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Ant and Dec blasted by I’m A Celebrity fans as they say ‘this is hard to watch’It appears that McDonald’s 2022 “farewell tour” for its McRib was, like so many rock stars’ farewells, a little premature. The fast food giant will bring back the sandwich for a limited time during the holiday season. The launch is Dec. 3, according to a news release that didn’t include a price. McRib made its debut in 1981 and has been on and off McDonald’s menu ever since. It’s made with a boneless pork patty slathered in barbecue sauce and topped with slivered onions and pickles on a toasted bun. For the first time, McDonald’s will be selling the sauce in half-gallon jugs. The item is dubbed A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce and it will be available online only at wholelottamcribsauce.com beginning Monday, Nov. 25. The price is $19.99. The promotion includes a jingle with Rankin/Bass-type characters on YouTube . McDonald’s is also marking the season with the return of its Holiday Pie , a custard-filled pastry topped with rainbow sprinkles. It sells for about $1.99. McDonald’s prices vary by location. And McDonald’s has holiday cups with Doodles designs for hot McCafe beverages. Information: mcdonalds.com
Bruins see improvements under new coach, tackle Canucks next
There’s only one thing stopping an undefeated New York City football powerhouse from making it to this year’s Super Bowl — it can’t afford the trip. It’s fourth and long for Brooklyn’s Mo Better Jaguars, whose Eastern Regional Championship win secured the team of 8- and 9-year-olds a spot in the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando this weekend. But local program organizers are scrambling like a desperate quarterback to raise the money needed to send the little linebackers and linemen to Disney World for a showdown with their tiny, talented rivals. “How do you tell a 9-year-old who played football all season that, unfortunately, we couldn’t raise the money for you guys to continue and go on to the Pop Warner Super Bowl?” said Cheryl Wray, president of Mo Better Jaguars Football. “I don’t know what I would say to them. I don’t know. I would crawl under a rock. If we were in the Upper East Side, if we were in Connecticut, if we were in Long Island, this would not be a thought. Somebody would just write a check — right? — and take care of the whole thing. We’re not in that. We’re servicing low-income, inner-city kids.” After a season that has seen both the Jets and Giants mired in mediocrity, New York’s football hopes ride on the shoulder pads of fourth- and fifth-graders whose salaries are paid in pizza and Pepsi. For them, football is a love-of-the-game activity that they squeeze in between piano lessons, Roblox and studying for a science test. So the opportunity to represent their hardscrabble Brownsville neighborhood on little league football’s biggest stage is something that they should not miss, their biggest boosters say. “It’s a big boost for their self-esteem,” said Jaguars head coach Chris Legree. “I mean, everybody likes to feel associated with something successful, right? So when the kid walks down the street or goes to school with our jersey on or with our hoodies or jackets, they get a sense of belonging to something positive. “We didn’t start the program to make NFL players. We go very hard with the academics. We say, if you have academics and athletics, it can open up possibilities for you to open up opportunities, right? Our ultimate goal is to produce productive members of society. You can do so many good things with sports — [learn to deal with] adversity, confidence, preparation. It’s just getting these principles in.” Wray has two sons who played in the program. “The oldest one went to school on a football scholarship,” she said. “They’re both college graduates. I know what this program can do for a young boy in the inner city. You know — the guidance, the direction, the structure. When I see kids able to put their phones down and get on the field and not just play football, but then play with each other. ” Not only is the team undefeated with a 12-0 record — not one single team has even been able to score on them. As a result, the Jaguars are scheduled to play their first-round game on Saturday. But, right now, they barely have enough money to make it out of Brooklyn, organizers said. Wray said the Florida trip costs about $1,500 per player for travel, lodging and meals, or about $47,000 in total. She said that, so far, the organization has been able to raise about $22,000. Wray said it’s late in the fourth quarter, and the clock is ticking. “Right now, it’s looking like we might not, like we can’t do it,” she said. “If we don’t ... I could not, could not stand the thought of these kids not taking this trip. And they worked so hard. The previous fundraiser we did is what got us through thus far. We played up and down the Northeastern region. Those were overnight trips. Money went to charter buses, hotel stays.” Wray said she wants to see the Jaguars remain undefeated — on and off the field. “These kids earned it,” she said. “They worked hard. They’re a tough little group.”No. 5 UCLA women’s basketball takes down top-ranked South CarolinaSanctuary states, cities should explain to DOGE why they deserve federal money: MTG
