After a thrilling double-overtime win over Fresno State, California Baptist makes the nearly 2,500-mile trip to Orlando to face Central Florida on Sunday. The Lancers (5-3) capped their time at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, Calif., with an 86-81 victory over the Bulldogs on Wednesday. That followed a last-second, 79-77 loss to SMU the day before. Dominique Daniels Jr. played 45 minutes against Fresno State and led California Baptist with 29 points. He paces the Lancers with 20.3 points per game, while Kendal Coleman averages 15.1 points and is shooting 59.7 percent form the floor. However, coach Rick Croy's team has struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 30.7 percent entering its first true road game this season. UCF (5-2) is coming off of an 84-76 win over Milwaukee last Wednesday despite being outrebounded 41-31. The Knights were helped by the heroics of senior guard Darius Johnson, who had 28 points as he shot a career-best 8-for-10 from beyond the arc. "Darius was terrific," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. "He's so comfortable in his leadership role now, he's leading our team and running the show, and our new players are becoming more comfortable playing with him. He's been a rock for us this season, and you love to see it out of a senior point guard." "I had an extraordinary night shooting the ball from three," Johnson said. "I rarely think that would happen again, but it's great. I know my teammates are going to have nights like that as well." Johnson is among the nation's leaders in minutes per game (36.6) and is shooting a team-high 50 percent from 3-point range (23 of 46). He, along with his fellow guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, are each averaging 16.9 points to lead UCF. The Knights opened the season with an impressive win over Texas A&M, now No. 20 in the AP poll, but lost both games at last weekend's Greenbrier Tip-Off, including a triple-overtime defeat against LSU on Sunday. UCF has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2018-19. This will be the first meeting between the Knights and the Lancers, who will each have time off afterwards. UCF won't play until Dec. 8 against Tarleton State, while California Baptist is idle until its Dec. 11 game at San Diego State. --Field Level Media

Townsville Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News. A trail of destruction swept across Townsville early on Tuesday morning as thieves used stolen vehicles to target four locations in a brazen 30-minute crime spree, leaving small businesses with thousands in damages. The rampage began at 4.24am, when a stolen Toyota Prado was used to ram a parked car outside Brumbys Bakery at Parkside Plaza on Bamford Lane, Kirwan. From there, the Prado next targeted a Wulguru petrol station, crashing into the premises before the offenders made off with the cash register. Minutes later, the same vehicle smashed into Cre8ive Sk8, a popular skate shop on Ross River Road, stealing several electric scooters. The spree continued when the Prado was rammed into the front door of the Friendly Grocer store on Abbott Street, Oonoonba, causing extensive damage. The chaos ended just before 5am when both the Toyota Prado and a stolen Subaru were found abandoned near a creek on Boundary Street, Hermit Park. Police report the Subaru had been set alight. “It’s getting ridiculous,” says business owner Picking up the pieces of his shattered skate shop, Cre8ive Sk8 co-owner Nick Wilson expressed frustration over the escalating crime in Townsville, calling it “getting ridiculous.” The ADF veteran said the early morning ram-raid was the third time his store had been hit by thieves since he took it over a little over a year ago. “At about 4.20 this morning, I got a call from the security who monitors the alarms ... then I checked the cameras from my phone, could see the cops out the front with the lights flashing, so I jumped up and came down to the shop and met with the police,” Mr Wilson said. “(Police) said it’s been ram raided by a stolen four wheel drive Prado, and also told me they’ve already hit two other places before me.” Cre8ive Sk8's was ram raided overnight. Owners Femke and Nick Wilson. Picture: Evan Morgan After reviewing his CCTV footage, he said the offenders appeared to be six juveniles, aged between 12-15 years, who entered the business disguised with hats, masks, gloves, with “one young kid carrying a knife around”. Since the business had begun stocking electric scooters, there had been an upswing in the number of criminals targeting it. “They made a mess of the place trying to get to them ... the electric scooters that we sell ... I think four were stolen. We managed to get a couple back, the cops found the cars that did it. CCTV footage shows the ram raid at Cre8ive Sk8 on Ross River Rd at 4.19am on November 26. “One was burnt out and one was tried to be driven into the creek behind Officeworks there.” He said the business had needed to bolt their scooters to the floor after a bloke came in and took one out the front door. They also needed to install a “big bloody cage door” after two adults broke down their back door to steal e-scooters. Cre8ive Sk8's was ram raided overnight. Owners Femke and Nick Wilson. Picture: Evan Morgan It comes after the business’ previous owner was also stabbed in an attack some time ago. He had high hopes that new Premier David Crisafulli would be able to deliver on his promise of ‘adult crime, adult time’, as the city’s crime was “getting out of control”. “I get some pretty wild characters that come in here, and they’re telling me all the time, they get they get it better in jail, and they do at home, so why wouldn’t they?” he asked “It’s a game. They go in, see their mates, you know, and get a PlayStation. It’s just the way it is, you know. On the footage I’ve got a young kid with a knife f---ing longer than his arm carrying that around. “I’m over it, same as everybody else. It’s just getting ridiculous and something needs to be done. Whether it does, who knows?” ‘Only took soft drink and lighters’ The Friendly Grocer, a small store run by Linda and Gary Leong which has been in the family for over 50 years, also bore the brunt of the rampage. Thieves rammed a stolen car through the store, causing an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 in damage to the automated front doors and parts of the roof. Damage left after a ram raid at the Friendly Grocer in Oonoonba at 3.34am on November 26. Picture: Natasha Emeck According to Linda, the suspects, a group of at least six individuals, raced in to see the cash registers only to find they had been left empty and open. “They were trying to get into the drawers, but