Germany pledges security inquest into Christmas market attackBennett scores 23 as Quinnipiac defeats Sacred Heart 83-73LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Washington Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Part of that was the play of backup Cooper Rush, who threw for 247 yards and two TDs in his third start in place of starter Dak Prescott. Part was also the defense forcing two turnovers, as Chauncey Golston ripped the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.’s hands for what was called an interception of Daniels in the second quarter, and Donovan Wilson stripped John Bates midway through the fourth. KaVonte Turpin provided the fireworks with a spinning, 99-yard kickoff return TD seconds after Daniels found Zach Ertz in the end zone and scored on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three with 3:02 left. In the final three minutes alone, the Commanders (7-5) scored 10 points and allowed Thomas’ TD. All that after the score was 10-9 through three quarters before madness ensued. CHIEFS 30, PANTHERS 27 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and , Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and Kansas City beat Carolina to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. Noah Gray caught two TD passes as the Chiefs (10-1) bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, who scored on their first five possessions. Bryce Young finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-8), who had their two-game winning streak snapped. David Moore had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Trailing 27-19, Young completed a fourth-down pass to Adam Thielen to move the chains, then went deep for the veteran receiver, who drew a pass-interference penalty on Chamarri Conner. That set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard. LIONS 24, COLTS 6 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — and David Montgomery added a third touchdown run, leading Detroit to a victory over Indianapolis. Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards as the Lions (10-1) extended their league-high winning streak to nine straight. Detroit has its been 11-game record since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1934. Jared Goff continued his sensational season, too, completing 26 of 36 throws for 269 yards. The Colts (5-7) lost their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. the NFL’s highest-scoring offense largely in check Sunday, it was doomed by its inability to finish drives with touchdowns. BUCCANEERS 30, GIANTS 7 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Baker Mayfield catapulted into the end zone for one of Tampa Bay’s four rushing touchdowns, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback Tommy DeVito, snapping a four-game losing streak and extending New York’s skid to six. The Giants’ decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones did nothing to help the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. DeVito threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dominated in every phase in a near-perfect perfect performance that featured TD runs of 1 yard by Sean Tucker, 6 yards by Bucky Irving and 1 yard by Rachaad White. After recent losses to the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay (5-6) moved within one game of idle Atlanta in the NFC South. Tampa Bay scored on five of its on first six possessions to open a 30-0 lead, and none was more exciting than Mayfield’s TD run with 12 seconds left in the first half. On a second-and-goal from the 10, he avoided pressure and went for the end zone. He was hit by Cor’Dale Flott low and Dru Phillips high around the 2-yard line, and he was airborne when he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose when he hit the turf but he jumped up and flexed — — as the Bucs took a 23-0 lead. DOLPHINS 34, PATRIOTS 15 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, including two scores to running back De’Von Achane, and Miami routed New England. The Dolphins (5-6) have a thin margin for error the rest of the season but have kept themselves afloat with a three-game winning streak. With their win at New England (3-9) in Week 5, the Dolphins have swept their division rivals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. Tagovailoa, who moved to 7-0 in his career against New England, entered the game with a league-high 73.4% completion rate and went 29 for 40. Backup Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa with about 11 minutes left in what was already a blowout, but a bad handoff on his first play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Christian Gonzalez and returned 63 yards for a touchdown. It cut New England’s deficit to 31-15, and Tagovailoa returned the next drive. TITANS 32, TEXANS 27 HOUSTON (AP) — Will Levis threw for 278 yards and his 70-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo put Tennessee on top in the fourth quarter and the Titans held on for a win over the Texans. Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled for the touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 9 1/2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. The Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. Titans coach Brian Callahan held both hands in the air and smiled after watching the miss that allowed his team to win on a day it had three turnovers. The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked C.J. Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. VIKINGS 30, BEARS 27, OT CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up , and Minnesota outlasted Chicago after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings (9-2), who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North. Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (4-7), who lost their fifth straight. Minnesota appeared to have the game in hand, leading 27-16 with 1:56 left after Romo kicked a 26-yard field goal. But the Bears weren’t finished. Deandre Carter made up for that led to a touchdown in the third quarter with a 55-yard kickoff return to the 40. Williams took it from there, capping an eight-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. A 2-point conversion pass to DJ Moore made it 27-24 with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears recovered the onside kick and Williams hit Moore over the middle for a 27-yard gain to the 30 before spiking the ball. Cairo Santos made a 48-yard field goal as time expired.From defence to culture and sports, India and Kuwait sign key agreements during PM Modi's visit

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Ray'Sean Taylor had 27 points, Ring Malith scored 24 with 10 rebounds and SIU Edwardsville beat Ball State 82-69 on Sunday. Taylor went 9 of 22 from the field (7 for 15 from 3-point range) for the Cougars (6-4). Malith hit 7 of 13 shots and 9 of 10 at the free-throw line. Brian Taylor II shot 5 of 8 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line to finish with 13 points. Juan Sebastian Gorosito led the way for the Cardinals (3-6) with 17 points. Ball State also got 13 points and six rebounds from Ben Hendriks. Malith scored 10 points in the first half and SIU-Edwardsville went into the break trailing 41-39. Ray'Sean Taylor scored the last seven points for SIU-Edwardsville to finish off the 13-point victory. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Grant-Mentis scores twice as Victorie beat Charge in PWHL pre-season

The global demand and consumption of agricultural crops is increasing at a rapid pace. It is estimated that the global yield needs to increase at an average annual rate of 1.73 percent to sustainably produce food , feed, fibre and bioenergy for 10 billion people in 2050. Globally, agricultural productivity is struggling to keep pace with population growth , highlighting the importance of research into traditional practices as well as new ones. Such improvements require special scientific collaboration. Agronomy Crop Science (or ‘agronomy’) is a multi-disciplinary field which focuses on research and development of plant-based crops. The subject includes scientific knowledge and understanding of the cultivation, management, processing and production of crops. For low income countries especially, crop science enables a deep review of important agricultural issues and challenges to take place. Challenges include resource planning, including resource use that is consistent with sustainable production of food, feed, fibre and fuel. production, processing and marketing of food and non-food products. Henan Agricultural University The crop science discipline has prominent advantages and distinct features in the research about the theory and technology for the coordinated improvement of yields and efficiency of annual double-cropping crops. This approach is being pioneered at Henan Agricultural University . The crop science discipline was initially established in 1912. In 2007, crop science was recognized as a first-level national key discipline. Recent progress has focused on the scientific issues of the interaction between crop growth and development with the environment. For example, by dissecting the genomes of excellent varieties of annual double-cropping crops and innovating research methods in functional genomics, scientists have mined functional genes related to excellent traits such as crop growth and development. Hence, as a science there is considerable focus upon the chemical, physical, and biological relationships of crops and the soils nurturing them. Disease resistant crops Other areas of research include a better understanding of disease resistance and heat tolerance. Another important line of inquiry is nutrient efficiency. Some of these areas feed into environmental sustainability. Crop science can provide improved resource use efficiencies for water, fertilisers and labour, as key components of optimising environmental and economically sustainable food production. Such research provides theoretical guidance and genetic resources for the breeding of new crop varieties that are high-yielding, high-quality, disease-resistant, and stress-tolerant, and offers technical support for improving crop production efficiency. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans went to the polls Sunday for a second round of voting to choose their next president , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote. The staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou. The Broad Front oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small, laid-back South American nation of 3.4 million people. Orsi’s Broad Front took 44% of the vote while Delgado’s National Party won 27% in the first round of voting Oct. 27. But the other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger this time around. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Analysts say the candidates’ lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over growing income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere. “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy,” said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn’t exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s most safe and stable. Delgado promises tough-on-crime policies and a new maximum-security prison while Orsi advocates a community-oriented approach to crime prevention. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government.” While a string of corruption scandals briefly rattled Lacalle Pou’s government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to press on with his predecessor’s pro-business, market-friendly policies. He would continue pursuing a prospective trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries that promotes regional commerce. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as an heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , a former Marxist guerilla who boosted Uruguay’s profile as one of the region’s most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer, was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “When it comes to governing, with the parliamentary structure that we will have, the government will be forced to negotiate,” he told reporters as he emerged from his local polling station, praising Uruguay’s robust and level-headed democracy as “no small thing” in Latin America. While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would buck the demographic trend in lowering the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay’s unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. “This is a normal election, which is rare,” said Saldías. “It’s indicative of Uruguay’s strength as a democracy.” ___ Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.

