BOZEMAN — The No. 1-seeded Montana State football team rolled to a 49-17 victory over UT Martin in a second-round FCS playoff game Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats improved to 13-0 for their first 13-win season in program history. MSU got going early with a 14-yard carry and a 5-yard catch by wide receiver Ty McCullouch. Quarterback Tommy Mellott scrambled for another 25 yards, and Mellott later found tight end Hunter Provience wide open for the 24-yard touchdown. Provience’s first career score made it 7-0 MSU. QUICK STRIKE 🎯 @HProvience x @Tommy_Mellott #BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/ZSlm3V4PFV Both teams traded punts. The Bobcats continued to pressure UTM QB Kinkead Dent, with linebacker McCade O’Reilly and defensive back Tayden Gray nearly picking off passes. Meanwhile, MSU’s offense stalled out on its next two possessions. After a third-down stop by safety Rylan Ortt and cornerback Simeon Woodard to force another UTM punt, MSU finally got back on track. Running back Scottre Humphrey broke off a 30-yard run and a face mask penalty on UTM was added to the end of the run. Mellott then threw a dime to WR Taco Dowler over multiple defenders in the back of the end zone. MSU led 14-0. Just an absurd throw 😵💫😵💫 @Tommy_Mellott x @DowlerTaco #BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/H7n3f6HdwX The Bobcats added to the lead on their next drive. TE Ryan Lonergan got MSU to midfield on a 32-yard catch and run. McCullouch tried another designed pass — this time more of a wobbler than a tight spiral — intended for Dowler, which came up short. But UTM was called for pass interference. McCullouch later scored on a 6-yard jet sweep. TOUCHDOWN TY ✌️⚡️ 🖥️ ESPN+ @tym4_ | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/kWRCwz0kjp The Skyhawks converted a fourth-and-3 and a third-and-1 to get inside the MSU 25-yard line for the first time. Ortt tackled UTM RB Patrick Smith short on a third-and-6 — the safety’s third stop on third down in the first half. UTM got on the board with a 37-yard field goal. UTM’s Keyshawn Johnson sacked Mellott on a third-and-8 — the 10th sack MSU has allowed all season — to force a punt. After a sack by MSU defensive end Kenneth Eiden IV and a 3-yard run by Dent, UTM faced a third-and-12 on its own 22. MSU called a timeout with 2 minutes, 13 seconds left in the first half. On the next play, though, Dent fired a deep pass to Trevonte Rucker, who was wide open around midfield. Rucker out-ran multiple defenders en route to the end zone. That was the longest play from scrimmage MSU’s defense has allowed since Sept. 24, 2022, against Eastern Washington (80-yard TD catch). Check out this big throw from Kinkead Dent to Trevonte Rucker as the Skyhawk tandem connected for a 78-yard touchdown! #MartinMade | #OVCit pic.twitter.com/Qn0CKys1HK That score made it 21-10 MSU. An immediate answer from the Bobcats followed. Mellott hit Dowler on a 21-yard pass. A few plays later, Mellott connected with McCullouch on a 39-yard TD pass. UTM’s JaMichael McGoy fell down in coverage, leading McCullouch wide open and giving MSU a 28-10 lead. Tommy Bomb to Ty 💣🎯 @Tommy_Mellott x @tym4_ 🖥️ ESPN+ | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/zZBCuWYYVS That play was the eighth TD McCullouch has accounted for this season (five receiving, two rushing, one passing). At halftime, MSU led 28-10 and out-gained UTM 290-178 in total yards. Mellott was 14 of 17 for 178 yards and three TDs. McCullouch had 71 all-purpose yards (51 receiving, 20 rushing) and two TDs. UTM was forced to punt on the opening drive of the second half, which was returned by Dowler 40 yards to the UTM 37. Two plays later, Humphrey scored on a 36-yard TD run to put MSU up 35-10. That gave Humphrey his 14th rushing TD of the year. . @ScottreHumphrey is a bad, bad man 😈 🖥️ESPN+ #BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/ESroVvgI1c Mellott later connected with Lonergan again, this time on a 48-yard catch and run. Three plays later, Dowler took a screen pass 29 yards for his second receiving TD of the game. That also gave Mellott four passing TDs for the second time in his career, previously doing so against Northern Colorado on Oct. 5. TACO TOUCHDOWN 🌮 (playoff edition) 🖥️ ESPN+ | @DowlerTaco pic.twitter.com/N2eNHQMSJe On the next MSU drive, Mellott set a new career high for passing yards in a game on an 8-yard throw to WR Aidan Garrigan. Mellott finished with 300 passing yards, and also later set a new career-high in single-game completions with 22. OH. MY. @AJonessy SPIN CYCLE 🌀🌀 🖥️ ESPN+ | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/yvvPMI7cUp RB Adam Jones added a 30-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to put MSU up 49-10. Dent later found Rucker for a 4-yard TD catch. MSU will next host the winner of No. 8 seed Idaho and Lehigh in the FCS quarterfinals on either Dec. 13 or 14. This story will be updated. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Just over six months from its full release, XDefiant is now confirmed to be shutting down. Executive Producer Mark Rubin confirmed the news on X (formerly Twitter), announcing servers will close on June 3, 2025. After weeks of speculation regarding player count and ongoing support , XDefiant is officially on its way out. Support for Ubiosft’s FPS is being tapered off in the coming months, with refunds being offered for any players who purchased premium bundles in the past 30 days. New downloads of the game will no longer be available, meaning only players with the game installed can continue grinding if they so choose. Season 3 will still roll out as planned, though no new content is prepared for the period beyond that. Hello XDefiant Fans, I am unfortunately here today to announce that XDefiant will be shutting down. Starting today (December 3, 2024), new downloads and player registrations will no longer be available. We will still release our Season 3 content in the near future (exact date... “We regret to inform you that we are initiating the sunset process starting today,” a Ubisoft blog post outlined shortly after on December 3, 2024. While the game will remain playable through to June 3, 2025, no new players will be able to download the game and join in. Meanwhile, any player who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack , the most expensive cosmetic pack at launch, priced at $69.99 USD, will be issued a full refund. On top of that, any players who purchased digital currency or Season Passes in the last 30 days will also be fully refunded. Acknowledging the game’s progress, Rubin expressed how proud he was of the development team for sticking to their guns. “[XDefiant] broke internal records for the fastest game to surpass 5 million users and in the end we had over 15 million players play our game,” he claimed on X. Related: Of course, news of XDefiant’s demise comes just weeks after the most recent update from Rubin , who argued the game wasn’t going away anytime soon. “There are no plans to shut down after Season 4,” he claimed just weeks prior on October 16. While admitting at the time, that “numbers [were] down,” Rubin remained adamant about long-term support for the FPS. At this stage, leakers had already unearthed all sorts of planned content , including crossovers with the likes of Assassin’s Creed, Splinter Cell, and more. On the back of XDefiant’s end, Ubisoft studios around the globe have been impacted. Up to 277 employees are reportedly being laid off as Ubisoft closes its San Francisco and Osaka offices and ramps down its Sydney office too. Half of the remaining XDefiant team will be transitioned onto other projects, according to insider Stephen Totilo . XDefiant was initially touted as a rival to Activision’s FPS juggernaut Call of Duty. Employing a number of former CoD developers and professional players alike, open communication was at the forefront of it all. Built from the ground up as a free-to-play FPS, it had a turbulent development with multiple delays on the path to its early 2024 release. When the full game finally landed, it did so with a wide range of bugs and performance issues, but nonetheless struck a chord with a smaller audience. In the months that followed, new content drops added Factions, maps, weapons, and expanded progression systems, while frequent updates continued to iron out the early kinks ranging from netcode problems to overpowered abilities (looking at you Spiderbot). By the time servers close, XDefiant will have been live for a total of 378 days.Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler to retain Players Championship Finals title
Roy Keane caught up in heated confrontation with Ipswich supporter moments after Man Utd clash
Trump says US shouldn't intervene in Syria as opposition forces gain ground
Judge denies Musk $56 billion Tesla compensation packageWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a red-state constitutional challenge to California’s special authority to fight air pollution. Over a dissent by Justice Clarence Thomas, the justices turned away an appeal from Ohio and 16 other conservative states, which asked the court to rule “the Golden State is not a golden child.” While Monday’s brief order closes the door on a constitutional challenge to California’s anti-pollution standards, the court on Friday cleared the way for a different, more targeted legal challenge. The oil and gas industry is suing over the state’s “zero emissions” goals for new vehicles, arguing California’s special authority to fight air pollution does not extend to greenhouse gases and global warming. A lower court had dismissed that suit on the grounds the oil producers had no standing to sue. Their complaint was they would sell less fuel in the future. On Friday, the justices agreed to reconsider that ruling early next year. They could clear the way for the suit to proceed. Monday’s related order narrows the legal grounds that the industry can use to challenge California’s rule, assuming it eventually wins standing. The incoming Trump administration is likely to intervene on the side of the challengers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar had urged the court to turn down both appeals. They said California’s strict emissions standards are designed to fight smog and other air pollution as well as greenhouse gases. They argued that Congress had ample authority under the Constitution to set special rules for problems in different states. Since early in American history, they said Congress approved special customs duties for some states or rules involving tribe relations. In