It might've been Christmas, but it sure feels like Groundhog Day for the reeling Steelers PITTSBURGH (AP) — The decorations outside Acrisure Stadium suggested Christmas. The play on the field by the home team hinted at another holiday entirely. Groundhog Day. Will Graves, The Associated Press Dec 26, 2024 10:25 AM Dec 26, 2024 10:35 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) hits Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) PITTSBURGH (AP) — The decorations outside Acrisure Stadium suggested Christmas. The play on the field by the home team hinted at another holiday entirely. Groundhog Day. Like Bill Murray in the iconic movie — set about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh in Punxsutawney — it's not that the Steelers are reliving the same day (or in their case, season) over and over exactly. It's that no matter what plan they come up with in a frantic effort to get to the other side, they seem to end up right back where they started. Competitive sure. But a contender? Ehhhh. Despite a series of aggressive moves — particularly on offense — that was considerably “unSteeler-like" in the offseason, Pittsburgh finds itself in familiar territory following a 29-10 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday: likely heading on the road in the first round of the playoffs, perhaps as a considerable underdog. While there is still time for Pittsburgh (10-6) to turn it around before a first-round playoff game on the second weekend in January, it's running out quickly. So too is the patience of those weary of being stuck on the treadmill of “good but hardly great” for far too long. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith — who is 0-3 in the postseason since being drafted in 2020 — wondered aloud afterward if there's enough “want to” on the roster. Safety DeShon Elliott bemoaned communication issues that have cropped up, the kind of thing that is tolerable in Week 2, not so much in Week 17. Coach Mike Tomlin described a performance against the Chiefs in which his team was outclassed at seemingly every turn “junior varsity.” That may be being charitable. And while the offense certainly has its issues (see below), the reality is the NFL's highest-paid defense has lost its way during a three-game slide that has dimmed the considerable optimism that surrounded the club after Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 402 yards during the skid and while the Chiefs seemed to have plenty of juice at the end of the same three games in 11 days stretch the Steelers endured, their opponents appeared to be gassed. Patrick Mahomes did whatever he wanted as usual and Pittsburgh failed to get a single sack or produce a turnover. There were opportunities. Linebacker Mark Robinson forced a fumble on a punt return only to see someone in red-and-white fall on the loose ball. Linebacker Patrick Queen let a tipped pass in Kansas City territory fall through his arms for an incompletion. Earlier in the season, Pittsburgh was making those plays. Though it should be noted, the competition then wasn't on the scale of what it has faced against Philadelphia, Baltimore and the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The road has gotten considerably harder, just as the Steelers knew it would when the schedule was released in May. Like Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day,” however, knowing what's coming and being able to navigate it are two different things. It took Connors a while to figure things out — anywhere from a few months to 25 or more years depending on who you ask — Pittsburgh doesn't have eternity to get it right if it wants to avoid a quick first-round playoff exit for the fourth time in five years. It has just over two weeks. And the clock is ticking. Maybe all the way back to 6 a.m. Because it sure looks like it's Groundhog Day. Again. What's working Not much. One of the few bright spots on a difficult day was the 36-year-old Russell Wilson's ability to make plays with his feet. He ran for a season-high 55 yards, his best single-game total since September 2023. What needs help One of the reasons Wilson had to run is because on some plays, he had no choice while playing behind a youth-laden offensive line that looks as if it is wearing down late in the season. The Chiefs sacked Wilson five times — some of which, to be clear, were because of Wilson's indecisiveness — even with perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones out while nursing a calf injury. Pittsburgh wants to be a team that imposes itself physically on the opponent. That has simply not happened during the current slide. The opponents have dictated the terms, particularly along the line of scrimmage. Turning that around this deep into a season may be a difficult ask. Stock up Jaylen Warren is becoming