thankfully we keep the tills empty overnight,” she explains. “In the end all they ended up taking was a bottle of soft drink and a couple of lighters which they probably used to torch the cars.” Damage left after a ram raid at the Friendly Grocer in Oonoonba at 3.34am on November 26. Picture: Natasha Emeck She said while they had been hit by thieves in the past, this incident looked like it would be their most costly so far. natasha.emeck@news.com.au Originally published as Townsville ram raid rampage as thieves hit businesses in 30-minute spree Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Townsville NAMED: Four face court over stolen cars, police firearm charges Four men, aged 18 to 40, have been charged and will face court today over their alleged roles in a dramatic crime spree involving stolen cars and the theft of a police-issued firearm. Read more Townsville Workers were told to ‘work with what they had’: Gough Plastics One worker dead, a second struck in the head, and a third in a 16-day coma – the workplace safety record of Gough Plastics was laid bare this week in a Townsville courtroom. Read more

Trump aims to appoint son-in-law’s father as US ambassador to FranceWhat we talk about when we talk about ‘humanness’

No. 22 Xavier aims to keep its perfect record intact Monday night in Fort Myers, Fla., when it takes on South Carolina in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Musketeers (5-0) are coming off an 80-55 victory on Wednesday over Siena, while the Gamecocks (3-2) beat Mercer on Thursday 84-72. Against Mercer, South Carolina sank a season-best 12 3-pointers -- tied for the fourth-most in a single game under third-year coach Lamont Paris. Jamarii Thomas, a senior transfer from Norfolk State, had 19 points and swished 4 of 5 shots from behind the arc. "Thomas got some good, clean looks," Paris said. "It was good to see those guys make their shots. Hopefully it gets those guys going in the right direction." On the season, the Gamecocks are making 7.8 3-pointers per game and shooting 32.5 percent from deep. Senior guard Jacobi Wright makes a team-best 1.8 3-pointers per game and shoots 37.5 percent from behind the arc. At 13.0 ppg, he is second on the team behind Collin Murray-Boyles (15.8). Xavier is allowing eight makes from deep per game and is letting opponents shoot 38.5 percent from behind the arc, which ranks 337th in the country. And despite an undefeated record so far for the Musketeers, third-year coach Sean Miller is worried about his players developing bad habits. "We have a virus that everybody is looking at the stat sheet, trying to get as many points as they possibly can," Miller said after the win over Siena. "They want to win, but they really want to win and score. We need a couple of guys that are willing to rebound, defend, make the extra pass, play at a high level defensively and understand what makes a team great." Marcus Foster did a decent job of doing a little bit of everything for Xavier against Siena, piling up 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. It was the first double-digit scoring outing for Foster -- a grad transfer from Furman -- in a Xavier uniform. Since 2008, Xavier is 25-11 against teams from the Southeastern Conference, but it hasn't played South Carolina in that stretch. --Field Level Media

MADISON, Wis. — John Tonje had 22 points and Nolan Winter scored 12 to pace Wisconsin to a 74-53 win over Chicago State on Saturday. Wisconsin (8-0) gained control with a 17-3 run early in the second half, going in front 49-30 on a dunk by Winter with 11:21 remaining. The Cougars (0-9) made just 1 of 13 shots during that stretch. Jalen Forrest was the only Cougars player to score in double figures. He had 10 points. Chicago State, which missed its first 10 shots from beyond the arc, pulled within 30-25 on Greg Spate’s 3-pointer with 1:37 left in the first half. Tonje’s lay-in put the Badgers up 32-25 at the break. Chicago State: The Cougars, who entered averaging 59.1 points, struggled again offensively. Their point differential of minus-25.3 per game was 352nd out of 355 teams in Division 1. Wisconsin: The Badgers avoided the slow start that has plagued them in several games this season. Wisconsin trailed Holy Cross by 16 early in the season opener, Appalachian State early by nine, and in its last game, overcame a 14-point first-half deficit in an 81-75 win over Pittsburgh. Chicago State scored to open the second and pull within 32-27, but the Badgers answered with an 8-0 run, going in front 40-27 on Tonje’s 3-pointer from the left corner. Wisconsin, which entered No. 1 in the nation in free-throw percentage at 86.5% (147-of-170), made 18 of 21 from the line. Wisconsin hosts Michigan on Tuesday in the Big Ten opener for each team. Chicago State is at St. Thomas (Minn.) on Monday.

Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. Related Articles National News | Nicotine pouches are selling fast — and falling into minors’ hands National News | Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu National News | Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights National News | Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting National News | Today in History: December 24, former defense secretary pardoned in Iran-Contra scandal The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans still say crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest report attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan bill making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar bill during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is notoriously difficult , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. Stateline staff writer Robbie Sequeira contributed to this report. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.France has a new government, again. Politics and crushing debt complicate next steps

Mr Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker”. Mr Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former senior Trump adviser who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Mr Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was co-operating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Mr Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Mr Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison – the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the US attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Mr Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Mr Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offences “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was US attorney”. Mr Trump and the elder Mr Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009.