challenging California’s authority, Ohio’s Attorney General, David Yost, pointed to the court’s 2013 decision that struck down part of the Voting Rights Act on the grounds it violated the principle of equal state sovereignty. When Congress adopted national air pollution standards in 1967, it said California could go further because it was already enforcing strict standards to combat the state’s worst-in-the-nation problem with smog. Ohio and red states say this special authority violates “core constitutional principles because no state is more equal than the others. And Congress does not have the general power to elevate one state above the others. ... Yet in the Clean Air Act, Congress elevated California above all the other states by giving to the Golden State alone the power to pass certain environmental laws.” Without commenting, the justices said they would not hear the constitutional claim. The Environmental Defense Fund hailed the court’s announcement. “California’s clean car standards have successfully helped reduce the dangerous soot, smog, and climate pollution that put all people at risk, while also turbocharging clean technologies and job creation,” said Alice Henderson, lead counsel for the fund’s clean-air policy group.State of Oklahoma OMES Takes a Whole-of-State Approach
Maryland's senators are reportedly looking to barter their approval of the Washington Commanders leaving Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, in exchange for one of D.C.'s Air National Guard squadrons heading back their way. Washington, D.C., leaders want to redevelop the defunct Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, located along the banks of the Anacostia River, so that the Washington Commanders will return to playing their home games in Washington. They have been searching for a new home for years, but new developments have revealed just how far recent discussions have gone. Owner Josh Harris, who only bought the team in July 2023, has called Washington, D.C., the top choice for the Commanders over Virginia and Maryland. Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have spoken with top congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), according to the Washington Post. Schumer reportedly told Goodell and Harris they needed to “solve [the problem] with the Maryland senators,” a source familiar with the matter told the outlet. The land that RFK Stadium resides on belongs to the federal government, so redeveloping the stadium requires congressional approval. The bill, which would authorize the stadium's redevelopment, passed the House and moved from a Senate committee with bipartisan support, but with the congressional session quickly coming to a close, the bill’s supporters lobbied for the bill to be attached to the National Defense Authorization Act, which must be passed this year. Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have said they would only vote in favor of the RFK provision in exchange for the D.C. Air National Guard giving Maryland one of its squadrons. In a statement, Cardin and Van Hollen said it would not be fair for the federal government to take land away for free, which would give Washington an advantage in acquiring the Commanders’s home games. “It’s not in the best interest of federal taxpayers, and good-faith negotiations should be on a level playing field,” the senators said in a statement. “We will continue pressing for a fair process and direct engagement between Maryland and the Commanders.” The RFK Stadium deal's passage would not guarantee the district gains control of the team's stadium, but it would expedite the ability for redevelopment plans and negotiations with the Commanders. The push for Maryland to acquire one of the D.C. Air National Guard’s air squadrons came after the U.S. Air Force decided in March that it would end Maryland’s flying mission upon the retirement of 21 aging planes. In exchange, the state would receive a ground unit with cyber responsibilities if approved by Congress. The plan would not allow for the state to retain experienced pilots in its guard. In April, the state’s congressional leaders called for Washington, D.C., to give Maryland control of D.C.’s 121st squadron, according to the outlet. This suggestion generated strong opposition from Washington, D.C., leaders, with Democratic D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton writing in a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall that this would “gut” D.C. Air National Guard. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER “Transfer would leave the DCNG with no aviation units, forcing it to be reliant on the goodwill of other National Guards for common aviation matters that arise in D.C., such as intercepting aircraft, patrolling the skies, and rescuing or evacuating people in emergencies,” Norton said in a statement on Tuesday. “While D.C. could request assistance from other National Guards, there is no guarantee the air assets would be provided in a timely manner — or at all.” Meanwhile, revamping the vacant stadium has been on District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser’s radar for quite some time. Findings from a study she commissioned revealed that reopening RFK could result in 2,095 new jobs per year and $1.26 billion in annual revenue.
