GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Billy Napier exchanged an uncomfortable handshake with Ole Miss counterpart Lane Kiffin, shared a few well-earned hugs and then headed to the northeast corner of the Swamp to join his players singing the school’s alma mater. On a crisp and sunny November day, Napier’s Gators had just done the unexpected, if not the unthinkable, beating the No. 9 Rebels 24-17. Ole Miss was a 10-point favorite Saturday fresh off a bye week after a dominant 28-10 win against Georgia, that positioned the Rebels for a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Instead, the Gators (6-5, 4-4 SEC) stopped the Lane Train in its tracks and dispatched of the Rebels (8-3, 4-3). “These guys have stepped up in a major way,” Napier said. The Gators’ victory marked consecutive wins against ranked teams for the first time since triumphs against Florida State and Alabama during the 2008 national championship season. The last time the unranked Gators beat ranked teams on back-to-back weeks were 2003 wins at LSU and Arkansas. This time, Florida capitalized on the friendly confines of the Swamp. “Just an incredible atmosphere; it doesn’t get much better than that,” Napier said. A pair of interceptions by sophomore safety Bryce Thornton in the final 1:31 iced the game and spurred roaring responses by a sold-out crowd of 89,942 and end-zone celebrations by players and fans. On Senior Day in the Swamp, true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway threw two touchdowns, veteran tailback Montrell Johnson Jr. ran 127 yards in his final home game and another inspired defensive effort led the way. On the game-winning drive, Johnson followed a 41-yard completion from Lagway to a diving Chimere Dike with runs of 12, 5 and 9 yards to give the Gators a 24-17 lead with 7:40 to go — the final run coming out of the wildcat formation. Meanwhile, the SEC’s leading passer and keenest offensive mind failed to capitalize on their chances. The Rebels left Florida’s red zone three times without points. “There’s an understanding you have to play well in the trenches,” Napier said. “I thought we were better on both sides up front. We had a guy step up and make plays.” Twice, the Gators stuffed the Ole Miss jumbo package on fourth-and-1, stopping 6-foot-2, 325-pound defensive tackle JJ Pegues shy of the first down following a direct snap — the second time when trailing 17-14. The other time, Ole Miss dropped three passes, the final one when star receiver Tre Harris, back after a three-game absence, re-injured his leg. Caden Davis then missed a 34-yard field goal with the game tied 14-14. Davis tied the game at 17-17 with 45 seconds left in the third quarter. But Dart, who finished with 394 total yards, and the SEC’s top-scoring attack could not overcome the Gators’ defense or three turnovers. “We took advantage,” Napier said. ©2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.None
The recent controversy over the "Emergency Martial Law" in South Korea has raised concerns about its impact on Sino-Korean relations. The decision by the South Korean government to declare a state of emergency and deploy the military to control protests has sparked debates and reactions from various stakeholders, including the Chinese government.Pune: In the end, Ajit Pawar had the last laugh. After the heavy defeat of his wife, Sunetra Pawar, in the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramati parliamentary constituency earlier this year, there were serious doubts about Ajit Pawar’s leadership credentials to steer the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the Maharashtra assembly elections. The scepticism extended to his own candidacy on his home turf of Baramati, which is synonymous with the Pawar clan’s political legacy. However, Ajit Pawar silenced his critics with a thumping victory in the Baramati assembly constituency, with a margin of 100,899 votes over his nephew Yugendra Pawar. This marks Ajit Pawar’s eighth consecutive victory from the constituency, cementing his dominance in what has long been considered the family’s bastion. The victory has broader implications, not just for Pawar’s stature but also for the NCP faction he leads. His leadership in the assembly polls contributed significantly to his faction’s strong performance across Maharashtra, putting to rest questions raised about his ability to rally support and manage a party he divided in 2023. “My victory in Baramati by over 1 lakh votes underlines the work I have done for the people. It is also a stamp on the work done by the Mahayuti government,” said Ajit Pawar, who had won by a margin of over 165,000 votes in 2019. The contest in Baramati was as much about electoral politics as it was about family dynamics. Ajit Pawar’s 32-year-old nephew, Yugendra Pawar, had the backing of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, who personally oversaw his campaign. The candidacy of Yugendra, who was making his poll debut, was seen as a bid to reclaim the party’s legacy after Ajit Pawar’s dramatic rebellion in 2023, when he split the NCP and took 39 other NCP MLAs with him to the Mahayuti, along with the party’s official symbol. Ajit Pawar, aware of the challenge, campaigned more cautiously and avoided any personal attack on his uncle and family patriarch. In the end, his ground-level network, control over the local party machinery, and years of rapport with Baramati’s electorate worked in his favour. His win reinforces his position as a formidable leader in Maharashtra politics, despite the rift in the Pawar family. The voters, on their part, preferred continuity instead of handing the baton to a new generation, a point Sharad Pawar had underlined in his campaign. Sunetra Pawar, now a Rajya Sabha member, termed Ajit Pawar’s victory in Baramati as the “actual verdict” of the people. “I am thankful to the people of Baramati for once again showing their trust in Ajit Pawar and rallying behind him. They showed that Baramati is his family,” she said. Ajit Pawar’s victory also sends a message to the broader political community that he is not just a breakaway leader but one capable of retaining loyalty and delivering results, even against a united opposition. However, questions linger about how long Ajit can sustain this momentum, especially with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, with whom his party has ideological differences, looming large in Maharashtra. The Baramati election outcome is likely to further strain the already tenuous relationship between Ajit and Sharad Pawar, at least in the short term. More significantly, the defeat on home turf underscores the challenges Sharad Pawar faces in rebuilding his faction of the NCP. This is the first time the 83-year-old has suffered the setback in Baramati, where he has been invincible since 1967. If anything, it’s a blow to his efforts to portray himself as the custodian of the NCP’s legacy.