Dodgers shortstop Jose Hernandez suspended for 2025 ACL season under minor league drug programThe former president of the supreme court who ruled on the most high-profile assisted dying cases has declared his support for the law change, as MPs backing the bill say they believe they have the numbers for Friday’s historic vote to pass. David Neuberger, who ruled against high-profile assisted dying cases including Debbie Purdy in 2009 and Tony Nicklinson in 2015, told the Guardian he believed the status quo was failing “the fundamental aims of the law – to respect people’s right of personal autonomy, and to protect the vulnerable”. Neuberger said his experience sitting on cases involving assisted dying meant he was confident the tight terms of Kim Leadbeater’s bill – that it would apply to only those who are terminally ill – could not be expanded by judicial challenge. Both sides in the debate have been making their final calls to MPs in the last days before the vote, with dozens still telling colleagues they are undecided. The Guardian can reveal MPs are also preparing to announce a new independent commission on palliative care – spearheaded by the Labour MP Rachael Maskell – which they are hopeful will get backing from the health secretary, Wes Streeting, when it launches in December. High-profile charities backing the new commission include the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland, Hospice UK, Marie Curie and Sue Ryder, though all say it must take hearings from all sides of the debate. The focus would be on improving end-of-life care and a favoured chair is the palliative care doctor llora Finlay, though she has been explicitly anti-assisted dying. MPs this week have also heard impassioned plea from disability activists against assisted dying. Pam Duncan-Glancy, the Scottish Labour MSP who uses a wheelchair, said she felt disabled people’s voices were being forgotten and wrote a letter to Labour MPs saying the state would be at risk of making it easier for disabled people to die than to access the right help to live comfortably. The MPs backing Leadbeater’s private member’s bill are understood to believe they have solidified support in recent days and now have enough to get the bill past its first parliamentary hurdle, though some support is conditional on changes at the next stage. In the first Westminster vote on the issue in nearly 10 years, MPs at Westminster have been given a free vote, meaning they can vote according to conscience. Esther Rantzen, the TV presenter who has been one of the most high-profile advocates for change, also wrote to MPs on Friday saying “my time is running out” but the issue was one “the public care desperately about” and said it might not be debated by MPs “for another decade” if the legislation did not pass. But a slew of new Labour MPs – who could be the decisive votes on Friday – came out against the bill on Wednesday evening, having not made their views public previously. Those include Imogen Walker, the PPS to Rachel Reeves, Zubir Ahmed, PPS to Wes Streeting, and Blair McDougall, a former aide to David Miliband. Lord Neuberger said that those concerned about a slippery slope after the bill passed should be confident that could not occur through the courts, saying it could only occur if MPs in parliament decided to change the law again to expand its definition beyond terminally ill adults. “The European court of human rights has repeatedly ruled that legislation on assisted dying is a matter for individual states,” he said. “As for domestic courts, seven of the nine judges including me in the Nicklinson case held that assisted dying was a matter for parliament not the courts,” he said. “The present law ... prevents those who genuinely and understandably wish to end their lives and who need help to do so, from getting such help. It also fails to protect the vulnerable, because the blanket ban can drive terminally ill people to end their lives in secret.” Another former supreme court president, Brenda Hale, and former supreme court judge Jonathan Sumption have also backed the law change. But a number of other senior members of the judiciary have voiced concern about the bill, including Sir James Munby, the former president of the high court’s family division; and the former lord chief justice Lord Thomas, who has warned “ no one has grappled with the detail ” of the impact of the legislation on family courts. About 130 MPs are already down to speak in the five-hour debate on Friday and at least four amendments have been submitted, sparking fears speeches will be severely limited. Duncan-Glancy, who has been meeting MPs in parliament, wrote an emotional letter to her Labour colleagues asking them to reconsider supporting the bill. “My opposition to the bill is based on one simple point; that it should not be easier to get assistance to die, than to live,” she wrote. “If this bill was to pass, the former could become the case. I know some MPs support the principle of assisted dying but that you have some doubts about what is in – and not in – this bill. You are right to have doubts and you are not voting on a principle. You are voting on a piece of legislation that I believe could put disabled people at risk if passed. “During Covid-19, my husband and I wrote letters to say: ‘Please do not put a DNR notice on us’ because such was the opinion and low value that we felt that was placed on disabled people’s lives, that we, even as supported as we are, were scared. No one should feel their existence is a burden on others.” In her letter to all 650 MPs, Rantzen urges them to listen to Friday’s debate and to vote, whatever their view. “This is such a vital life-and-death issue, one that we the public care desperately about, so it is only right that as many MPs as possible listen to the arguments.” Rantzen will not attend Friday’s debate in person but her daughter Rebecca Wilcox will be in the public gallery on her behalf. Wilcox told the Guardian Rantzen had been in contact with “so many brilliant families and relatives of people that have experienced trauma”, Wilcox said. “They are looking down the barrel of a terrible diagnosis and are just hoping for the vote to go their way so that there’s more compassion and more empathy in the law.”