Orlando “Gabe” Frederico Gabriele, 97, passed away in his home in Pittsburgh, Thursday, November 14, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. A first-generation Italian American born June 6, 1927, he was a son of the late Federico G. Gabriele and Rita S. Cascia Gabriele, who arrived from Italy to settle in Providence, R.I. Gabe attended Brown University, graduating summa cum laude, and acquired his MD from Yale University School of Medicine in 1954. As a young man, Gabe proudly served as a fireman for the Centerdale Volunteer Fire Department and as a member of the Army Medical Corps during World War II. Gabe’s medical education continued at Philadelphia General Hospital as an intern, then he returned to Yale to complete his residency in radiology. He continued at Yale as a clinician and residency training director. Gabe’s colleague and mentor, Dr. James Scatliff, moved on to the Chair of the Department of Radiology at UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. in 1966 and asked Gabe to join him as residency director there. Orlando Gabriele came to West Virginia University in 1972 to chair the Department of Radiology and recruited his friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Hogan, to help start West Virginia’s first and only radiological residency training program. Keeping abreast of the newest technologies, Gabe brought the first CAT scanner and MRI scanner to West Virginia. Gabe was a pioneer in angiography and also instrumental in developing ultrasound and nuclear medicine in West Virginia. Gabe’s passion for teaching and mentorship reached many students and residents and continues to have an impact on patient care today throughout West Virginia. When he retired from WVU to accept a position as Chair of Radiology at Montifiore Hospital in Pittsburgh, he was honored for his contributions to the department and the education of many respected physicians under his mentorship with the WVU School of Medicine Orlando F. Gabriele Chair of Radiology endowment. Gabe was a nationally respected physician, teacher and diagnostician, who served as a guest examiner for the American Board of Radiology, a diplomat for the American Board of Radiology and American Board of Nuclear Medicine, authored over 60 publications, and taught at Yale, UNC and WVU. His legacy inspired two of his sons and one of his grandsons to follow him in the field of radiology. After Gabe retired from the practice of medicine at age 71, he enjoyed life and immersed himself in many endeavors such as traveling, tennis, gardening, hiking, and entertaining with his beloved wife, Denise Kalinowski, MD, family and friends. He was a gifted conversationalist, a prolific reader and a life-long scholar of history, politics, society and many other topics of interest that he enthusiastically shared with those who were fortunate to enjoy the pleasure of his company. He was known for his intellect, wit, kindness, generosity, and humility and was cherished by all who knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved sister, Yolanda Kearns; and his former spouse, Marguerite Gabriele. He is survived by his wife, Denise; his children, Frederick (Mary) Gabriele, MD of Morgantown, Marguerite (David) Horvath, Esq. of Morgantown, Michael (Colleen) Gabriele, MD of Sewickly, and Peter (Stephanie) Prosek of Marietta, Ga.; his nine grandchildren, Nicholas, Isabella, Anthony, Paige, Dominic, Kyra, Ethan, Roman and Arianna; and his beloved sister, Anna Albanese of Providence, R.I. WVU Medical School Alumni Association and Gabe’s family will host a memorial service December 14, in the WVU Health Sciences Center in the Pylon Lobby. Family will receive friends at 11 a.m., with a Celebration of Life and Reception to follow at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully encourages donations to be made to the O.F. Gabriele Chair of Radiology at the WVU School of Medicine. Gifts may be mailed to: Tim Bolling, WVU Foundation, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507 (memo: Gabriele Chair Fund 3V034).Does third loss mean end of the road for Congress in Maharashtra?Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says AI will change how children learn and could shape their culture and worldview. Schmidt spoke at Princeton University — his alma mater — this week to promote his forthcoming book, "Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit." Schmidt co-authored the book with Craig Mundie, former Microsoft CTO and OpenAI advisor, and the late American diplomat Henry Kissinger. Schmidt said during the talk that he thinks most people aren't ready for the technological advancements AI could bring. "I can assure you that the humans in the rest of the world, all the normal people — because you all are not normal, sorry to say, you're special in some way — the normal people are not ready," Schmidt told the Princeton crowd. "Their governments are not ready. The government processes are not ready. The doctrines are not ready. They're not ready for the arrival of this." Schmidt has advised the US government and military on technology for years. In 2016, he chaired the Defense Innovation Board, which advises the Defense Department, and chaired the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence in 2018. More recently, he founded White Stork, a startup that . At Stanford University in April, the Ukraine War had turned him into an arms dealer. His vision — and concern — for AI, however, extends beyond the battlefield. He said, for example, that a child's best friend could be "not human" in the future, which could present problems. "What are the rules?" he asked. "Is it OK that ... it's the equivalent of Mark Zuckerberg as just the surrogate parent who gets to decide what your kid learns and doesn't learn." Schmidt said that's why the world should design safety requirements for AI. "Playing with the way people think is really powerful," he said. "If you think about state-sponsored misinformation, that's trivial compared to having your best friend be state-sponsored, and they sort of have daily interaction and shape someone's identity, their cultural values." He added: "In the case where AI is built by one country, hopefully the US, what happens to all the other cultures? Do we just roll through them?" He said humanity's transition to AI will be rocky and that much remains to be seen about how humans will integrate with the technology. One audience member asked if most people will use a personal AI for "videos that make them laugh" or for "information that's only going to confirm their biases." "One of the things that's worth saying is that none of us thought, when we invented social media, that we would become a threat to democracy," he responded. "That wasn't on the list of attributes. And these are the unintended effects of technologies that touch humans." Read the original article on

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Rashad King's 19 points helped Northeastern defeat FGCU 59-55 on Saturday. King had eight rebounds for the Huskies (5-1). Masai Troutman shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 5 from the line to add 17 points. Harold Woods finished 4 of 13 from the field to finish with 11 points. The Eagles (1-5) were led in scoring by Dallion Johnson, who finished with 18 points. Rory Stewart added 13 points and eight rebounds for FGCU. Jevin Muniz also had seven points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) Barclays 22nd Annual Global Technology Conference (Transcript)

Rachel Reeves' tax raid unveiled in her first Budget has caused a collapse in businesses' confidence in Britain, damning survey reveals By CALUM MUIRHEAD Published: 22:01 GMT, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 22:28 GMT, 8 December 2024 e-mail 30 View comments Rachel Reeves ’ tax raid unveiled in October’s Budget has triggered a collapse in businesses’ confidence in Britain, a new survey has shown. It came as recruitment firms warned businesses were taking on fewer workers as they digested higher bills caused by the Chancellor’s spending plans. A report from consultancy firm BDO showed that business optimism across the UK had plummeted to its lowest level in two years as owners were forced to confront the prospect of rising costs and ongoing challenges in the jobs market. Businesses suffered a double whammy in October when Reeves unveiled plans to hike National Insurance contributions for employers and introduce an inflation-busting increase in the minimum wage . Bosses have warned the measures will lead to job losses, shop closures and price hikes as they struggle to pay the additional costs. Following the Budget, BDO reported that its optimism index for businesses had dropped to 93.49 in November, its lowest since January 2023 when firms were grappling with surging inflation and political turmoil sparked by the aftermath of Liz Truss ’s mini-Budget. BDO said the fall was ‘likely to reflect businesses’ immediate reaction to announcements in the Autumn Budget,’ noting that confidence had dropped particularly sharply in the services industry, which includes retailers and other consumer-based firms. Retail bosses have been among the fiercest critics of the Chancellor’s planned tax hikes, with the heads of M&S , Sainsbury’s, Amazon UK and Next among those warning the measures will lead to higher prices and job losses. Rachel Reeves visiting Leeds Corn Exchange last Friday. The Chancellor's Budget has triggered a collapse in businesses' confidence in the UK, a survey has shown A report from consultancy firm BDO showed that business optimism across the UK had plummeted to its lowest level in two years (file photo) Adil Mehboob-Khan, the boss of high-end London department store Liberty, joined the chorus on Sunday when he said the government’s hammering of high street stores was making British businesses ‘less competitive.’ He also hit out at the Chancellor’s previous statements not to raise taxes on working people but then introduce measures that would hit their spending power anyway. ‘It’s a bit of a stretch to make a statement that you won’t increase taxes, then you increase a tax that people may not perceive as a tax because it doesn’t hit their compensation directly,’ Mehboob-Khan told the Telegraph. BDO also highlighted that according to its trackers, the UK’s economic output had shrunk last month for the first time this year. It blamed the reversal on ‘reduced customer confidence, declining staff numbers and rising input costs’ as pessimism about the economy persisted into the winter months. The bleak figures came as recruitment agencies reported that businesses were looking to take on less staff as they digested the impact of Labour’s tax raid on their spending plans. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) said firms were reassessing staffing needs and putting a pause on recruitment activity and that as a result placements of staff into jobs last month fell at its fastest rate for more than a year. ‘It should be a surprise to no one that firms took the time to reassess their hiring needs in November after a tough Budget for employers,’ said REC head Neil Carberry. He added: ‘The real question now is whether businesses will return to the market as they go into next year with greater certainty about the path ahead.’ The bleak numbers came as businesses are looking at taking on less staff in light of Labour's tax raids (file photo) Read More EXCLUSIVE Rachel Reeves: We can't boost the UK's defence spending without making cuts elsewhere The Government has been facing a barrage of criticism from multiple parts of the UK about the Chancellor’s Budget plans. Last week, Treasury Minister James Murray was at the receiving end of a bitter backlash to the Budget in Darlington, County Durham, when the owners of a patisserie said small businesspeople were ‘crying around their kitchen tables’ trying to cope with extra taxes and increases to the minimum wage. In November, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said businesses were right to warn of potential job cuts as a result of the Budget. And last week he said the planned hike in National Insurance risked keeping interest rates higher for longer, leaving mortgage holders and other borrowers facing more pain in the form of higher repayments. Rachel Reeves Share or comment on this article: Rachel Reeves' tax raid unveiled in her first Budget has caused a collapse in businesses' confidence in Britain, damning survey reveals e-mail Add commentMensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. BRIEFLY FLAG PLANT: Ohio Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. MALZAHN: Gus Malzahn, who resigned as UCF’s coach last month to become Mike Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State, said he chose to return to his coaching roots rather than remain a head coach distracted by a myriad of responsibilities.