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IN THE last two decades, the rise of social media has introduced new phenomena, including “finfluencers”— finance influencers who impact financial decision-making. These individuals offer advice and information on everything from bonds, equities, and crypto to traditional savings accounts and travel miles. But are they replacing traditional financial advisors? A recent survey indicates that 79 per cent of Millennials and Gen Zs sought financial advice from “finfluencers” in 2023. With such a significant shift, one cannot help but wonder what the real impact is on traditional advisors in this evolving landscape. In this episode of Money Hacks by The Business Times, Howie Lim discusses this very topic with Brian Seetoh, a financial services manager at PhilipCapital, and Dawn Cher, a leading personal finance influencer known as SGBudgetBabe. The growing influence of “finfluencers” “Finfluencers” have become a prominent category within the influencer community, garnering considerable traction. According to Cher, social media has taken over many traditional mediums like textbooks, documentaries, and TV shows - serving as a primary source of information for many people. Brian Seetoh points out that “finfluencers” act as entertainers, educators, and community builders. They leverage social media to amplify their reach globally, attracting audiences with engaging, bite-sized content. In contrast, traditional financial advisors usually don’t have such broad, instant reach. The role of social media The role of social media in financial education cannot be underestimated. Cher shares that her content aims to simplify complex financial concepts, making them accessible to the average person. Unlike Wall Street analysts who often use jargon, Cher communicates in simple, easy-to-understand language. However, with this ease of access comes the risk of misinformation and fraud. Seetoh warns that while social media has democratised financial literacy, it has also made the quality of information inconsistent. The need for regulation As the landscape evolves, the question of regulation looms large. Seetoh believes some form of regulation is inevitable, requiring a balance to ensure transparency without stifling creativity. Cher agrees, adding that guidelines and regulations could make the industry more beneficial for consumers. Cher also highlights the importance of consumer responsibility emphasising that consumers must tailor the advice they consume to fit their unique situations. Credibility and integrity Both Cher and Seetoh stress the importance of credible information. Cher recounts rejecting unregulated sponsorship deals, underscoring her commitment to integrity. She warns that even non-financial influencers can spread financial misinformation if they lack a deep understanding of the subject. According to Seetoh, while advice on social media can be valuable, it’s crucial to cross-reference it with local regulations and consult multiple sources before making decisions. He believes a professional financial advisor can often provide more personalised and cost-effective advice. As social media continues to revolutionise how people consume financial information, the roles of “finfluencers” and traditional financial advisors are still distinct but increasingly overlapping. Listen now to find out how traditional advisors and “fininfluencers” can co-exist and how you can benefit. For more episodes, go to bt.sg/moneyhacks and if you have feedback or an episode idea, please get in touch at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg . --- Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) With Dawn Cher, SGBudgetBabe, a leading personal finance influencer based in Singapore and Brian Seetoh, financial services manager, PhilipCapital Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: Howie Lim Engineered by: Chai Pei Chieh A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media --- Follow BT Money Hacks podcasts every Monday: Channel: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks Amazon: bt.sg/mham Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/oeXe Spotify: bt.sg/oeGN YouTube Music: bt.sg/mhyt Website: bt.sg/moneyhacks Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. --- Discover more BT podcast series: BT Correspondents: bt.sg/btcobt BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/pcOM BT Branded Podcasts at : bt.sg/brpod BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlensonTed Cruz's angry letter about artificial intelligence policies is unintentionally revealing
Yankees Social Media: All hail the 2024 AL MVP and 2024 AL ROTY
A WOMAN has claimed she fixed her thin hair with a weekly hack she swears by. Faith Drew took to social media to show off her thick, long locks while sharing her secret to healthy hair. Advertisement 2 Faith shared a before picture of how her hair looked two years ago Credit: TikTok/@faithdrew_ 2 Now her hair is luscious and thick thanks to her weekly hack Credit: TikTok/@faithdrew_ She showed a picture of her hair a few years ago, which was much shorter and thinner than the locks on her head now and revealed it was all down to looking after her scalp. The beauty fan said: "Scalp health is so important. "Your hair grows from the root. "Our scalp actually ages 12 times faster than the skin on our body. Advertisement READ MORE HAIR HACKS MANE EVENT The real reason your locks are shedding & why you should avoid growth shampoos HAIR ME OUT I'm a doctor & people dread hair loss as they age - a £4 tip is the answer "So it's no wonder that as we age, our hair can be one of the first things to go." Faith said she began to notice excess hair fallout and her hairline had started to recede. But now her hair is so full she gets asked daily if she wears extensions - which she doesn't. Her secret? She revealed it was all down to one weekly beauty treatment, scalp oiling. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous CASH VOW Nurse cancels £30k Scots fairytale wedding after 'rose-tinted glasses come off' MUM'S THE WORD 'Relatable' Coleen Rooney praised for how she deals with sons' misbehaving HEAT UP I tried 6 kinds of Primark PJ's to see which ones are warmest according to science CHOP SHOCK Mum left sobbing as 2-year-old son cuts & SUPERGLUES her hair as she sleeps "I have done weekly oil treatments now for the last two and a half years," she explained. Faith also linked the product she used in her bio, the Monat hair thinning defense oil which costs £77. The 8 everyday mistakes that are RUINING your hair - from your diet to your brush The product contains caffeine to promote new hair growth as it stimulates blood flow to the scalp - but you can also try the Plantur 39 Phtyo Caffeine Tonic from Boots for just £10.99. The clips were a hit on her TikTok account @ faithdrew_ where she boasts over 133k followers and 3.9 million likes. Advertisement People were quick to take to the comments thanking her for the advice. One person wrote: "Explain howwww." Hair loss tips We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the NHS. It is not usually something to worry about, but occasional it can be a sign of a medical concern. These include illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss and iron deficiency. The NHS advises to book an appointment with your GP to see if you can get to the cause of it. Experts at American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommend to eat healthy, limit curling irons and only use them for special occasions. They also recommend using a gentle shampoo, and make use of leave-in conditioners. Another commented: "Omg I need this BAD." "What did you use please," penned a third. Advertisement Read more on the Scottish Sun LOOKING UP I'm a four-time world champ but my eyesight is going so I've made crucial change ISLE SAY Stunning home with panoramic views for sale for just £135k - but there's a catch Meanwhile a fourth said: "can you show your hair care products?" Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line .Soccer-Dominant Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 to top Champions League
TAMPA, Fla.—A Florida engineer was given a four-year prison term for helping the Chinese regime collect intelligence on Chinese dissidents, such as practitioners of the persecuted faith Falun Gong. The man, Li Ping, is a naturalized U.S. citizen who had worked for Verizon for 30 years. He had acted on behalf of a Chinese intelligence official in the United States for more than a decade, according to court filings. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday also granted prosecutors’ request for a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. “It’s bitterly disappointing and upsetting to American citizens” that someone would come from a foreign country that’s a hostile power, take advantage of things such as the U.S. public school system, and then work with that hostile power, Merryday said at the hearing. Li’s lawyer, Daniel Fernandez, in part, blamed the Chinese intelligence official for using Li for the illegal acts, saying that his client felt “betrayed.” Li attended high school and college in China before coming to the United States three decades ago. While in high school, he befriended a student who later became a Ministry of State Security officer, according to a filing that his lawyer submitted. The two kept in touch over the years and met whenever Li visited his family in China. The officer, along with others from the ministry, took care of Li’s mother at his request. Through the officer, Li became acquainted with a second officer from the ministry, a connection that led to requests that crossed the legal line, according to court documents. One of his earliest tasks involved tracking a lawsuit that Falun Gong practitioners planned to mount against Chinese state officials. Six days later, in August 2012, Li wrote back thanking the officer for his help during Li’s China trip a month prior, then shared biographical details of a lawyer in St. Petersburg, Florida, who had written for a Falun Gong-related blog, prosecutors said. Li told the officer that the attorney had lent his wife Falun Gong books, the filings state. Prosecutors noted that Falun Gong practitioners “both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC [People’s Republic of China] government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government.” In the following two years, Li supplied information about two Israeli authors of a Falun Gong children’s book and a Falun Gong practitioner in California who had protested in the state’s Chinese Consulate. The officers also sought training applications that Verizon used for new employees, publicly available information regarding several politicians, and surveillance and hacking technologies, court filings show. Prosecutors said the Chinese intelligence officials also asked Li about the U.S. government’s wiretapping capabilities, telling him they needed the information to learn how to bypass U.S. companies’ cybersecurity defenses. One of the most recent instances cited was dated in June 2022. But even if Li could find the information through open source, the prosecutors said, it was nevertheless valuable given the internet restrictions in China. Further, Li’s Chinese handlers “simply may not understand how to find property, vehicle, or other information about U.S. persons,” they wrote in a memo that described Li’s actions as a “willful, decade-long criminal conduct.” As a “cooperative contact,” they wrote, Li had “aided Chinese intelligence services in both undermining the United States and suppressing political dissent.” The judge at the hearing sided with prosecutors in issuing a heavier sentence to deter future would-be actors. Li, who has a net worth of around $5.5 million with 12 rental properties and more than $30,000 in passive income each month, had made a calculation in doing what he did, and the exact consequences are still not known, Merryday said. He made the analogy of “shooting into a crowd of people but turning your head away when pulling the trigger.” “It’s astounding that you did this at all,” Merryday said. Li’s lawyer, after the hearing, said the outcome was “disappointing” but that he was “not surprised.” “I can’t defend his conduct,” he told The Epoch Times, but he insisted that Li hadn’t transmitted anything significantly harmful. The prosecutors rejected the argument. The Chinese authorities are using a “death by 1,000 cuts approach” against the United States, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Marcet said at the hearing. The Chinese regime “is not going to show all its cards,” he said, but Li was a small piece of the puzzle—he was playing a part. Merryday has ordered Li to voluntarily surrender himself to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Florida’s Sumter County by Jan. 8, 2025. The fine is due immediately.