With an important regular-season finale ending a short week, Mississippi has watched its dreams shift from national success to perhaps something it certainly did not want on Thanksgiving weekend: An Egg Bowl that holds only regional significance and statewide bragging rights. After their third and disappointing defeat, the No. 14 Rebels will play Friday afternoon in their annual Egg Bowl matchup against rival Mississippi State in the intrastate series in Oxford, Miss. It will not be easy putting aside the catastrophic 24-17 loss at Florida last Saturday, a soul-crushing setback that all but ended any College Football Playoff aspirations for the most talented Rebels team assembled in a long time. Coach Lane Kiffin's team slid five spots to 14th in the latest CFP rankings. The offseason outlook was rosy when Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) shelled out big NIL money and added the top portal class to fill a roster that won 11 games in 2023. But the Rebels repeatedly shot themselves in the foot Saturday against the Gators. Ole Miss' high-powered offense turned the ball over three times, went 3 of 14 on third down, failed on two fourth-down attempts, dropped five passes and missed a field goal. Before the game, ABC's broadcast noted that the Rebels had an 84 percent chance to make the CFP. Following the loss, that number dwindled to four percent. The only way the Oxford school gets in is if there is the repeated chaos of Week 13, one that talk show host Paul Finebaum called "the most SEC carnage" he had ever seen. The Egg Bowl has been played on Thanksgiving Day 23 times, including 2017 to last season, but Kiffin feels the afternoon start on Friday is an advantage. "It helps them to know that playoffs are still alive and they get kind of the first shot to show everybody on a national stage," Kiffin said Monday, "as opposed to a Saturday game where these people that make the decisions don't necessarily see all the games because so many are going on." For the second time this month, Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby will lead his last-place Bulldogs (2-9, 0-7) against a former boss. The 40-year-old head coach faced Tennessee and coach Josh Heupel, who had Lebby on his staff at UCF in 2018 and 2019, in a 33-14 loss on Nov. 9. Now he will face Kiffin, whom he was paired with in 2020 and 2021 in their first two seasons at Ole Miss when the school led the SEC in total offense. A frequent social media user who enjoys trolling others, Kiffin took a jab at Lebby and Mississippi State when the first-year coach was hired. "We've traded texts throughout the season and had communication," Lebby said Monday. "But no, not this week. He'll continue to find ways to have fun on social. That's who he's always been and who he'll always be." Ole Miss owns a 65-46-6 series advantage and has claimed five of the past seven matches, including a 35-3 "Egg Brawl" victory by the Bulldogs in 2018 that was later vacated. Another loss to the Rebels would give MSU its first winless SEC season since 2002. --Field Level Media

Undefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level MediaFrance has a new government, again. Politics and crushing debt complicate next stepsFacebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save OCEAN CITY — The cost of a short stay in the city could go up under an ordinance introduced by City Council creating a 3% fee on stays in hotels, motels or other lodgings booked online. A public hearing must take place before a final vote, planned for 10 a.m. Dec. 5 on the third floor of City Hall, 861 Asbury Ave. The original ordinance was written only for accommodations booked online through third-party services like Vrbo or Airbnb, what the ordinance describes as the “transient space marketplace.” There are currently no local taxes on those rentals, which have become a significant part of the summer rental market. Council President Pete Madden suggested moving the ordinance forward as proposed, and revisiting the potential addition of hotel and motel rooms at a later date. As city attorney Dottie McCrosson described it, there had been discussion of including hotel and motel rooms, but those visitors already pay a 5% state occupancy tax and a 6.625% sales tax, adding 11.625% to the total bill. Jersey Shore restaurants shift gears to survive in offseason Friday’s New Jersey high school football playoff scores Not too late! Voting closes at noon for The Press Football Player of the Week Galloway Township gymnastics center co-owner charged with sexually assaulting minor Offshore wind company to buy vacant 1.5-acre Atlantic City lot for $1 million Atlantic City International Airport's 1 carrier, Spirit Airlines, files for bankruptcy Which players did the Cape-Atlantic League coaches pick as the best of the best in fall sports? Prosecutor still determined to find whoever is responsible for West Atlantic City killings Galloway man gets 3 years in Ocean City fatal crash Upper Township employees disagree on morale These Atlantic City area restaurants are serving Thanksgiving dinner 2 Galloway men arrested after spraying workers with rocks in Nature Preserve $23 million apartment complex promises to bring new vitality to quaint Swedesboro UPDATED NHL referee taken away on stretcher at Flyers game Julian Turney's TD sends St. Augustine past Delbarton in state Non-Public A playoffs As the new ordinance was discussed at the morning meeting, Council member Dave Winslow questioned why it did not include hotels or motels. Those existing taxes do not go to the city, and a move to increase revenue would see a bigger local return if they were included. Council members Keith Hartzell and Sean Barnes took up the call, and Barnes made a motion to amend the ordinance before introduction, which was approved in a 4-3 vote. Council member Terry Crowley recommended against the move, at least without more research. The city hopes to have the new tax in place before Jan. 1. “I would encourage you to really research that,” Crowley said. “There’s a downside there as well. I don’t think we’re considering everything.” A red sticker on a Glenn Cove bulkhead indicates work has come to a halt on boat slips in Ocean City’s smallest lagoon, at least for now. He said the city could approve the ordinance as written and then bring the local room tax up later. “This version is kind of the cleanest way to kickstart the process, to look to bring in additional revenue to the town. It’s been done in many other towns,” Crowley said. “By doing it this way, we're really not incurring any administrative costs. We’re not going to have to hire the anyone else.” At one time, it was difficult and cumbersome to tax third-party rental systems. Now, Vrbo, Airbnb and others are set up to include local fees and taxes, and McCrosson said the state has recently empowered towns to add the additional taxes. Mayor Jay Gillian said the idea has been talked about for some time and was previously raised by former Council member Bob Barr, who is now on the Cape May County Board of Commissioners. McCrosson said she did not intend to single out Airbnb and Vrbo, but those are the two largest online rental marketplaces by a significant margin. As originally proposed, the ordinance would not have applied to rentals through Realtors or directly from the owner, or for hotel stays booked through the hotel’s own website or through the front desk. Some hotel owners have requested some sort of local fee. “There was a perception among hotel (and) motel owners in town that there was not a level playing field,” McCrosson told council. “That Ocean City should somehow tax them or put license fees on them. At that time it was not an easy thing to do.” With