BETHESDA, Md. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock for December 2024 . The dividend is payable on January 10, 2025 to common stockholders of record as of December 31, 2024 . For further information or questions, please contact Investor Relations at (301) 968-9300 or IR@AGNC.com . ABOUT AGNC INVESTMENT CORP. Founded in 2008, AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) is a leading investor in Agency residential mortgage-backed securities (Agency MBS), which benefit from a guarantee against credit losses by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae . We invest on a leveraged basis, financing our Agency MBS assets primarily through repurchase agreements, and utilize dynamic risk management strategies intended to protect the value of our portfolio from interest rate and other market risks. AGNC has a track record of providing favorable long-term returns for our stockholders through substantial monthly dividend income, with over $13 billion of common stock dividends paid since inception. Our business is a significant source of private capital for the U.S. residential housing market, and our team has extensive experience managing mortgage assets across market cycles. To learn more about The Premier Agency Residential Mortgage REIT , please visit www.AGNC.com , follow us on LinkedIn and X , and sign up for Investor Alerts . CONTACT: Investor Relations - (301) 968-9300 View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agnc-investment-corp-declares-monthly-common-stock-dividend-of-0-12-per-common-share-for-december-2024--302329440.html SOURCE AGNC Investment Corp.4PS may not be enough for licking child malnutrition

Sandy Hill apartment building evacuated for high levels of carbon monoxide

Supermarket giant with over 900 locations wants to makes big security change to combat ‘very real threat’Former Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita has urged Nigerian engineers to spearhead the nation’s development through innovation and sustainable practices. Speaking at the 9th Rev. Engr. Etteh I. Etteh Distinguished Annual Lecture, Oyo-Ita emphasized the pivotal role engineers play in modernizing economies, solving local challenges, and positioning Nigeria for global competitiveness. Delivering a lecture titled: The Engineer in 21st Century Nigeria: A Delicate Balance of Economic Reality in Harnessing Professional Skills for Innovation and Development, Oyo-Ita underscored the transformative potential of engineering across sectors like infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy. She called on engineers to extend their expertise into emerging areas such as renewable energy, agriculture, and transportation to tackle Nigeria’s unique challenges. “The contributions of Nigerian engineers are evident, but there is a need for a mindset reset to overcome challenges like climate change, population growth, and economic volatility. Ingenious solutions, indigenous innovation, and collaboration are vital to repositioning Nigeria for sustainable development,” she said. She stressed the importance of fostering indigenous innovation to reduce reliance on imported technologies, citing the development of solar energy solutions and localized manufacturing as key examples. Oyo-Ita also advocated for research and development (R&D) centers to enhance local engineering capabilities. “Engineers must lead the way toward innovation rather than waiting for government policies. This requires developing cost-effective, locally sourced technologies that address Nigeria’s realities,” she added. Oyo-Ita called for reforms in Nigeria’s educational system to prepare future engineers for practical challenges. She recommended prioritizing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education from an early age, alongside hands-on training and entrepreneurship programs in tertiary institutions. “To produce high-caliber engineers, our education system must focus on practical, innovative training in fields like renewable energy, industrial automation, and agricultural machinery,” she said, citing China and India as global models for inspiration. She further urged the government to implement policies that support certified engineers and curb quackery in the profession. The private sector, she added, must invest in engineering innovations through venture capital and partnerships. “To transform our economy, engineers need funding, continuous professional development, and access to the tools required to compete effectively,” she stated. Mrs. Oyo-Ita marshalled out a striking balance between economic realities and the professional skills needed by the Nigerian Engineers’ to strategically position themselves as change agents for modernization, innovation, and sustainable development. “The Nigerian engineer of the 21st century must go beyond professionalism to become a leader who can redefine the nation’s development narrative,” she concluded. The NSE President, Engr Margaret Oguntola, lauded her remarks, highlighting ongoing efforts by the association to champion capacity-building programs and policy advocacy for the profession. Oguntola who was represented by Valerie Aderagba also called on young engineers to embrace leadership opportunities that can shape the nation’s future. In his opening remarks, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Dr Ezugwu, highlighted the significance of the event in celebrating the legacy of Rev. Engr. Etteh, a trailblazer in civil engineering.

EMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) — Jedy Cordilia's 21 points helped Mount St. Mary's defeat Fairfield 101-94 on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * EMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) — Jedy Cordilia's 21 points helped Mount St. Mary's defeat Fairfield 101-94 on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? EMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) — Jedy Cordilia’s 21 points helped Mount St. Mary’s defeat Fairfield 101-94 on Sunday. Cordilia also had seven rebounds for the Mountaineers (6-3, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Dola Adebayo scored 15 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 4 for 4 from the free-throw line and added nine rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. Dallas Hobbs shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the foul line to finish with 14 points. Prophet Johnson led the Stags (5-5, 1-1) in scoring, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Braden Sparks added 16 points and four assists for Fairfield. Jamie Bergens had 15 points and four assists. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement

Former Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery has been named the new head coach of the St. Louis Blues. In a social media post on Sunday, the Blues announced that "Drew Bannister has been relieved of his coaching duties" and that "Jim Montgomery has been named the 28th head coach in franchise history." The Bruins fired Montgomery on Tuesday, following Boston's 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was Boston's third consecutive loss. With a record of 10-9-3, Boston is in 4th place in the NHL's Atlantic Division. Associate coach Joe Sacco took over Montgomery's role as head coach, the Bruins confirmed on Tuesday. Under Sacco's lead, the Bruins defeated the Utah Hockey club 1-0 on Thursday and the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 on Saturday. Montgomery was hired in 2022 , becoming the 29th coach in team history and just the third that the Bruins hired since 2007. He replaced Bruce Cassidy, who was fired after the team was eliminated in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Originally, from Montreal, Quebec, Montgomery's resume included being head coach of the Dallas Stars and an assistant head coach for the St. Louis Blues. He was fired by the Stars in 2019 and checked himself into rehab to deal with alcohol abuse in early 2020. He was previously a player who played on several teams, including the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. During his tenure in Boston, Montgomery was selected as a coach for the NHL All-Star Game twice.Tavaris Williams went viral on "Wheel of Fortune" after a shocking answer. He explains the thought process that led to his surprising guess on the game show. Vanna White’s son, Nikko Santo Pietro, cooked up a viral moment in the kitchen with his mom, sending fans into a frenzy for the "heartthrob." Last week, Nikko appeared with White in an Instagram video showing the duo making a chicken dish in honor of Fabulous Food Week on "Wheel of Fortune." Fans were quick to react to Nikko, calling him "handsome" and inquiring about his relationship status. "Vanna where have you been hiding Nikko ? He’s GORGEOUS," one person wrote. 'WHEEL OF FORTUNE' HOST RYAN SEACREST AND VANNA WHITE LAUNCH 'NEW ERA' OF GAME SHOW Vanna White's son, Nikko Santo Pietro, went viral thanks to their cooking video where fans discovered he was "handsome." (2022 American Broadcasting Companies/Instagram) Another simply said, "Your son is hot!!!" In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Nikko said the attention was "flattering." APP USERS CLICK HERE A post shared by Vanna White (@officialvannawhite) "Obviously, I had an outpour[ing] from her fans just really being kind and saying all kinds of interesting stuff in the comments," he said. Nikko, 30, who works in real estate with Mauricio Umansky, ex-husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Kyle Richards, added, "I’ve always loved being in front of the camera, and I work really hard on my social media. That’s a big part of what I do, so it feels natural and good." 