the more dynamic option at running back. Warren has 37 touches for 212 yards during the three-game slide, while Najee Harris has 31 touches for 144 yards. Harris could become a free agent in March after the Steelers declined to pick up his fifth-year option. While Harris — who has topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first four seasons — certainly has a future in the NFL, it seems increasingly likely that it will be elsewhere. Stock down Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. His egalitarian approach to play-calling allows everyone to get involved. That's not a bad thing during the dog days in the middle of the season. It keeps players at all levels of the depth chart engaged and adds wrinkles opponents need to account for. Yet in the final weeks, the ball should be finding its way to the established difference-makers more frequently. Calling a run for Cordarrelle Patterson — the league's oldest running back — on third-and-3 near midfield as Smith did late in the first half makes little sense. Injuries Perhaps the most jarring thing about Pittsburgh's swoon is that the Steelers are generally healthy. Sure, they missed cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) against Kansas City, but the rest of the 21 starters on offense and defense were in the lineup. Key number 0. The number of opening-drive touchdowns scored by the Steelers this season. For a group that has trouble “warming up to the game” as Tomlin likes to say, consistently being put in a position to play from behind against quality teams such as the ones Pittsburgh will see in the playoffs is inadvisable. Next steps Rest up, heal up and try to find a way to restore some of its swagger ahead of a meeting with AFC North rival Cincinnati on the first weekend in January. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated 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 Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Lions try to close in on NFC's top seed when they visit the eliminated 49ers Dec 26, 2024 10:02 AM Penix and the Falcons at Daniels and the Commanders in prime-time meeting of 1st-round rookie QBs Dec 26, 2024 9:12 AM Jackson breaks Vick's NFL rushing record for QBs in Ravens' rout over Texans Dec 25, 2024 7:03 PM
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By SAMY MAGDY CAIRO — Famine is spreading in Sudan due to a war between the military and a notorious paramilitary group that has devastated the country and created the world’s largest displacement crisis, a global hunger monitoring group said Tuesday. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said it detected famine in five areas, including in Sudan’s largest displacement camp, Zamzam , in North Darfur province, where famine was found for the first time in August. The report said the war has triggered unprecedented mass displacement and a collapsing economy. It said hostilities can result in farmers abandoning their crops, looting and stock destruction. FILE – People gather to collect water in Khartoum, Sudan, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) FILE – Sudanese Khadiga Omer adam sits by her sick child in an MSF-run clinic in the Aboutengue displacement site near Acre, Chad, Friday, Oct 4. 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick, File) FILE – Sudanese refugees arrive in Acre, Chad, Sunday, Oct 6. 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick, File) File – A man walks by a house hit in recent fighting in Khartoum, Sudan, an area torn by fighting between the military and the notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, April 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) FILE – Residents displaced from a surge of violent attacks squat on blankets and in hastily made tents in the village of Masteri in west Darfur, Sudan, on July 30, 2020. (Mustafa Younes via AP, File) FILE – A World Food Programme (WFP) truck backs up to load food items from a recently landed UN helicopter, in Yida camp, South Sudan, Sept. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin) FILE – Sudanese refugee girls carry water supplies near a polling station in the refugee camp of Zamzam, on the outskirts of El Fasher, Darfur, Sudan, on April 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File) FILE -People line up in front of a bakery during a cease-fire in Khartoum, Sudan, May 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) This grab from video shows smoke rising over Khartoum, Sudan on Thursday Sept. 26, 2024, after Sudan’s military started an operation to take areas of the capital from its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. (AP Photo/Rashed Ahmed) File – A man walks by a house hit in recent fighting in Khartoum, Sudan, an area torn by fighting between the military and the notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, April 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) FILE – People gather to collect water in Khartoum, Sudan, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) FILE – Sudanese refugees displaced by the conflict in Sudan gather to receive food staples from aid agencies at the Metche Camp in eastern Chad Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Jsarh Ngarndey Ulrish, File) Women who fled war in Sudan rest in a refugee camp in Adre, Chad, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) A woman who fled war in Sudan and requested anonymity because she feared retribution after reporting sexual exploitation, holds her baby in a refugee camp in Adre, Chad, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) People cross into Chad from Sudan in Adre, Chad, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) A woman who fled war in Sudan digs in a refugee camp in Adre, Chad, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) Patients are treated in an MSF-run clinic in the Aboutengue displacement site near Acre, Chad, Friday, Oct 4. 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) Halima Habdullha holds her 7-month-old severely malnourished daughter Kaltum Abakar in an MSF-run clinic in the Aboutengue displacement site near Acre, Chad, Friday, Oct 4. 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) Ousmane Taher and his family cross from Sudan into Chad near Acre Sunday, Oct 6. 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) Sudanese refugees arrive in Acre, Chad, Sunday, Oct 6. 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) FILE – People gather to collect water in Khartoum, Sudan, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) Along with the Zamzam camp, which has more than 400,000 people, famine was also detected in two other camps for displaced people, Abu Shouk and al-Salam in North Darfur, and the Western Nuba Mountains, the IPC report said. Five other areas in North Darfur are projected “with reasonable evidence” to experience famine in the next six months, including el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, it said. Seventeen areas in the Nuba Mountains and the northern and southern areas of Darfur are at risk of famine, it added. The report also said some areas in the capital, Khartoum, and the east-central province of Gezira “may be experiencing” famine-like conditions. It said experts were unable to confirm whether famine threshold has been surpassed due to lack of data. “It is not merely a lack of food but a profound breakdown of health, livelihoods and social structures, leaving entire communities in a state of desperation,” it said. There is widespread hunger, with food in markets scarce and prices high. Aid groups say they struggle to reach the most vulnerable as warring parties limit access, especially in North Darfur province. Ahead of the IPC’s report, Sudan’s government said it had suspended its participation in the global monitoring system, according to a senior United Nations official with knowledge of the move. In a letter dated Dec. 23, Agriculture Minister Abu Baker al-Beshri accused the IPC of “issuing unreliable reports that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and dignity,” said the U.N. official, who spoke in condition of anonymity to discuss the letter. Sudan’s 20-month war has killed more than than 24,000 people and driven over 14 million people — about 30% of the population — from their homes, according to the United Nations. An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have crossed into neighboring countries including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. The war began in April 2023 when tensions between its military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into fighting in Khartoum before spreading to other areas. The conflict has been marked by atrocities including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the U.N. and rights groups. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Dervla Cleary, a senior emergency and rehabilitation officer at the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, said 638,000 people are experiencing famine. “The situation in Sudan is just awful. It is unacceptable in a world like today,” she said. The IPC report called for a ceasefire, calling it the only way to reduce the risk of famine spreading further.” Sudan is the third country where famine was declared in the past 15 years, along with South Sudan and Somalia. The IPC comprises more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups and governments that use its monitoring as a global reference for analysis of food and nutrition crises. The organization has also warned that large parts of Gaza’s Palestinian population face the threat of famine.