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Lawyers, loyalists and Wall Street executives: a look at who's on Trump's tariff team WASHINGTON — As president-elect Donald Trump rattles his closest neighbours with threats of tariffs, he is also firming up the team of loyalists to put his plans into action. Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press Nov 27, 2024 12:12 PM Nov 27, 2024 12:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Boca Chica, Texas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-POOL, Brandon Bell WASHINGTON — As president-elect Donald Trump rattles his closest neighbours with threats of tariffs, he is also firming up the team of loyalists to put his plans into action. Trump's team to lead his trade agenda and the American economy include trade lawyers, former advisers and Wall Street executives who have all expressed favourable views of tariffs. "He's choosing a lot of people who are going to be loyal to him and his ideas," said Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont. "And that probably will lead to a lot more volatility than even we saw in the first term." On Tuesday evening, Trump picked Jamieson Greer to be U.S. trade representative. The president-elect said Greer played a key role in the first Trump administration imposing tariffs on China and negotiating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. If confirmed, Greer will oversee the trade pact’s review in 2026. "Jamieson will focus the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on reining in the country's massive trade deficit, defending American manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and opening up export markets everywhere," Trump said in a statement. Greer was the chief of staff to former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer as the trilateral agreement was being crafted to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was torn up last time Trump entered office. Greer's nomination came the day after Trump said he will impose a 25 per cent import tariff on goods coming from Canada and Mexico. He has also announced an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods from China. Trump said the tariffs against Canada and Mexico would remain in place until both countries stop people and drugs, in particular fentanyl, from illegally crossing the border into the U.S. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report suggested Trump’s previous pledge to impose a 10 per cent levy would take a $30-billion bite out of the Canadian economy. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. and trade comprises 60 per cent of Canada's gross domestic product. Some economists have warned across-the-board duties would cause inflation in the U.S., even though Trump campaigned on lowering costs for Americans. Greer was deeply involved in Trump's original sweeping tariffs on China and subsequent negotiations on the U.S.-China Phase 1 trade agreement, online biographies say. In testimony about China's trade agenda at a House trade subcommittee last year, Greer said he believes "good fences make good neighbours, and trade enforcement is an important part of establishing those fences." On Tuesday, Trump also tapped Kevin Hassett to be the director of the White House National Economic Council. The role will be key in fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to fix the U.S. economy. His announcement said Hassett will also "ensure that we have fair trade with countries that have taken advantage of the United States in the past." Hassett served during the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and the president-elect has called him a "true friend." The latest nominations round out an economic team that includes hedge fund executive Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary and Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Wall Street investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, who was tapped for commerce secretary. If confirmed by the Senate, Lutnick would oversee a sprawling cabinet agency and Trump's tariff agenda. He has been a vocal supporter of Trump's tariff plans. In an CNBC interview in September he said tariffs are "an amazing tool for the president to use — we need to protect the American worker." Lebo said as Trump prepares to return to office he is removing any person who could prove to be a guardrail or check on his power. "These are people aligned with Trump," Lebo said. "More and more aligned with his campaign rhetoric." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix Travelers who waited to make Thanksgiving trips are hitting the biggest crowds so far Nov 27, 2024 12:26 PM Police deny sitting on evidence as Netflix doc brings renewed attention to JonBenet Ramsey's killing Nov 27, 2024 12:25 PM Industry not consulted on Alberta's plan to challenge federal emissions cap Nov 27, 2024 12:19 PM Featured FlyerCostco ( COST 0.88% ) is a store I frequent almost weekly, thanks to the good prices and the shockingly fresh produce. That said, I've never owned the stock, even though it has the type of impressive dividend record that attracts my attention. Sometimes I wish I had bought it, though, because paying full price for a great company can often lead to strong returns. But what about buying it today? Would adding Costco to your portfolio right now set you up for a lifetime of strong returns? Costco's business model is strong The first thing that investors have to get their heads around when it comes to Costco is the business. It is not your typical retailer -- it is a club store. Customers, like me, pay a yearly fee for the privilege of shopping at Costco. Those membership fees, which basically have no costs associated with them, make up around half of the retailer's operating income. That changes the retail game in a very important way. Basically, Costco looks at its