Preview of What’s to Come for Trump 2.0The debate over the alleged haunted house has divided the neighborhood, with some residents standing firmly behind Ms. Chiong and defending her right to live in peace, while others remain convinced of the inauspicious nature of the property and the need for further investigation.
Moreover, the synergy between consumer spending and investment has led to the emergence of new business models and industries. From fintech and e-commerce to renewable energy and healthcare, we are witnessing a wave of disruptive innovations that are reshaping the economic landscape. By fostering a comprehensive system that supports both consumer and investment activities, we are creating a fertile ground for these new industries to thrive and drive further growth.Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Roughly two months after barring parents who wore "XX" wristbands during a high school soccer game against a transgender athlete, a school district is confident in its decision to do so. Anthony Foote of Bow, New Hampshire, told the New Hampshire Journal he had received a notice of trespass from Bow and Dunbarton School Districts Superintendent Marcy Kelley after he had worn armbands in support of biological girls-only sports to his daughter’s high school soccer game back in September. Foote, his wife Nicole, Kyle Fellers, and Eldon Rash then filed a federal lawsuit against the Bow School District, Superintendent of Schools Marcy Kelley, Principal Matt Fisk, Athletic Director Mike Desilets, Bow Police Lieutenant Phil Lamy and soccer referee Steve Rossetti several days later. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM A group of New Hampshire parents sued a school district over their removal from a girls' soccer game for protesting against participation by a transgender player. (Getty Images) The "silent protest" at Bow High School, the lawsuit says, intended to "show solidarity" with the Bow team and oppose a policy that allowed a transgender girl to play on Plymouth's team. Fellers and Foote testified Thursday that they hadn’t intended to harass or otherwise target a transgender player on the opposing team, but the school district said differently. Kelley and Desilets believed that the protest wouldn't stop at just wristbands, saying they had received strongly worded emails from Foote in which he called himself a "real leader" who was prepared to take action. They also said Foote urged others to attend the game on social media. In the days leading up to the game, another parent told school officials that she had overheard others talk about showing up to the game wearing dresses and heckling the transgender player. "When we suspect there’s some sort of threat . . . we don’t wait for it to happen," Kelley said on Friday. The "silent protest" at Bow High School, the lawsuit says, intended to "show solidarity" with the Bow team and oppose a policy that allowed a transgender girl to play on Plymouth's team. PRO SOCCER PLAYER BLASTS MEDIA FOR PRAISING MEGAN RAPINOE WHILE BLASTING CHRISTIAN PULISIC FOR TRUMP DANCE Kelley also pushed back on the idea that the plaintiffs were simply expressing support for their daughters and the girls' teammates in general, noting that they had chosen the one game involving a transgender player to begin wearing the wristbands. "This was organized and targeted," she said. "If we were to allow harassment, we’re liable." A federal judge in the case, Steven McAuliffe, pushed back on the parents for repeatedly referring to the athlete as a boy on Thursday. "You seem to go out of your way to suggest there’s no such thing as a trans girl," McAuliffe said during the hearing. The transgender player in question, Parker Tirrell, and another student athlete are challenging the state law that bans transgender athletes in grades 5 to 12 from playing on teams that align with their gender identity. A federal judge ruled in their case that they can play sports during the ongoing lawsuit that seeks to overturn the law. The Bow School District defended its decision to bar those who wore "XX" wristbands at the game. (Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gov. Chris Sununu, who signed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act into law in July, has said that it "ensures fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance in athletic competitions." Fox News' Paulina Dedaj, Landon Mion, Jackson Thompson, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .
In conclusion, the WTA season was filled with unexpected upsets and surprising victories, proving once again that in the world of tennis, anything can happen. From the young and fearless newcomers to the seasoned veterans, these underdogs have shown that with hard work, determination, and a touch of luck, anything is possible on the court. As we look ahead to the next season, fans can only wonder what new surprises and upsets await us in the world of women's tennis.Bills notebook: Josh Allen 'just a little sore'; Thursday injury report
All-star Scottie Barnes returns to Raptors lineup vs. TimberwolvesSAN DIEGO, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) securities between November 16, 2023 and September 23, 2024. Visa operates one the largest digital payment platforms in the world. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Visa Inc. (V) Misled Investors Regarding its Monopolization of the Debt Market According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants materially misled investors as to the risk of damaging antitrust investigations being conducted by federal regulators, choosing to downplay the risk despite its high likelihood of manifesting. On September 24, 2024, these risks came to fruition, as the United States Department of Justice sued Visa in federal court for monopolizing the debit card payment processing market. On this news, Visa’s stock price fell $1.48, or 5.38%, to close at $26.03 per share on September 24, 2024. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Visa Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by January 20, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against Visa Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72ab9093-8695-4684-b894-67f423f3ed3cIndustry analysts have weighed in on the controversy, with some speculating that the cancellation of the PS4 exclusive game could have far-reaching implications for Ubisoft's reputation and standing in the gaming community. Others have called for greater oversight and regulation of the industry to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli airstrikes and evacuation warnings were in a sign that Netanyahu aims to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. Hezbollah, meanwhile, had resumed its rocket fire into Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country's north. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, in support of the Palestinian militant group. That has set off more than a year of fighting escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon and an Israeli ground invasion of the country’s south. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli military bases, cities and towns, including some 250 projectiles on Sunday. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, where more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the 13-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. ——— Here's the Latest: JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Netanyahu said the vote was expected later Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Baalbek province the country’s east. At least three people were killed in the southern city of Tyre when Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp, said Mohammed Bikai, a representative of the Fatah group in the area. He said several more people were missing and at least three children were among the wounded. He said the sites struck inside the camp were “completely civilian places” and included a kitchen that was being used to cook food for displaced people. JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israeli protesters took to a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to call for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as the country awaited news of a potential ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Protesters chanted “We are all hostages,” and “Deal now!” waving signs with faces of some of the roughly 100 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are thought to be dead. Most of the other hostages Hamas captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack were released during a ceasefire last year. The prospect of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon has raised desperation among the relatives of captives still held in Gaza, who once hoped that the release of hostages from Gaza would be included. Instead of a comprehensive deal, the ceasefire on the table is instead narrowly confined to Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis were also demonstrating against the expected cease-fire, gathering outside Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv. One of the protesters, Yair Ansbacher, says the deal is merely a return to the failed 2006 U.N. resolution that was meant to uproot Hezbollah from the area. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he says. “This agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.” FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region. At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity . Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.” However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants. In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.” And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.” The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. The Israeli military spokesman issued a flurry of evacuation warnings for many areas, including areas in Beirut that have not been targeted throughout the war, like the capital’s commercial Hamra district, where many people displaced by the war have been staying. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in Lebanon during the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas. In areas close to Hamra, families including women and children were seen running away toward the Mediterranean Sea’s beaches carrying their belongings. Traffic was completely gridlocked as people tried to get away, honking their car horns as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. The Israeli military also issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. TEL AVIV, Israel — The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services. The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe. The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.” It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues. The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means. On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking. The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack. Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire. In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces. Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation. The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces. The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting. BEIRUT — Israeli jets Tuesday struck at least six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including one that slammed near the country’s only airport. Large plumes of smoke could be seen around the airport near the Mediterranean coast, which has continued to function despite its location beside the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollah’s operations are based. The strikes come hours before Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss a proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s airstrikes. FIUGGI, Italy — EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. (edited)After an intensive search operation involving law enforcement agencies, volunteers, and concerned citizens, the missing student was finally located in a remote area on the outskirts of town. Reports indicate that she was disoriented and in a state of distress when she was found, prompting immediate medical attention.
Big Ten could place four teams in playoff, thanks to IU's rise