the current state law in place and systems created for the third-party rental systems, it is now relatively simple to impose and collect an additional tax on the rentals. Barnes presented the issue as a matter of fairness. Ocean City officials announced Thursday that a 3rd Ward meeting to be led by City Council member Jody Levchuk will be moved from council chambers in City Hall to the larger Chris Maloney Lecture Hall at the Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Ave. Plans for the former Gillian's Wonderland are expected to be part of the discussion. “I don’t want to see anybody pay more taxes than their competitor, but I want to make sure that they’re all paying the same,” he said. He also questioned where the additional fees paid by hotel visitors end up. “It leaves Ocean City,” McCrosson said. “It’s various fees, but it leaves Ocean City.” McCrosson told council the ordinance was their decision, and that a majority of members could amend the ordinance prior to introduction or introduce a new ordinance at a later meeting. “The concern of the administration is, if you’re going to do it, lets get it in place by January,” she said. Barnes, Hartzell, Winslow and Council member Tony Polcini voted to amend the ordinance prior to introduction to include hotel and motel rooms, with votes against from Crowley, Madden and Council member Jody Levchuk. The same 4-3 majority voted to introduce the ordinance, the first step toward a potential final adoption in December. Other communities have imposed local taxes on hotel and motel rooms. In Cape May, the charge is 3%, while in Atlantic City, a $2 surcharge per day in casino rooms, in addition to the 9% Atlantic City luxury tax familiar to any Monopoly player, joins sales and occupancy taxes and other fees. In Ocean City, many hotels also charge additional fees beyond the room rate, such as resort fees covering the use of the pool or other offerings. Ocean City also charges a license fee for rental properties. At the Thursday meeting, McCrosson emphasized the distinction that it was a fee rather than a tax. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.None

MUMBAI: Some are first-timers, others seasoned ministers, but they have one thing in common – they want their respective departments, and the people, to know they mean business. So, just two days after assuming office, newly sworn-in ministers in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance government cracked the whip on officers in their respective departments. Corruption in government transfers wouldn’t be tolerated, they said, nor would underperformance, among other things. Perhaps eager to show they were serious, they seemed to forget that it was the same Mahayuti government that had ruled the state for the last two and a half years. The new ministers were sworn in on December 15, during the winter session of the state legislature, and were assigned their portfolios on December 22. While some have assumed office, others are likely to take charge on Thursday, which is Margashirsha, an auspicious day. Here’s what some of them did on day one: ‘Aren’t you ashamed?’ When social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat turned up unannounced at a hostel for backward class students in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Tuesday, he was not impressed. He found walls with seepage, broken window panes, no running water, among other issues that made the hostel almost unlivable. “Aren’t you ashamed of this? Why don’t you come and stay here,” he roared at the officers in charge, in the full glare of the media, who had turned up to capture the moment. Shirsat, Shiv Sena spokesperson and MLA from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, is a first-time minister. ‘No more bribes for transfers’ Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, at a meeting of officers from his department, said he would put a stop to the bribes-for-transfers culture. “Appointments of talathis (local revenue officers in a tehsil) and district collectors, as well as postings from Mantralaya to Nagpur will not be done on (political) recommendations. Nobody can get a transfer for a fee,” he announced, at a function organised by Tarun Bharat newspaper in Nagpur, where he was felicitated on Tuesday. Bawankule, who is also Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president and a close aide of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, was energy minister in the BJP-led government in 2014-2019. ‘Crack down on drugs mafia’ Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam shook things up at a police station in Navi Mumbai, where he showed up unexpectedly and asked the officers what they were doing to tackle the drugs trade in the city. As a parting shot, he advised the officer in charge to crack down on the narcotics mafia. ‘More vessels for coastal patrolling’ Ports and fisheries minister Nitesh Rane (BJP), another first-time minister, met officers of his departments in Mantralaya and later told the media that he was raising the bar for his department. He hopes surprise visits will keep them on their toes. Rane, who took charge on Tuesday, also said more vessels would be procured for costal patrolling as coastal surveillance is a priority. ‘Let’s tackle teachers’ issues’ Education minister Dada Bhuse (Shiv Sena) convened a meeting of teachers and teaching staff at the government rest house in his constituency, Malegaon, and also asked them what challenges they were facing. ‘Will introduce elevated buses on ropeway’ Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik (Shiv Sena) turned sentimental as he moved into his new office in Mantralaya on Tuesday. Addressing the media, he recalled how he used to visit Mantralaya when he was 12 years old, to sell calendars and incense sticks to make a living. “We used to stay in Dadar and I used to come to Mantralaya wearing shorts to sell agarbattis and calendars to earn a living,’’ said Sarnaik. He also recalled driving an autorickshaw and selling omelet sandwiches in the 1980s. Sarnaik, who now owns a construction company and a hospitality business, is a four-time MLA from Owala-Majiwada constituency in Thane. He vowed to put a stop to political interference in the transfers of officers. “Transfers based on recommendations of political leaders will not be entertained in my department. I want to beat the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) into shape,’’ he said. Sarnaik said he wanted the transport department to introduce an “elevated bus transport system on a ropeway” in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, adding that Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari had said the state could get a central grant for this purpose. He said he would visit Karnataka to study the state transport system there.Black Friday 2024 freebeat Brings Global Discounts and a Chance to Win Its Flagship Lit Bike 11-26-2024 12:32 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: LianPR November 25, 2024 - Los Angeles, CA - Indoor cycling is no longer just a workout; it's an experience. freebeat [ https://www.freebeatfit.com/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=blackfriday ], a leader in innovative fitness technology, is revolutionizing the way people approach home fitness with its two flagship products: the Lit Bike and Boom Bike. This Black Friday, freebeat is bringing exciting deals [ https://www.freebeatfit.com/collections/bikes-sale/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=blackfriday ] to customers across the globe! Whether you're in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or Australia, now's the perfect time to bring home a Freebeat exercise bike and elevate your fitness routine. These cutting-edge indoor cycles are designed to not only meet the demands of today's fitness enthusiasts but to exceed them, offering a seamless blend of performance, technology, and entertainment. Perfect for those seeking the best workout bike for home, freebeat sets a new standard in fitness innovation. The Lit Bike [ https://www.freebeatfit.com/products/lit-bike-moonbow-beige?