business in a totally different way because it isn't earning all of its money from product sales. Thus, keeping customers happy becomes the core objective, so it can keep those membership fees rolling in. The three primary ways it does this is by having cheap prices (membership fees allow it to accept lower margins), creating an enjoyable shopping experience, and having a great selection of products. The long-term success of the business tells you that it has succeeded quite well overall. The numbers speak for themselves. Over the past decade, revenues have grown at a compound annual rate of around 8.5%, while earnings have expanded at a 13.5% clip. As noted, the dividend has been increased every year for two decades, with the past decade's annualized dividend growth a very impressive 12%. Costco is the kind of retailer you'd want to own, but... I'm leery of retail stocks because, in general, retailers tend to go in and out of favor. When people move on to a different retailer, the financial effect on a now out-of-favor retailer can be very hard (think bankruptcy). It's why I prefer to own retail-focused real estate investment trusts (REITs), which can collect rent no matter what retailer occupies a well-located property. But Costco is one of those retailers that has bucked the trend because of its strong business model. The problem is that Wall Street knows just how good the company is, and it doesn't go on sale very often. COST PE Ratio data by YCharts. That's why investors looking at Costco will probably want to keep it on the wish list and not the buy list today. Using traditional valuation metrics is all you need. The price-to-sales ratio is around 1.6x today, versus a five-year average closer to 1x. The price-to-earnings ratio is 56x right now, versus a longer-term average that is just under 41x. Its price-to-cash flow and price-to-book values are both notably above their five-year averages, too. The dividend yield, my preferred valuation tool, is a tiny 0.5%, compared to a five-year average of around 0.7%. Almost any way you cut it, Costco is an expensive stock today. To be fair, I expect Costco to look expensive relative to the broader market just about all the time. The problem is that Costco looks particularly expensive relative to its own history right now. To paraphrase famed value investor Benjamin Graham , paying too much for a good company can be a bad investment. The current call on Costco Overall, Costco is a very well-run company with an advantaged business model. There are a lot of things to like about it, and it should probably be on most investors' wish lists. But right now, given the lofty valuation, it probably shouldn't be on your buy list. Buying it at the right price could set you up for life ... overpaying just to own it could leave you with "dead money" for years to come.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed confidence Wednesday that Elon Musk would not use his proximity to Donald Trump to harm business rivals, calling such actions "profoundly un-American." Speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference, Altman addressed concerns about Musk's announced role heading a new Department of Government Efficiency in the incoming Donald Trump administration, and whether he might use it to favor his own companies. "I may turn out to be wrong, but I believe pretty strongly that Elon will do the right thing," Altman said. "It would be profoundly un-American to use political power to hurt your competitors and advantage your own businesses." Even if there are "lots of things not to like about him... it would go so deeply against the values I believe he holds very dear to himself that I'm not that worried about it." Musk, an OpenAI co-founder who later departed the company, is currently suing Altman's firm and Microsoft, claiming they shifted from the project's original nonprofit mission. He has since launched xAI, reportedly valued at $50 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable startups. Altman said that the court battle was "tremendously sad" and that he once saw Musk as "a mega hero." Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! Musk became a close ally of Trump during his campaign, spending over $100 million to boost his presidential bid and joining him at rallies. Since the election victory, he has been a frequent presence in the Trump transition and was reportedly on the line when Google CEO Sundar Pichai called the president-elect to congratulate him on winning the election. The tycoon's businesses have deep connections with governments -- both in the United States and elsewhere -- and his new position has raised concerns about conflict of interest. During the interview, Altman also lowered expectations for the importance of OpenAI's models achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), a benchmark of human-level intelligence the company has long set as the goal for its technology. "My guess is we will hit AGI sooner than most people in the world think, and it will matter much less," he said. "A lot of the safety concerns that we and others expressed actually don't come at the AGI moment... AGI can get built. The world goes on mostly the same way," he said. arp/aha