I went looking for discontinued chocolates still on sale in UK - here's what I foundPolitical interest vs. interest rates
Newmark Group, Inc. (PRNewsfoto/Newmark Group, Inc.) First-of-its-kind single-asset, single-borrower ("SASB") transaction validates flexible apartment properties as an institutional asset class LOS ANGELES , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK) ("Newmark" or "the Company"), a leading commercial real estate advisor and service provider to large institutional investors, global corporations, and other owners and occupiers, announces the completion of a landmark $525 million refinancing on behalf of ICONIQ Capital and Sentral: a first-of-its-kind single-asset, single-borrower CMBS loan to refinance flexible apartment properties. Newmark Co-President of Debt & Structured Finance Jonathan Firestone and Vice Chairman Bill Fishel arranged the financing, which was provided by Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. The transaction is tied to a portfolio of six apartment properties totaling 1,790 units in vibrant urban markets. Sentral operates each asset in the portfolio, including approximately 25% of the units under a "flexible living" strategy in which units are fully furnished and made available for short- or mid-length stays. Terms of the financing include wide latitude for flexible management and various lengths of stay to optimize property performance. The six-building portfolio includes Sentral Union Station in Denver , Sentral Michigan Avenue in Chicago , Sentral SoBro in Nashville , Sentral Wynwood in Miami , Sentral East Austin 1614 and Sentral East Austin 1630. "This is a milestone transaction representing a significant validation of the flexible living model as an institutional asset class," said Firestone. "ICONIQ's SASB issuance is an endorsement of its innovative approach and Sentral's track record among debt underwriters and investors, including some of the largest and most sophisticated CMBS investors in the world." Sentral was created in 2019 to deliver flexibility to consumers and allow them to live on their own terms in high-quality multifamily assets in the most dynamic cities across the country. As the operator of the six properties included in this transaction, the company has developed a track record of strong results that have outperformed results from traditional apartment operations. Sentral now manages over 10,000 units in a third party capacity on behalf of ICONIQ and other institutional owners. Roman Speron , President of Sentral, said, "While furnished short- and mid-term rentals are relatively new to the Class A multifamily sector, consumer demand has been strong for many years. Sentral provides a way to capture this demand, manage and optimize results for institutional apartment owners and enhance satisfaction for long-term residents too." "ICONIQ's SASB transaction, and the pricing transparency that it provides, affirms that Sentral's flexible apartment assets are treated very similarly to traditional apartment buildings from a capital markets perspective," said Fishel. "Over time, we expect flexible apartment assets to be valued in line with traditional apartment assets given the consistent increased yield premiums the Sentral platform is able to generate relative to traditional apartments." Gibson Dunn and Latham & Watkins also advised on the transaction. About Sentral Sentral is the leading Class-A multifamily property management company that drives Net Operating Income for owners through differentiated operating capabilities. The company provides full-cycle property and asset management services on over $4 billion in multifamily assets for a growing list of institutional owners, nationwide. Sentral delivers flexible living services, authentic local experiences, premium amenities, community connection for residents and guests, and a tech-enabled platform that enhances operational efficiency. Sentral is backed by world-class firms in technology, hospitality, and real estate, including ICONIQ Capital, Highgate Hotels, and Ascendant Capital Partners. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and Denver . To learn more, visit Sentral.com or follow @SentralLife. About ICONIQ Capital ICONIQ Capital is a global investment firm elevated by an extraordinary community. With over $80B assets under management, we seek to build resilient investment portfolios, partner with inspired entrepreneurs transforming industries, manage our clients' lives and legacies, and create uncommon opportunities across sectors and society. About Newmark Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK), together with its subsidiaries ("Newmark"), is a world leader in commercial real estate, seamlessly powering every phase of the property life cycle. Newmark's comprehensive suite of services and products is uniquely tailored to each client, from owners to occupiers, investors to founders, and startups to blue-chip companies. Combining the platform's global reach with market intelligence in both established and emerging property markets, Newmark provides superior service to clients across the industry spectrum. For the twelve months ended September 30, 2024 , Newmark generated revenues of approximately $2.6 billion . As of that same date, Newmark's company-owned offices, together with its business partners, operated from nearly 170 offices with more than 7,800 professionals around the world. To learn more, visit nmrk.com or follow @newmark . Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements about Newmark Statements in this document regarding Newmark that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the Company's business, results, financial position, liquidity, and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, Newmark undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Newmark's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/newmark-arranges-525-million-refinancing-for-flexible-living-apartment-portfolio-operated-by-sentral-302329434.html SOURCE Newmark Group, Inc.Spl committee on politics at DU begins its work
Sudan’s war is ‘deepening and widening’ a famine crisisNone
2025 has been filled with attractive and affordable 5G mobile phones under ₹20,000. With high functionality and seamless connectivity, such phones now seem to make it easy for people to adapt to the new networking technology without burning huge holes in their pockets. Please review the article for the best collection of Best 5G Phones Under ₹20,000 , the most specialist budget-friendly new additions for upgrading. Realme keeps giving value for money, and the Narzo 70 Pro is the same. The Narzo 70 Pro also features that underneath it has the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor plus a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 120-hertz refresh rate, thus making this device high-speed and rich in visual appearance. The phone even features a 64 MP AI camera setup that gives excellent photography at that price bracket. According to the statistics, Realme took 16% of India's mid-range smartphone market in 2024 and is the most beneficial investment to spend less. The advertisement is for the Best 5G Phones Under ₹20,000. The smartphone's performance engine is powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, which is slim and smart. The 5,000-mah battery keeps the audience busy throughout the day, and the bright 50 MP dual camera system captures all the colorful details. With this price, there is also a 256GB memory option, making it among the most value-for-money 5G handsets . Flagship-grade gaming performance for an unbelievably budget 5G smartphone 2025 for Young Gamers borrowed from portable devices. Moreover, the combination of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and an AMOLED display with 120 Hz manages everything without a hiccup. It supports 44W fast charging and Value-for-Money 5G handsets as an additional boon for the always-on-the-go person. Samsung's Galaxy M14 5G combines reliability with performance. An Exynos 1330 chipset provides best 5G Phones Under ₹20,000 performance, and the powerful 6000mAh battery provides impressive runtime. One UI Core provides an easy and clean interface. Based on data from Counterpoint Research, they are among India's top contenders for budget mid-user options in 2024. The Poco X6 Pro's triple cameras, led by a 64MP lens, will make photos stunningly detailed. The chip is fast, enabling multitasking very easily and at great speed. Further, it enhances the media experience on this mobile device by supporting Dolby Atmos. These days, 5 G phones have the upper hand, but the slashing prices will kill off even the most beloved models. It promises to launch, at best, 5G Phones Under ₹20,000 and possibly even in 2025—an ideal job with all the niceties possible from a phone that features zingy performance at a price. Due to the low price of new technology, shifting to affordable 5G mobile phones is no longer a very expensive affair. Intelligent connectivity onboard thus makes the budget 5G Smartphones 2025 another good thing for people's pockets.
Ahmedabad: A day after Gujarat University (GU) was ranked 15th in the state for uploading academic documents of students on the National Academic Depository (NAD), the university formed a committee to devise a strategy to improve the uploading process. On Wednesday, the University Grants Commission ( UGC ) announced that GU stands at the 15th position in online data uploads within the state, while Gujarat Technological University (GTU) secured the first position. Following the poor ranking, the university called an emergency meeting on Thursday, during which a six-member committee was set up. The committee's primary responsibility will be to oversee the enhancement of online student data updates in the next upload period. Sources in GU said that several colleges, despite receiving multiple directives, failed to transmit adequate data to the universities, resulting in upload delays. The newly formed committee will implement a coordination framework between colleges and the university to ensure broader compliance in submitting essential information, including Academic Bank Credit IDs, within stipulated deadlines. The university uploaded 1 lakh awards, 6.35 lakh degrees, 3.84 lakh mark sheets, and 35,931 ABC credit records. However, these figures remain comparatively lower than those of other universities. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .Under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana funds worth Rs 20,050 crore were allocated towards the holistic development of the fisher community in India, according to a reply by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in response to a question in Rajya Sabha. New Delhi: The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an outlay of Rs. 20,050 crore aims to undertake the holistic development of India’s fisheries sector, said the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha. PMMSY also entails the fisher community’s welfare, according to an official statement by the Fisheries department, under the Ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying. PMMSY was implemented in FY21. The scheme also provisions for the welfare of small-scale traditional fishermen by protecting their interests through social, physical and economic security. These communities are empowered to carry out traditional fishing. They are also encouraged to continue carrying out fisheries related allied activities, according to an official statement. The PMMSY scheme enables these activities through asset creation in the form of acquiring nets and boats. Fishermen are also ecnnocuraged to acquire devices to enable communication and tracking. PMMSY also provides for the supply of sea-safety kits. Fishers are also insured under this scheme apart from receiving support in the acquisition of deep-sea fishing vessels. PMMSY encourages activities such as seaweed culture, and bivalve culture. Ornamental fisheries as well as open sea cage culture are also patronised under this scheme. Fishers can also access new fish culture technologies under this scheme. These technologies include: The fisher community is also entitled to support during lean fishing months or fishing bans under PMMSY. Programmes for the development of small fishing communities as well as traditional fishers apart from other stakeholders received from the department of fisheries for projects to the tune of Rs 4,969.62 crore, with a central component of Rs 1,823.58 crore during FY21 to FY24. Climate relience The department of fisheries has also undertaken activities to promote climate resilience in aquaculture, in the form of sea ranching and other sallied practices, apart from the promotion of integrated fish farming with a minimum environmental footprint. Around 480 deep sea vessels worth Rs 769.64 crore were sanctioned. The Department of Fisheries also approved the setting up 2,195 FFPOs worth Rs.544.85 crore under PMMSY. The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility was extended to fishers from 2018-19 to finance working capital requirements. Nearly 2.54 lakh KCCs and funds worth Rs.2,121.29 crore have been issued so far. Click for more latest Biz news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. The writer is a business and opinion journalist with over 8 years' experience in print and digital journalism. He is focused on simplifying business concepts for readers and offering news that you can use. He also covers auto sector news for this publication. Latest News
Texas Border To Get $264 Million Overhaul
Sports Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The trunk of my late-model car is filled with old coats, sweatpants and stocking caps. They're not real flashy and you'll find holes if you look real close. But those clothes have come in handy in the chilly Treasure State, where so many of us take pride in making the most of challenging weather days. I think of the Montana defense the same way I do those 30-year-old wind pants I pull out of the trunk to wear at football games. Both have been largely underappreciated the last five weeks. On Saturday in Bozeman, the Griz defense surrendered 34 points, so nobody is going to be comparing them to Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain of 1975. Certainly fans of the maroon and silver had a lot of reasons to be flustered. But take a step back and consider Montana State possessed the ball for almost two-thirds of the first half. Then the Cats had some good field position in the first 13 minutes of the third quarter and Montana's defense refused to relent, clinging to hope despite a 20-3 deficit. "They chucked it down the field a few times and made two catches — it's not a high percentage play for them and we've gotta live with that," Montana coach Bobby Hauck said coming out of the locker room after halftime. "Other than that we're tackling well. I think we're playing pretty well on defense." The most prolific scoring team in the FCS was limited to 20 points through the first 43 minutes. Kudos to the Montana defense for its hustle and heart. It's just that the Grizzly offense, held scoreless in the first half at home last Saturday against Portland State, was held to three points through three quarters in Bozeman against the best defense in the Big Sky Conference. Sure, we all expected Montana to do better in its 123rd annual rivalry game at MSU. Maybe at least score more than one touchdown with so much motivation. But give credit to Montana's defensive coaches for again coming up with a strong game plan against Montana State senior quarterback Tommy Mellott. And credit the defense for its vast improvement since giving up 55 points at home earlier this season to Weber State (3-8) and 49 at Eastern Washington (4-7). Not to beat a dead horse, but I can't help wondering how things might have been different had Clifton McDowell stayed around. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound quarterback led Montana to the FCS title game last December with a knack for picking up tough yards on the ground and doing just enough with his passing. He entered the transfer portal last winter for reasons unreported. Maybe he was looking for more NIL money. Maybe he disliked Montana's weather. You could say it's all ancient history now and doesn't matter. But it does matter. It matters a lot because Montana could have been much better. The banged-up Grizzlies need to regroup in a hurry now with a playoff game — likely at home — coming up next weekend. If the defense plays the way it did against the Bobcats, I like Montana's chances. But something needs to be done with the offense and I'm not even sure what it is at this point. Maybe go back to Keali'i Ah Yat at quarterback, assuming he's healthy, or give 6-4 sophomore Kaden Huot of Helena a few snaps. Montana has beaten only one conference team with a winning record (Northern Arizona), so maybe Griz fans should be grateful their guys are in the playoff mix with an 8-4 record. Any postseason success would feel like a bonus at this point. Bill Speltz is Missoulian Sports Editor. Email him at bill.speltz@missoulian.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sports Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
IT problems struck flights at two oneworld Alliance member airlines this week, leading to delays and flight cancellations. Network equipment connecting internal and external systems at Japan Airlines (JAL) malfunctioned early on Dec. 26 after “receiving a large amount of data from an external source,” the company said. Delays due to too much traffic The description suggests it may have been hit by a . “The cause of the failure and the impact range of the system issues have been identified, and the system has been restored,” it said in the last of a series of statements recounting . JAL emphasized that there was “no customer data leakage or virus damage” and no threat to flight safety. It was, however, forced to temporarily suspend services including last-minute upgrades and access to standby seats. The company said that 71 flights were delayed by half an hour or more as a result of the incident, with the longest delay being just over four hours. It cancelled four flights on Thursday, with a fifth cancellation expected on Friday. Earlier in the week, American Airlines was forced to ground flights for up to an hour on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest travel days of the year. American asked US Federal Aviation Administration to issue a “nationwide groundstop” at 6:50 am Eastern Time on Tuesday, preventing any of its aircraft from flying. The advisory was lifted an hour later. Vendor technology issue The airline blamed the problems on a “vendor technology issue” in a message sent from its official X/Twitter account. The issue was in networking equipment managed by DXC Technologies, according to an American Airlines statement cited by several news outlets. Neither DXC nor American immediately responded to our requests for comment. American has been working with DXC to modernize mainframe systems using a devops approach, according to a . In a separate modernization initiative, it also , so it should be well placed to evaluate the consequences of Tuesday morning’s outage. The disruptions were relatively minor compared to the over a ten-day period at the end of 2022, when disruptions due to bad weather triggered the collapse of IT systems at a time when many Americans were travelling for the holidays. Lauren Woods, who took over as Southwest’s CIO just two months after the incident, described her new role euphemistically as an “ ” in an interview with CIO.com earlier this year.
Russian military personnel killed five unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war last month, the Donetsk Region Prosecutor's Office reported on Friday. The prosecutor's office said that Russian troops stormed Ukrainian positions near the city of Vuhledar, in Donetsk Oblast, during an offensive in which five defenders were captured on October 2. Citing operational data, it said one was killed in a forest belt, while four were taken to the road at gunpoint, where they too were shot. "The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and qualifies as a serious international crime," the report said. It added that investigative actions are being carried out to establish the full circumstances of the incident, with the pre-trial investigation being carried out by the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment via email on Saturday outside of standard working hours. On Saturday, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov said Kyiv is aware of Russian "execution lists" targeting Ukrainian teachers, journalists, priests, and others. "[The execution lists] were supposed to include teachers of the Ukrainian language, literature, history, ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] veterans, journalists, scientists, writers, priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and other denominations who supported Ukraine, public and political figures, heads of state authorities and self-government," said Budanov. The intelligence head also said that "Ukrainophobia" has affected the entire society of Russia. "The genocide of Ukrainians is not only the state policy of the Russian Federation, but also a mandatory social conviction from above," he said. Moscow launched a hypersonic missile strike this week on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, targeting a military facility. The attack utilized the experimental Oreshnik hypersonic missile, an intermediate-range weapon that can reportedly be equipped with either nuclear or conventional warheads. In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strike was a response to Ukraine's deployment of U.S. and British long-range missiles, which have been used to target sites within Russia. "No one in the world has weapons like these," Putin said. President Joe Biden greenlit the use of U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for strikes inside Russian territory in a significant policy shift announced last weekend. Biden justified the move as a response to the involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict. Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article or the war in Ukraine? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.comTop 11 MLS Free Agents Ahead of 2025 Season