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=blackfriday]: A Performance-Driven Experience At the heart of the Lit Bike lies its unique ability to transform a mundane workout into a rhythm-fueled escape. Imagine pedaling to the beat of curated music while the bike's intelligent resistance system adjusts automatically to match the intensity of the ride. The Lit Bike is as much about style as it is substance, featuring a sleek, Swiss-inspired design and a rotating 21.5'' HD touchscreen that adapts to any angle, whether you're cycling or stretching. Designed for those who want their workout to feel like a concert, the Lit Bike, as an exercise bike for home, immerses users in an environment where every pedal stroke syncs perfectly with the beat, creating a high-energy, motivational atmosphere. The Boom Bike [ https://www.freebeatfit.com/products/boom-bike-arctic-white?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=blackfriday]: Compact Power with a Dynamic Edge In a world where space is at a premium, the Boom Bike offers a powerful alternative for those seeking a full-body workout in a smaller footprint. This innovative stationary bike's compact design doesn't compromise on functionality, combining cycling with resistance training for a holistic fitness routine. The Boom Bike's vibrant 15.6'' touchscreen and dynamic light features make every session feel like a celebration, inspiring users to push harder while having fun. What sets the Boom Bike apart is its versatility-it's equally suited for intense cardio or a relaxed recovery ride, adapting effortlessly to your fitness needs. A Universe of Fitness Options freebeat's platform offers a diverse range of classes designed to keep users motivated and entertained. Riders can join rockstar instructor-led classes, where top-tier trainers bring unmatched energy and expertise to every session. For a more personalized experience, the AI-coach classes provide tailored guidance, adapting to the user's music preferences, fitness level, and goals in real time. Fitness becomes playful with mini rhythm games, which blend cycling and interactive challenges to add an extra layer of fun. Those seeking a more serene experience can escape into scenic rides through stunning virtual landscapes, making each session feel like an adventure. For ultimate flexibility, freebeat allows users to customize their workouts, choosing everything from music to intensity levels, ensuring that every ride is perfectly aligned with their unique fitness journey. freebeat's Vision: Fitness Beyond the Ride freebeat's innovation goes beyond the bikes themselves. The real magic lies in its ability to create an experience tailored to each user. The platform encourages riders to challenge themselves with leaderboards, celebrate their achievements, and connect with a broader fitness community. Each ride is a journey, one that keeps users engaged and coming back for more. The brand's commitment to personalization is evident in its app, which provides on-demand classes, progress tracking, and seamless integration with smart devices. Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or new to fitness, freebeat ensures that your goals are within reach-one pedal stroke at a time. Special Black Friday Offer This Black Friday, Freebeat is offering historic low prices on its popular Lit Bike and Boom Bike, with incredible savings and added perks in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia: Massive Savings by Region US: Save up to USD 800 per bike Canada: Save up to CAD 1000 per bike UK: Save up to GBP 750 per bike Australia: Save up to AUD 1100 per bike Bonus Perks in the US To sweeten the deal, Freebeat is including an extra 1-year warranty (valued at $139) at no additional cost. That's a total value of up to $939 in savings and added protection this Black Friday. Global Perks A similar deal, including free extended warranties or gift cards, is available in Canada, UK, and Australia. Win a Lit Bike! Media Contact Company Name: Freebeat Contact Person: Amber Xu Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=black-friday-2024-freebeat-brings-global-discounts-and-a-chance-to-win-its-flagship-lit-bike ] Country: United States Website: http://www.freebeatfit.com This release was published on openPR.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Even though their long-shot hopes of winning the NFC North have vanished, the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers believe they can make a legitimate run at their first Super Bowl appearance since their 2010 championship season. A rapidly improving defense gives them ample reason for confidence. The Packers (11-4) followed up a seven-sack performance in a 30-13 victory at Seattle by producing the first shutout of the NFL season, a 34-0 playoff-clinching blowout of the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. Green Bay delivered its first shutout since a 17-0 triumph over Seattle in 2021 and its most lopsided victory since a 55-14 rout of the Chicago Bears in 2014. “We’ve noticed all along that the defense is a lot different this year, and they’ve been making some big-time plays all along,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “But any time you can hold anybody to zero points in the National Football League is pretty awesome.” The Packers were seeking to produce a championship-caliber defense to go along with their dynamic offense when they fired Joe Barry as coordinator in the offseason and brought in former Boston College coach Jeff Hafley to replace him. Green Bay switched from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3, with Hafley emphasizing the need to produce more big plays. Green Bay has done just that by collecting 28 takeaways — 10 more than it had all of last year — to match the NFL’s third-highest total. The Packers haven’t forced this many turnovers since 2011, when they had 38 takeaways. That’s not the only area in which the defense has made strides. Green Bay is allowing just 19.1 points per game to rank sixth in the league in scoring defense. The Packers haven’t finished a season among the top six teams in scoring defense since their 2010 title run, when they yielded just 15 points per game to rank second. The Packers are giving up 312.1 yards per game for the league’s seventh-best total. That also puts them on pace for their highest season-ending rank since 2010, when they finished fifth in total defense. “We’re all working together, and we’ve just got some nice playmakers,” linebacker and rookie second-round pick Edgerrin Cooper said. The Packers have given up as many as 20 points just once in their last six games, a 34-31 defeat at Detroit on Dec. 5. That is the only time Green Bay has lost during that stretch. Whether this kind of success can carry over to the playoffs remains uncertain. The Packers’ shutout performance came against a New Orleans offense that was starting rookie fifth-round draft pick Spencer Rattler at quarterback in place of the injured Derek Carr and was missing five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara. Green Bay’s defense faces a much tougher task Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings (13-2), who beat the Packers 31-29 at Lambeau Field on Sept. 29. This will mark the first time in the series' 64-year history that both teams had at least 11 wins when they face off. The Packers are eager to see what they can do against another team headed for the playoffs as their defense gears up for another postseason. “We can do whatever we want to do,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. “We write our own story at the end of the day. We’ve just got to keep on building.” What’s working Green Bay outrushed New Orleans 188-67 and improved its season total to 2,209 yards rushing. The Packers haven't rushed for that many yards in a season since 2003, when they had 2,558. ... The pass rush has produced 16 sacks over Green Bay’s last four games. ... Green Bay is outscoring teams 102-34 in the first quarter. ... The Packers didn't give up a sack Monday and have allowed just five over their last eight games. That represents the fewest sacks the Packers have given up over an eight-game stretch within a single season since 2004. What needs work Penalties remain a bit of an issue. The Packers were penalized six times for 60 yards. Stock up Love has thrown eight touchdown passes without an interception over his last five games. ... RB Josh Jacobs has run for a touchdown in six straight games. His 13 TD runs this season are a career high. ... K Brandon McManus made field goals from 55 and 46 yards to improve to 16 of 17 this season. His 55-yarder was a season long. ... S Zayne Anderson had his first career interception in his first career start. ... DL Brenton Cox Jr. has three sacks over his last four games. Stock down There really aren't any candidates for this category, considering the Packers produced their biggest victory margin in a decade. Injuries WR Christian Watson injured a knee Monday night. ... CB Jaire Alexander (knee) missed a fifth straight game. S Javon Bullard (ankle), S Evan Williams (quadriceps) and LB Quay Walker (ankle) also didn’t play. Key number 30 – The Packers have scored at least 30 points in each of their last five games. That represents the second-longest string of games with 30-plus points in franchise history. Green Bay had seven such straight games in 1963. Next steps The Packers close the regular season with two divisional games, visiting Minnesota on Sunday before hosting the Bears (4-11). Green Bay is 1-3 against NFC North opponents this season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Shimla: Finding a retired professor and Umang Foundation chairperson, Ajai Srivastava , indulging in "misadventure" by filing "publicity interest litigation," the Himachal Pradesh high court slapped him with a fine of Rs 50,000. The division bench, comprising acting chief justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and justice Satyen Vaidya, while dismissing Srivastava's petition with cost on Monday, held, " Not only is there no merit in this petition, but we find the same to be mischievous, having been filed with an oblique motive of getting publicity but at the same time, adversely affecting the rights of respondents No 4 to 7 (employees of Observation Home, Hira Nagar, Shimla)." Mincing no words, the division bench said that the retired professor was not expected to behave like a "knight errant roaming at will" in pursuit of issues providing publicity. "The petitioner, to say the least, was negligent and reckless in indirectly besmirching the character of others, more particularly, respondents No. 4 to 7, who have unnecessarily been dragged into this litigation and, on account of this petition, have suffered untold humiliation, miseries, and sufferings," held the division bench. Out of the Rs 50,000 fine slapped on Srivastava, he would pay Rs 35,000 to respondent No 4 and Rs 5,000 each to respondents No. 5, 6, and 7 as token damages within a period of two weeks. The court also clarified that this judgment shall not come in the way of the private respondents in claiming damages from the petitioner in case they are entitled to. "It is on account of the wild, reckless, and unsubstantiated allegations levelled by the petitioner that respondent No. 4 lost his job apart from being condemned and maligned. Even respondents No. 5 to 7, though not losing their job, have had their reputation tarnished in the public, and thus their rights need to be vindicated and their reputation restored," observed the court. The division bench further added, "It is more than settled that public interest litigation is a weapon, which has to be used with great care and circumspection, and the judiciary has to be extremely careful to see that behind the beautiful veil of public interest, an ugly private malice, vested interest, or public interest seeking is not lurking. It is to be used as an effective weapon in the armoury of law for delivering social justice to the citizens." The case Srivastava, on May 13 addressed a letter to the high court chief justice alleging gross violation of human rights of the children in conflict with law lodged at the Observation Home, Hira Nagar in Shimla, which was treated as a criminal writ petition public interest litigation, but eventually, all his allegations were found not to be true. In the meanwhile, services of the superintendent of Observation Home were terminated. The court directed the officials to maintain status quo regarding respondents No. 4 to 7 as existing prior to Srivastava's letter, along with all consequential benefits. MSID:: 116632069 413 | Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .France has a new government, again. Politics and crushing debt complicate next steps

A year after losing power to the Congress in Telangana, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), is going all out to regain its lost ground in the state and rebuild its image among people. The BRS, which ruled Telangana for two successive terms since the formation of the new state in June 2014, faced a humiliating defeat in the assembly elections held on November 30, 2023 by winning just 39 seats in the 119-member state assembly. The Congress, which had just five MLAs in the last assembly, came to power by winning 64 seats. Its strength went up to 75, by winning one more seat in the by-elections to Secunderabad Cantonment seat, besides defection of 10 more MLAs from the BRS. Effectively, the BRS strength has been reduced to 28 seats now. What is worse, the party suffered further humiliation in the Lok Sabha elections held in May 2024, during which the party drew a blank — it could not win even a single Lok Sabha seat out of the 17 seats in Telangana. For KCR, who was reigning supreme in the state for nearly 10 years, it was a big setback. At one stage, he was projecting himself as a national leader by stitching up a coalition of regional parties across the country and even rechristened his party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), as BRS. He even established the party network in different states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and was hoping to make it a national party as an effective alternative to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. But all his hopes have been shattered with the defeat of the BRS in the state assembly elections and despite his whirlwind campaign across the state, his party could not win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections. In the last one year, the BRS has lost several important leaders, including veteran Rajya Sabha member K Kesava Rao, apart from MLAs, who defected to the Congress. KCR has virtually gone into a cocoon, confining himself to his farmhouse. It has been nearly six months since he has made a public appearance. Several scams that allegedly took place during the BRS regime in the last 10 years have come to light in the past one year, severely denting the image of the BRS. They include alleged large-scale land dealings by the party leaders using Dharani portal, telephone tapping of several politicians and even judges, grave engineering lapses in the construction of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme, irregularities in power purchase agreement with Chhattisgarh and financial irregularities in awarding maintenance contract to Outer Ring Road and payments in Formula-E racing in Hyderabad. The Congress government, led by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, has ordered inquiries into all these alleged scams and the investigation has been in progress for the last few months. Adding to all these woes, KCR suffered yet another shock with the arrest of his daughter and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha in the Delhi liquor policy case in March and was released on bail on August 26, after intense lobbying by the party leadership in Delhi. In spite of receiving such a massive drubbing in the elections and facing inquiries into the various acts of omissions and commissions, the BRS leadership has not lost its fighting spirit. For the last few months, the BRS has been taking up several agitations, highlighting the failures of the Revanth Reddy government. While KCR is confined to the farmhouse, his son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao have been relentlessly targeting the Congress government and organising one programme or the other to keep the party visible in public. Political analyst Ramakrishna Sangem said that there was no option for the BRS but to come back to the people and win their confidence. “They have been pushed to the wall and they need to bounce back, if they have to survive till the next elections,” he said. He pointed out that the BRS has been trying to whip up anti-incumbency among the people by organising public protests over various issues, including non-implementation of guarantees promised to people, half-hearted implementation of crop loan waiver scheme, police crackdown on farmers at Lagacharla village against pharma city, demolition of houses along Musi riverbank, a series of food poisoning incidents in welfare hostels and schools and suicide cases of weavers and debt-ridden farmers. Another political analyst Md Zakir said that the BRS leadership has still been under the illusion that the people had made a big mistake by voting the party out in the last assembly elections. “The party leaders, particularly KTR, has been telling the cadre that the people are waiting with vengeance to pull down Revanth Reddy and bring back KCR as the chief minister again, forgetting the fact that there is still four years’ time for the next elections,” he said. Secondly, according to Zakir, the biggest disadvantage for the BRS is that it doesn’t have any organisational structure, unlike the Congress or the BJP. The BRS is completely a family-oriented party and unless KCR or his family members decide, no activity is taken up at any level, he added. “It appears that the BRS is banking on a negative vote against the Congress, rather than its own strength. That is why, the BRS leaders are trying to create troubles for the Congress government and hoping that their party would benefit from the mistakes of the government,” Zakir said.MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --WuKong Education, a leading online K-12 education provider, has been named to the highly-anticipated 2025 edition of the GSV 150 : GSV's annual list of the top 150 private companies transforming digital learning and workforce skills. This recognition underscores WuKong Education's transformative role in the EdTech industry and its commitment to empowering students worldwide through AI-powered personalized learning. Out of more than 2,500 global VC- and PE-backed companies, WuKong Education was selected for the 2025 GSV 150 based on a proprietary evaluation framework, including revenue scale, growth, user reach, geographic diversification, and margin profile. The 2025 cohort of the GSV 150 collectively reaches 3B learners and generates over $25B in annual revenue. "The rapid rise of generative AI is fueling knowledge and creating opportunities we had not imagined before," says Luben Pampoulov, Partner at GSV Ventures. "Multi-modality is making education more engaging, AI tools are driving personalization and productivity, and learning is happening at the speed of light. Effectively everyone across the 2025 GSV 150 has generative AI deeply embedded in their offering." WuKong Education is revolutionizing online education for students aged 3-18 worldwide, offering courses in Chinese, Mathematics, and English Language Arts. By leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, WuKong Education empowers students from 118 countries with a unique learning journey that ignites curiosity, nurtures creativity, and sharpens critical thinking skills. Powered by AI, WuKong Education adapts to each student's unique needs, ensuring that every learner receives a personalized educational journey: This AI-driven teaching model has not only significantly improved student academic performance but also fostered the holistic development of students, earning widespread praise from students and parents around the world. "We are honored to be named to the 2025 GSV 150," said Vicky Wang , founder and CEO of WuKong Education. "This recognition affirms our ongoing commitment to revolutionizing education. By combining the expertise of our teaching and research teams with the possibilities of AI, we are setting a new benchmark for digital education to empower students globally." Earlier this year, WuKong Education was named a 2024 Cognia® School of Distinction for excellence in education by Cognia®, a globally recognized education quality certification organization, and was also listed in the AU&NZ EdTech Top 50 by HolonIQ, a global leader in impact intelligence, for the third consecutive year. These recognitions underscore WuKong Education's continued leadership in the global EdTech industry and its ongoing dedication to delivering exceptional education to learners around the world. About WuKong Education Based in Silicon Valley, WuKong Education is shaping the future of online learning for students aged 3 to 18. WuKong Education's three core programs—WuKong Chinese, WuKong Math, and WuKong English (ELA)—combine AI-driven technology, expert educators, and personalized services to deliver engaging, dynamic learning experiences. With over 400,000 families served globally, WuKong Education is empowering students to succeed and become lifelong learners in an ever-changing world. Learn more at: wukongsch.com . About GSV Founded in 2011, GSV is a global platform that drives education and workforce skills innovation. We believe that ALL people have equal access to the future, and that scaled innovations in "PreK to Gray" learning and skills are crucial to achieving this goal. The GSV platform includes the ASU+GSV Summit , hosted annually in San Diego with 7,000+ attendees; the India -based ASU+GSV & Emeritus Summit , now entering its third year; and The AI Show @ ASU+GSV , an immersive exploration of the AI Revolution in education, which welcomed 10,000+ attendees this year. GSV Ventures , GSV's investment arm founded in 2015, is a multi-stage venture fund investing in the most transformational companies across the global "PreK to Gray" landscape. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wukong-education-named-to-the-2025-gsv-150-for-leading-the-way-in-education-technology-302338883.html SOURCE WuKong Education Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.

Apple's Historically 'Bumpy Relationship' With Nvidia Detailed in Report