Journalist Allison Pearson said she felt “bullied and threatened”, after a visit from Essex Police during a since-dropped investigation into a social media post by her. The Daily Telegraph columnist told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme the home visit was not "standard practice" and was "absolutely unacceptable". Essex Police says officers paid Pearson a visit on 10 November to arrange an interview as part of an investigation into alleged incitement to racial hatred, following a complaint from a member of the public. The force has previously defended its actions. On Thursday i t announced it had dropped the investigation and there will be an independent review into their handling of the matter. The BBC has contacted Essex Police for a response to Pearson's latest comments. "It is not standard practice to turn up on someone’s doorstep when there is such a minor charge," Pearson told the BBC on Friday. She added: "Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader and many other people in the law, in politics, in normal walks of life, have said that is totally outrageous." "We have shown that tweet to many King's Counsels, to a former solicitor general, to two former home secretaries and to indeed, two very senior police officers - each one of them has said it does not come near to approaching the threshold for any kind of investigation." Pearson publicised the visit from police in an article she wrote in the Telegraph, in which she claimed she was told by the police who came to her home it was over a “non-crime hate incident”, but was not told which post it was about. The force said body cam footage of the incident did not show its officers tell her the report being investigated was being treated as a "non-crime hate incident". A non-crime hate incident is where no criminal offence has been committed but the person reporting it believes the incident to be motivated by hostility. Essex Police defended its actions at the time, and said the officer stated that the complaint had "gone down as an incident or offence of potentially inciting racial hatred online". But Pearson told the BBC the tweet did not warrant a home visit. "They are under no obligation for such a small tweet to come to a person’s house, and make them frightened, and I have had almost 10 days of real dread and tears and fear, and that is not acceptable." She said "anyone can make an allegation and have it taken seriously", adding the force has "thousands" of similar complaints, but does not investigate them all. "This was wholly disproportionate... Why did Essex Police escalate it with me?" she asked. The BBC has seen the now-deleted post the police complaint related to. It dates from 16 November 2023 and shows an image of two police officers standing next to two men holding what appears to be a flag of the Pakistani political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The post tags the Metropolitan Police alongside the words “how dare they”. It adds: “Invited to pose for a photo with lovely peaceful British Friends of Israel on Saturday police refused. Look at this lot smiling with the Jew haters.” X added a notice to the post stating that the image was taken in Manchester, not London, and that it is “not related to Palestine”. Pearson said she did not think her tweet was wrong, and added: "I won’t censor myself but I will be more watchful in the future." In a previous statement, Essex Police said officers “went to a residential address to arrange a time to do an interview with a woman about a complaint made by a member of the public”. An Essex Police spokesperson previously said the force "investigate crimes reported to us without fear or favour". "We’re sometimes faced with allegations of crime where people have strong opposing views. That’s why we work so hard to remain impartial and to investigate allegations, regardless of where they might lead." A number of political figures came out in support of Pearson, including shadow home secretary Chris Philp and former prime minister Boris Johnson - sparking a debate around free speech. Responding to the debate, Essex Police previously said it supports free speech but "it does not support inaccuracy". "If an alleged crime is reported, it is investigated. There is no public interest in falsehood." The National Police Chiefs Council's hate crime lead has been asked to carry out an independent review of the force's handling of the matter. Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said it was "important the public have confidence in their police service". "This investigation has caused significant distress for Ms Pearson and a large amount of public concern," he said. "It has raised a number of important questions that need to be addressed so all of us can be confident the police are acting properly."Two charged in connection with Iran drone strike that killed 3 US troops in the Middle East
UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced that on December 2, 2024 the Company granted restricted stock units (RSUs) representing 18,600 shares of its common stock to one newly-hired non-executive employee. The grant was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors and granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated Inducement Equity Plan as an inducement material to the new employee entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The RSUs will vest over four years, with 25% of the shares underlying each RSU award vesting on each anniversary of the grant date, subject to the employee being continuously employed by the Company through each vesting date. About Fate Therapeutics, Inc. Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Using its proprietary iPSC product platform, the Company has established a leadership position in creating multiplexed-engineered iPSC lines and in the manufacture and clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell products. The Company’s pipeline includes iPSC-derived natural killer (NK) cell and T-cell product candidates, which are selectively designed, incorporate novel synthetic controls of cell function, and are intended to deliver multiple therapeutic mechanisms to patients. Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.fatetherapeutics.com . Contact: Christina Tartaglia Precision AQ 212.362.1200 christina.tartaglia@precisionaq.com
Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive acceleratesAppeals court rules US can deport illegal immigrants despite local objections in win for incoming Trump adminArizona State, Boise State clinch CFP bids as clarity emerges in Pac-12 bowl selection process
Kyiv: Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro on Thursday in response to the US and UK allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons , in a further escalation of the 33-month-old war. The weapon contained multiple independent warheads, a key design feature of many nuclear weapons. In this screen grab from a video provided by the Come Back Alive Foundation, lights are seen in the sky during a Russian attack on Dnipro, Ukraine. Credit: AP Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address, said Moscow struck a Ukrainian military facility with a new ballistic missile known as Oreshnik (“the hazel”) and warned that more could follow. “A regional conflict in Ukraine previously provoked by the West has acquired elements of a global character,” Putin said in an address to the nation carried by state television after 8pm Moscow time (0400 Friday AEDT). A US official said Washington was pre-notified by Russia shortly before its strike, while another said they had briefed Kyiv and other close allies in recent days to prepare for the possible use of such a weapon. Earlier on Thursday, Kyiv said that Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM ), a weapon designed for long-distance nuclear strikes and never before used in war, though US officials said it was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that has a smaller range. Putin addresses the nation from the Kremlin in Moscow. Credit: AP Regardless of its classification, the latest strike highlighted rapidly rising tensions in the past several days. Ukraine fired US and British missiles at targets inside Russia this week despite warnings by Moscow that it would see such action as a major escalation. “Today, there was a new Russian missile. All the characteristics – speed, altitude – are (of an) intercontinental ballistic (missile). An expert investigation is currently under way,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video statement. Rescue workers put out a fire of a burning house damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine. Credit: AP Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry urged the international community to react swiftly to the use of what it said was “the use by Russia of a new type of weaponry”. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russia likely possesses a handful of the “experimental” IRBMs used in Thursday’s strike. Ukraine’s air force said the missile targeted Dnipro in central-eastern Ukraine and was fired from the Russian region of Astrakhan, more than 700 kilometres away. It did not specify what kind of warhead the missile was carrying, and there was no suggestion it was nuclear-armed. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles have a range of 3000 – 5500 kilometres. “Whether it was an ICBM or an IRBM, the range isn’t the important factor,” said Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at Oslo University specialising in missile technology and nuclear strategy. “The fact that it carried a MIRV-ed (Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle) payload is much more significant for signalling purposes and is the reason Russia opted for it. This payload is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles.” Russia also fired a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles at Dnipro, targeting enterprises and critical infrastructure, six of which were shot down, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Dnipro was a missile-making centre in the Soviet era. Ukraine has expanded its military industry during the war but has kept its whereabouts secret. The air force did not say what the missile targeted or whether it had caused any damage, but regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said the attack damaged an industrial enterprise and set off fires the city. Two people were hurt. Ukrainska Pravda , a Kyiv-based media outlet, had cited anonymous sources saying the missile was an RS-26 Rubezh, a solid-fuelled ICBM with a range of 5,800 kilometres, according to the Arms Control Association. A group of glowing projectiles could be seen plummeting to the ground from the night sky in a video published by Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian military charity. It said the video was of Dnipro overnight. The NATO military alliance did not respond to a request for comment. The US European Command said it had nothing on the reported use of an ICBM and referred questions to the US Department of Defence. Act of deterrence Some military experts said the missile launch if confirmed, could be seen as an act of deterrence by Moscow following Kyiv’s strikes into Russia with Western weapons this week. Russian war correspondents on Telegram and an official speaking on condition of anonymity said Kyiv fired British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine on Wednesday. Russia’s Defence Ministry, in its daily report of events over the previous 24 hours on Thursday, said air defences had shot down two British Storm Shadow cruise missiles but did not say where. Britain had previously let Ukraine use Storm Shadows only within Ukrainian territory. Ukraine also fired American ATACMS missiles into Russia on Tuesday after US President Joe Biden gave the all-clear to use such missiles in this way, two months before he leaves office and Donald Trump returns to the White House. Putin on Tuesday lowered Russia’s threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks. Trump has said he will end the war, without saying how, and has criticised billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine under Biden. The warring sides believe Trump is likely to push for peace talks – not known to have been held since the war’s earliest months – and are trying to attain strong positions before negotiations. Moscow has said the use of Western weapons to strike Russian territory far from the border would be a major escalation. Kyiv says it needs the capability to defend itself by hitting Russian bases used to support its forces in Ukraine. Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .