left in the contest. Packers Continue Their Comeback Efforts, But Come Up Short Green Bay’s next drive started well enough for the Minnesota Vikings in that Dallas Turner was able to corral Love for a sack. Love had a couple of connections to Doubs before ultimately connecting with Malik Heath for a touchdown. They were successful on the point after attempt and the score was 27-25 with the Minnesota Vikings hanging on by a thread. The Vikings successfully ran out the clock with a couple of passes, a run by Akers, a pass to Akers, and Darnold knelt the ball three times to get the clock to hit triple zeroes. Final Thoughts The Minnesota Vikings came out on top and the Vikings and Lions will be playing for the NFC North crown in next week’s matchup. They will be playing at Ford Field on either the 4th or 5th of January. The 272 game of the regular season will determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC. This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent roughly 22 months in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia. He left and returned to the tiny town many times as he climbed to the nation’s highest office and lost it after four tumultuous years. Carter spent the next 40 years setting new standards for what a former president can do. Carter wrote nearly a decade ago that he found all the phases of his life challenging but also successful and enjoyable. The Democrat's principled but pragmatic approach defied American political labels, especially the idea that one-term presidents are failures. The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100 Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. He left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter: A brief bio Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes more than a year after the former president entered hospice care. He was 100 years old. Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD.
Several times following New England’s 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said he wanted to review the game film before making a final assessment of his team’s performance. He did, and on Monday he said the overarching feeling he was left with was one of pride. Going toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the NFL is commendable. Mayo also remains confident this group has even more room for growth over its final two games this season. “To be frank, I don’t believe in good losses,” Mayo said. “I think there’s a lot to learn from the game. Look, we’re headed in the right direction, but it’s all about consistency, and we have to do that on a down-after-down, a game-after-game basis to be successful in this league.” What is also clear is that despite their 3-12 record, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye wants people to know that he and his teammates believe in their coach. No matter what conversations might be going on outside the Patriots locker room regarding shortcomings by the coaching staff, or Mayo’s job status. “We’ve got his back, and he’s coached us hard. He wants to win. We all want to win. We’re all frustrated,” Maye said. “We’re just plays away, and it’s basically me turning the ball over. I think it’s just a testament to these guys that keep fighting. We keep fighting. Shoot, we’re not going to make the playoffs; we’re out of the race, and these guys are coming in, frustrated when we don’t score. ... So, I think we’re building something good, building something that feels right here, and I’m proud to be a Patriot.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Meezan Bank, Arif Habib Limited launch instant top-up service for investors
MINNEAPOLIS -- More than 100 people were waiting in the Minnesota Vikings locker room Sunday evening for one man. Sam Darnold was conducting a pair of on-field interviews after his team's 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers , and no one -- owners, coaches, players, front office staff members -- wanted to begin the celebration without him. So they waited for Darnold to speak with Fox Sports reporter Tom Rinaldi. Then they waited a few more minutes while Fox Sports analyst Tom Brady awarded Darnold his "LFG" trophy for the game. "We felt like we waited for a long time," coach Kevin O'Connell said. In the meantime, linebacker Jonathan Greenard launched a plan to commemorate Darnold's eventual arrival. They mobbed him as he ran through the door , pouring what linebacker Blake Cashman called "a waterfall of water" over him and eventually lifted him onto their shoulders -- all to honor a season that has the Vikings headed to their biggest regular-season game in recent memory. Editor's Picks Judging overreactions to Week 17: The Giants lost by winning, and the Chiefs might want to lose next week 2h Dan Graziano After loss, Packers eye new narrative vs. top teams 55m Rob Demovsky Week 17 lingering questions and big performances -- including the Vikings' big win and Saquon Barkley's milestone 59m NFL Nation Darnold smiled throughout his postgame news conference with local reporters, even offering a rare glimpse of his personality by referencing the movie "Talladega Nights." "It was mayhem," Darnold said. "I think I blacked out when [players] grabbed me and lifted me up. I didn't know what to do with my hands in that situation, Ricky Bobby-style. That was an interesting moment but a fun moment to be embraced by your teammates like that." The Vikings are now set for a winner-take-all Week 18 game at the Detroit Lions to determine both the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. None of it would have been possible without Darnold, who signed a one-year contract in March to serve as a short-term starter until rookie J.J. McCarthy was ready to take over. McCarthy's season-ending knee injury left Darnold to start all 16 of the Vikings' games. He has won 14, breaking the NFL record for most victories by a quarterback in his first season with a team. His season-high 377 passing yards pushed him to the first 4,000-yard season of his career, and his three touchdown passes Sunday gave him 35 for the season, the fourth-most in NFL history for a quarterback in his first season with a team. "He's playing quarterback at a very, very high level," O'Connell said, "and has been for the majority of the season. You can tell by the locker room. You can tell by the way I call plays. I know for us to get to where we want to go, we've got to be aggressive, and we've got to play football in a way that allows us to have our whole offense at our disposal." Indeed, O'Connell once again relied on Darnold to execute his unconventional but now unsurprising approach to finishing close games. As the Packers cut a 17-point deficit to two points in the fourth quarter, O'Connell did not simply rely on his running game to take time off the clock and/or force the Packers to use their timeouts. Instead, in their final two possessions, Darnold threw on six of the Vikings' seven plays before kneeling down on the final three. Darnold completed four of those passes for 46 yards, including a 6-yard floater to running back Cam Akers on third-and-2 -- which Akers caught inches from the ground -- to seal the game. "When guys are packing the box trying to stop the run, I know that [O'Connell] is going to be aggressive if that's the case," Darnold said. "Obviously, there's been times throughout the course of the season where we have tried to run it. So it's not always going to be that way. But whenever he does call a pass in that situation, I'm always prepared for it, and I feel like our guys did a really good job of executing that." As the locker room cleared out about 30 minutes later, Akers was one of the last players remaining. He was still grinning about what he called an "electric" moment. "He deserves that," Akers said. "He's put in a lot of work to be here, and we're all behind him -- the players and the staff."
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — This isn’t a week when coach Todd Bowles feels he needs to find the right words to ensure his Tampa Bay Buccaneers are motivated to face the last-place Carolina Panthers. The Bucs (8-7) have won eight of the last nine meetings between the NFC South rivals, including the past three with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. It hasn’t exactly been smoothly sailing against the Panthers (4-11), though, for the three-time defending division champions. And, with at least a share of first place on the line Sunday, Bowles and his players say they are focused solely on rebounding from last week’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys. “We know it’s going to be a tough ballgame. It went overtime last time. They’re coached very well; they play very hard,” Bowles said, referencing Tampa Bay’s 26-23 win at Carolina on Dec. 1. “We know what’s at stake for us. It doesn’t need to be talked about. Everybody understands that,” Bowles added. “We’ve got to clean up our own mistakes, and we’ve got to play an error-free football game.” The Bucs are tied with Atlanta for the best record in the NFC South, however the Falcons (8-7) hold the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. To claim a fourth straight division title, Tampa Bay needs to win remaining home games against the Panthers and New Orleans Saints while Atlanta loses at least once in the last two weeks of the regular season. If the Falcons hold on to win the South, the Bucs can earn a wild-card playoff berth if they win out and the Washington Commanders lose twice. Mayfield, who has resurrected his career since being released by Carolina two years ago, summed up the attitude in a resilient locker room. The Bucs have won four of five games following a four-game losing streak threatened their playoff hopes. “I keep saying it, this team has the mental makeup of a great team. We just have to continue to fight and find ways to win,” the quarterback said. “If we don’t take of business, we won’t be in the playoffs.” Chuba’s revenge Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard cost his team the game four weeks ago against Tampa Bay when he fumbled on the second possession of overtime just after Carolina had reached field goal range. Mayfield responded by leading the Bucs back down the field for the winning field goal. The loss was devastating for Hubbard at the time, but he promised himself when the opportunity arose again he’d make the most of it. He did that this past Sunday, when he carried twice for 49 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown run in which he broke two tackles, in overtime to lift the Panthers to a 36-30 win over Arizona, knocking the Cardinals out of the playoff hunt. “I’d let it go, but it’s definitely been in the back of my head a little bit,” Hubbard said. “Like I said, when the next opportunity came, I told myself I’m going to get it back for them. To be able to have them trust me in that opportunity again, and to have it in that way is a blessing from God.” Young’s development Bryce Young has shown solid progress in his decision making, particularly when the pocket begins to break down. Last week, the second-year QB ran for a career-best 68 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown. Young was benched after two games this season, but since returning to the lineup has played better, restoring some faith that perhaps the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 can be the team’s quarterback of the future. “Just time in the system and time as a team for us to come together,” Young said of why he has improved. “For me, being able to get reps, and get time with everyone. It’s just all of us being able to feed off of each other, and it’s been able to allow us to turn in the right direction.” Awful vs. the run The Panthers have been abysmal against the run, allowing nearly 200 yards per game on the ground over the last seven games. In the last meeting with Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving ran for a career-high 152 yards and a touchdown, so Carolina’s defense has a good idea of what's coming Sunday. Close calls Mayfield has beaten Carolina three times since joining the Bucs in 2023. All of the meetings have been close, though, with the Panthers losing twice by three points and Tampa Bay settling for three field goals in a 9-0 regular season-ending victory that clinched its third straight NFC South championship last January. “We know them well. They know us well,” Mayfield said. AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
A Virginia zoo is celebrating the arrival of an adorable newborn pygmy hippo who made her debut just before Christmas. The baby hippo, a girl who has not yet been named, was born to parents Iris and Corwin at Metro Richmond Zoo on Dec. 9. She's their third female calf in under five years. The zoo said Iris was all smiles on Christmas morning. "Most people don't get a hippopotamus for Christmas at all, so we feel lucky to have received two over the years," the zoo said. Iris and Corwin's previous calf was born on Dec. 6, 2022. Iris delivered her latest newborn after a seven-month gestation, zoo officials said. She gave birth in an indoor pool. "The baby's natural instincts kicked in and she started moving around in the water immediately," the zoo said on its website. The mom and newborn are currently being kept in an enclosure that is not on exhibit to give them privacy while they bond. "Iris is an experienced mother and very protective of her calf," the zoo said. "The calf is nursing and growing quickly." The new pygmy hippo was weighed when she was 5 days old and came in at a healthy 15 pounds, the zoo said. She could grow to weigh up to 600 pounds. Her birth will help preserve the species, which is endangered. Fewer than 2,500 mature pygmy hippos remain in the wild, according to the zoo. The species is native to the swamps and rivers of West Africa, where it's threatened by poaching and loss of habitat. Pygmy hippos do not live in groups, so after they grew up, Iris' two previous calves were moved to other zoological facilities "to live with future mates and continue contributing to the conservation of their species," the zoo said. The species is nocturnal, and the zoo says they can live up to 55 years. Earlier this year, a newborn baby hippo in Thailand named Moo Deng became a global sensation when a zookeeper started sharing her cutest moments on social media. Aliza Chasan is a Digital Content Producer for "60 Minutes" and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.MORRISTOWN, N.J. , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. ("AWH," or the "Company" or "Ascend") AAWH AAWH , a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis, today announced it has received authorization from the Company's Board of Directors to commence a share buyback program ("Buyback Program"). Pursuant to a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") commencing on January 2, 2025 , the Company may repurchase up to the lesser of: (i) 10,215,690 shares of the Company's class A common stock ("Common Shares"), representing approximately 5.0% of AWH's outstanding Common Shares; and (ii) US$2.25 million worth of Common Shares, in the open market. As of December 24, 2024 , there were a total of 204,313,808 issued and outstanding Common Shares. "With the initiation of this share buyback program, we are taking another meaningful step to continue to create shareholder value," said Sam Brill , Chief Executive Officer. "Our prior share repurchase, together with the recent open market purchases by members of our board of directors, demonstrate our strong confidence in our strategy and our commitment to driving returns for our investors. With our strong foundation and the impact of our ongoing initiatives, we are excited about the opportunities the new year will bring." Common Shares may be purchased on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"), the OTCQX, or alternative trading systems, subject to applicable legal, regulatory and contractual requirements. All purchases made will be through the selected purchasing member, ATB Securities Inc. The total number of Common Shares purchased, timing of purchases, and share price are dependent upon market conditions and business considerations, any applicable securities law requirements, CSE rules and any determination of best use of cash available at the time. Any Common Shares purchased will be cancelled. The Buyback program will expire on January 1, 2026 , and may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason. While the Company intends to proceed with the Buyback Program, it is under no obligation to purchase any Common Shares for the duration of the Buyback Program. About Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. AWH is a vertically integrated operator with assets in Illinois , Maryland , Massachusetts , Michigan , Ohio , New Jersey , and Pennsylvania . AWH owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Common Goods, Simply Herb, Ozone, Effin', and Royale branded products. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, "forward-looking statements"), which may include, but are not limited to, the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Words such as "expects", "does not expect", "is expected", "continue", "will", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, all statements in this press release relating to the proposed NCIB, the commencement date thereof, the number of Common Shares, if any, that may be purchased pursuant to the NCIB, improving the Company's profitability, maximizing the Company's asset efficiency, and enhancing the Company's cash flow generation to drive substantial shareholder value are forward-looking statements. We caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of the experience of the Company and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate. Forward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements herein. Such factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in the Company's other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators on its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and with the SEC on its profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov . In respect of the forward-looking statements, the Company has provided such statements and information in reliance on certain assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable at this time. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties, should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking statements and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking statements could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this news release. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-share-buyback-program-302339778.html SOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
A THIEVING fox took a hairdresser’s lost mobile phone and buried it in a neighbour’s garden. The sly critter pounced after Helen Price unwittingly dropped her iPhone as she got out of her car. It carried the handset down the road and buried it ten inches down among the shrubbery. For two days, mum-of-one Helen, 59, was hunting high and low, even calling her hairdressing clients to see if they had it. Eventually, she used her Find My iPhone feature to trace it. She said: “The ground was vibrating whenever I called. READ MORE ON ANIMALS "I could see the soil was fresh so I started digging with my hands. “The leather case was chewed and the attached lanyard ripped apart. It must have been stolen and buried by a fox.” When Helen wrote about it on social media , neighbours replied with their tales of the robber reynard — blaming it for running off with dog harnesses, toys and even shoes. Helen said: “It’s a right hoodlum.” Most read in The Sun
Fluor FLR has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 8.46% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 21.53%. Currently, Fluor has a market capitalization of $8.59 billion. Buying $1000 In FLR: If an investor had bought $1000 of FLR stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,708.87 today based on a price of $50.06 for FLR at the time of writing. Fluor's Performance Over Last 5 Years Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Trump asks US Supreme Court to pause law threatening TikTok ban
Knife-wielding man shot by police in BrisbaneJIMMY Carter was known as an honest, decent and loving family man who maintained a 77 year marriage as well as making a large family. Following the tragic death of Jimmy here is all we know about his four children and the ever-growing brood of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Who are Jimmy Carter's children? Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who died at age 96, had four children together. Rosalynn's death was announced in November 2023, following a dementia diagnosis earlier the same year - just over a year before Jimmy also died. Their three sons; Jack, Donnel, and James, were all grown by the time Carter became president in 1977. However, his youngest child, Amy, spent part of her childhood in the White House. Read More on Jimmy Carter Jack Carter - a businessman and politician - is Carter's eldest son. He was the 2006 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Nevada, before losing to the Republican incumbent. Jack has two children, Jason and Sarah from his marriage to his first wife Juliet “Judy” Langford Carter. According to reports from Country Living , Jack later separated from Judy, and married his second wife, Elizabeth Brasfield, in 1992. Most read in The US Sun With Elizabeth, Jack has two stepchildren, film director John Chuldenko and painter Sarah Reynolds. According to Business Insider , Jeff cofounded Computer Mapping Consultants in 1978. The former computer-mapping company became a consultancy for the World Bank in 1978. Jeff has three sons - Jeremy, Joshua, and James Carter. According to the 2016 book First Dads, Chip, has worked as a political consultant for hundreds of campaigns for Democratic candidates. He has married three times and is reportedly still with his third wife, Becky Payne. James Carter IV, his son with first wife Caron Griffin, made headlines during the 2012 presidential election when he helped to leak damning footage of Nominee Mitt Romney. Chip also has a daughter, Margaret Alicia Carter, who he shares with ex-wife Ginger Hodges. Chip confirmed his dad's death with a touching statement. It read: "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights , and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Amy Carter was just nine years old when her father entered office, making her the only Carter child to grow up in the White House. She was the subject of much media attention, as the first child to live in the White House since John F. Kennedy’s presidency. Amy later became known for her political activism, participating in sit-ins and protests during the 1980s and early 1990s. The youngest Carter child lives in the Atlanta area, with her husband James, and their son, Hugo. Who are Jimmy Carter's grandchildren? Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter reportedly had 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren by the time of both of their deaths. In a 2015 interview with CNN, Jimmy said: “We have a big family now. “So, we try to hold our family together and just enjoy the family life.” READ MORE SUN STORIES Of the couple’s four children, Jack has two kids and three stepchildren, Jeff has three children, Chip has two, and Amy has one. The Carters’ 11 children and stepchildren have 11 children of their own, meaning Jimmy and Rosalynn have 11 great-grandchildren.