DETROIT — Detroit and Green Bay, longtime rivals and current contenders, will have much at stake when they meet Thursday night in the Motor City. The NFC-leading Lions (11-1) are aiming to stay ahead of Philadelphia (10-2) in the race for the conference's best record and Minnesota (10-2) in the NFC North with a win against the Packers. Detroit can also clinch a spot in the playoffs with an 11th straight victory that would set a franchise record. “We’re in playoff football right now,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “This is the type of stuff that you live for and it’s also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament.” Green Bay (9-3) also has a lot to play for because it can pull within a game of the Lions if it can split the season series with a slight upset as 3 1/2-point underdogs, according to BetMGM. “This game is going to be important for us moving forward toward the end of this thing and we’re going to treat it as such,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. Born to run Green Bay’s ability to slow down Detroit’s run game might be pivotal. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, the first teammates in league history to run for at least 10 touchdowns in consecutive seasons, have combined to average more than 140 yards on the ground per game. The Packers limited San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey to 31 yards on 11 attempts and held Miami to 39 yards rushing in their past two games. It was the first time since 1995, and just the second time since 1950, that they gave up fewer than 45 yards rushing in two straight weeks. Montgomery ran 17 times for 73 yards and Gibbs had 65 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 carries last month at Green Bay. “They played Montgomery the whole first half and then the second half they came with Gibbs,” McKinney recalled. “They got a good 1-2 punch.” Road warriors Home field has not been an advantage in the series lately. The road team has won four straight games, going back to Detroit closing the 2022 regular season and Aaron Rodgers' career with the Packers in a 20-16 win at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has won five straight NFC North road games, including last year at Detroit on Thanksgiving. Picked off McKinney and Lions safety Kerby Joseph each have an NFL -high seven interceptions, leading the rest of the league by at least two. Joseph had a pick-6 in the most recent meeting against Green Bay and has picked off four passes in four games against the Packers. “He’s a ballhawk,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “He’s going to make the plays when the ball’s in the air, so he’s definitely a guy you’ve got to know where he’s at.” Social media slipup Lions coach Dan Campbell was taken aback at a news conference recently when a reporter informed him Gibbs had a post on social media showing some of the team's strategy. “I'd rather our stuff not be out there,” Campbell said. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur feels the same way, though he said it doesn't provide a competitive edge to see another team's terminology on a whiteboard. “Guys understand that nobody wants their information out there for the whole world to see, so we try to keep everything in house here,” LaFleur said. “But I don’t think it’s like the end of the world, either.” Tough stretch Both teams will play a third game in 12 days. “How the whole organization has handled this has been really impressive,” said Packers defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, who had a sack in each of his past two games. After the game, each team will get a break. The Lions will host the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills on Dec. 15 and Green Bay plays at Seattle later that night.
Ant and Dec blasted by I’m A Celebrity fans as they say ‘this is hard to watch’
DAISO NEW STORE OPENING IN PLANO, TEXASA complaint has been filed with the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 43 others, accusing them of committing genocide and crimes against humanity during a Hefajat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013. It was filed by Iffat Ara, the mother of Rehan Ahsan, a former student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) who was killed during the rally, said her lawyer, SM Tasmirul Islam. Besides the former PM, her defence adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiqui, then home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, leaders of Awami League and its alliance are named in the complaint. It also named top law enforcement officials including then Police IGP, Rab director general, and DMP commissioner who allegedly led the joint operation on that day. Tasmirul Islam told the media that Rehan was shot dead between 8:30pm and 9:30pm on May 5, 2013, near the Mohammedan Sporting Club, located next to Shapla Chattar. His body was later found in the morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Rehan's family didn't even receive his autopsy report despite making several requests, he added. The main accusations in the complaint are genocide and crimes against humanity, he added. Speaking to the media, Iffat Ara, Rehan's mother, said, "For the past 11 years, I had truly given up hope that I would be able to stand up for this ever. But after the political change on August 5, I found the courage to file this case." At the time of his death, Rehan, 23, was a third-year student of the computer science and engineering department at the Buet.
Early Black Friday deals under $25 — Speakers, keyboards, smart light bulbs, and moreWASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country’s constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON,” Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors’ dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday evening. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters’ own verdict. In court filings, Smith’s team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. INTERESTS AT ODDS They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” ‘UNITING OUR COUNTRY’ Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors’ request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. DOCUMENTS CASE The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. STATE PROSECUTIONS Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One of them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump’s lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict.” Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story.