'WHEEL OF FORTUNE'S' VANNA WHITE ADMITS SHE WAS ‘SCARED’ ABOUT CHEMISTRY WITH RYAN SEACREST But the attention isn’t going to his head. "People see me as this heartthrob, and they’re thirsty for me and all this stuff. I love it all, but at the same time, it’s really good to remember the meaningful things in life and just kind of dial it back, doing a lot of charity work, working hard every day," he told the outlet. White added, "He’s such a good kid!" She continued, "I always taught both of my children, you have to work hard to get things, it’s not just given to you. And he’s doing it." APP USERS CLICK HERE A post shared by Vanna White (@officialvannawhite) CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER White also shares a daughter, Gigi, with her ex-husband, restaurant owner George Santo Pietro. If anyone was hoping to find love via DMs with Nikko, he confirmed he’s in a relationship already. "I have an amazing girlfriend," he told ET. "She’s an absolute sweetheart. She’s a singer-songwriter. We’ve been together for a year. She wrote a song about me. It’s really sweet that she did that. He added that his girlfriend, Easae, who titled the song about him "Karaoke," "obviously detected the heartthrob thing before America did." APP USERS CLICK HERE A post shared by Vanna White (@officialvannawhite) LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS She also has mom’s approval, with White saying, "She’s so sweet, she really is, down-to-earth, loving, giving," White said. Nikko’s viral attention is also potentially sparking a few more television appearances. "I would love that," White said when asked if he would appear on "Wheel of Fortune." She noted Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak , has been on the show many times, including filling in for White while she took over Sajak’s role as host in 2020 when he underwent surgery. Maggie has also worked as the show’s social media correspondent since 2021. "I don’t know how well I’d play the game, but I’d love to participate at some level," Nikko added. Pat Sajak's daughter, Maggie, has appeared on "Wheel of Fortune" many times. (Christopher Willard/ABC) 'WHEEL OF FORTUNE' HOST PAT SAJAK'S DAUGHTER MAGGIE SHARES NEW CAREER PLANS AFTER FILLING IN FOR VANNA WHITE White said Nikko has appeared on the show a few times, first when she was pregnant, and a handful of other special occasions, like holiday episodes. "I love real estate, I think that real estate’s a really good foundation," Nikkos said of his career ambitions. "The way that I look at [it] is more like an entrepreneur and having multiple deals a year, it’s great to seed my projects and endeavors, hire social media managers, I’ve been paying for a professionally hosted website, and it’s just going to continue to grow. But I think entertainment’s really at my core ... so it’s kind of fueling my passion." He's also considering following in his father’s footsteps, saying, "My father is a restaurateur, and he had an iconic restaurant here in Los Angeles, and there is a part of me that would want to potentially continue that legacy. APP USERS CLICK HERE A post shared by Nikko Santo Pietro (@nikkoshow) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Either way, his goal is "More getting in front of the camera, building out my brand, my personal brand, and ultimately, it’s all about giving back and providing value to viewers."

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South Korea’s Yoon survives impeachment after martial law fiascoMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Joseph Pinion had 22 points and eight rebounds, Dyondre Dominguez added 19 points and Arkansas State built a double-digit first-half lead to beat No. 16 Memphis 85-72 on Sunday. Pinion was 7 of 13 from the floor and 5 of 11 from outside the arc, giving the Red Wolves their second straight win and their first over a ranked team since 1991. Taryn Todd finished with 17 points for Arkansas State (7-3). PJ Haggerty led Memphis (7-2) with 29 points, and Dain Dainja finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Arkansas State held a double-digit lead for most of the game and led 68-57 with 8 minutes left. That was enough for the Red Wolves to defeat the Tigers, snapping a seven-game losing streak to Memphis. Arkansas State: The Red Wolves certainly got the nationally ranked Tigers' attention in the first half after they shot 7 of 18 from 3-point range and built an 18-point lead. The lead got to single digits a couple of times in the second half, but Arkansas State answered the pressure. Memphis: The Tigers suffered through a miserable first half, shooting under 20% late in the half. They turned up their defensive pressure, which cut into the lead, but Memphis never made a serious threat. Memphis got within 60-53 with 11 minutes left, but Arkansas State went on a 12-6 run that included 3-pointers from Pinion, Todd and Kobe Julien to stretch the Red Wolves' lead to 75-60 with 6:29 left in the game. Arkansas State's last win over a ranked team was when it defeated then-No. 21 New Orleans 76-65 in 1991. Arkansas State hosts UT-Arlington on Thursday, and Memphis travels to Clemson on Saturday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballApple develops smart doorbell camera with Face ID technology, set for 2025 releaseRFU accused of betraying game over Premiership promotion criteria