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After playoff chances slip away, Miami and Iowa State looking to regroup at Pop-Tarts BowlChief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Education Minister Nara Lokesh have welcomed investments to Andhra Pradesh for developing renewable energy projects. Delegations from SAEL Ltd and leading financial institutions in renewable energy Norfund, NDBBank and Societe Generale met the two on Saturday and discussed their plans and projects for AP. The CM said the state’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024 was designed to provide a robust regulatory framework for clean energy investments. He stated later, “It was a pleasure to meet representatives of SAEL Ltd and leading financial institutions to discuss investments under the Integrated Clean Energy Policy. We welcome investors to develop renewable energy projects in Andhra Pradesh and to assist in India's energy transition. SAEL also introduced their innovative waste-to-energy technology and we discussed collaboration to develop such projects in AP to utilise agri-waste and augment farmer incomes.” Minister Lokesh stated, “I met Sukhbir Singh, MD, SAEL Industries Ltd, to discuss SAEL's upcoming 1200mw investment in state in two phases. They will be commencing work on the first phase of the 600mw project, one of the first projects to commence construction under our attractive integrated clean energy policy. We also discussed SAEL's innovative waste-to-energy technology using agricultural waste and its use in AP. I also met representatives of Norfund, NDBBank and Societe Generale to discuss their investments in AP.”

NoneAustralians on the frontline of climate change are fighting for their vanishing ancestral home. Can a landmark lawsuit against the federal government save their way of life? Uncle Paul Kabai steps barefoot along a beach near a fallen sacred tree and onto the mud and broken coral edging his Torres Strait island home. He looks to the horizon and listens to the sea. "I can tell when it's going to rain or I can tell there will be an easterly blowing tomorrow," he says. "I can tell by the seas and the waves." The tidal flat is littered with dead sea almond trees, roots clawing at the tropical air. Others strain out of the mud and seawater, soil washed from their bases by the scouring tides. Saibai people have long buried the umbilical cords of newborns beneath these trees while whispering the names of the wind and stars as gifts to the infants. Where Uncle Paul stands, islanders once grew yams, taro, pineapples and bananas, camping on the warm sands while they tended the crops. "But you can't put anything here now," he says and points across the mud towards the sea. "Where the water is now, we used to camp there. "See the mangroves? That's where the actual beach was." He raises a hand to show how deep the water gets when the king tides surge in. With each incursion by the rising waters, with every tree, campground and farming plot reclaimed by the ocean, the people of Saibai Island feel their culture, their children's futures and their ancestral roots dissolving beneath their feet. But Uncle Paul and the other islanders are not ready to let all that slip quietly beneath the waves, out of sight and mind of the rest of Australia. He's taken the fight, and the island's existential plight, 3,000 kilometres south to the dry and formal environs of the Federal Court in Melbourne. From above, Saibai Island appears almost uninhabited — wild and remote. Mangroves, scrub and swampy estuaries cover its flat landscape. For a narrow, 2.5-kilometre stretch along the island's northern shore, colourful houses perch on stilts by the waters of the Torres Strait, or Zenadth Kes, as it's called by the traditional locals. Papua New Guinea 's coastline is less than 4 kilometres away, a visible indication of just how remote this community is from the Australian mainland. And, impossible to miss, is the 2.3-metrehigh concrete wall that runs the length of the town foreshore to keep the sea at bay, a conspicuous reminder of the threat of the ocean. During the winter months, the water laps sedately at the base of the sea wall and at low tide children venture onto the rocky mudflat to collect sea life. Parents remind them to stay away from the water's edge. After a recent death, locals are alert to crocodiles lurking beneath the surface. Shakyna Dau-Menegi, of the Samu (cassowary) clan, used to spend her spare time looking for clown shells at low tide with other kids and her elders. Now, she uses that time to collect plastic water bottles from other islanders to recycle and raise money for sandbags to protect her community and "the loved ones who are buried here". At 10, Shakyna knows more about climate change than most Australians her age. She understands the sea is rising by 6-to-8 millimetres a year in the strait, a worrying development for people who live on average just one metre above sea level. The island is only 1.7 metres above sea level at its highest point. It's even more concerning during Kuki, the monsoon season between January and April, when the usually calm Torres Strait can transform into a beast that claws at the island. "When there's storms the island shakes," Shakyna says. "A lot of waters come in and out and we see little bits and pieces of land going away one by one. "I find it very scary." King tides during Kuki can peak at just under 4 metres sending waves crashing over the sea wall built seven years ago. Estuaries and creeks fill with seawater that spreads and inundates the roads. "We used to go fishing in the night on the beach," Shakyna says, "but now there's no beach and the seas are too dangerous, the currents are too strong." She fears her people will one day no longer be able to live on the island. "Without our culture we don't know who we are and where we come from," she says. "We need the island to build our confidence, our culture and our strength." Paradise in peril Saibai has a population of about 300, many of whom are traditional owners — the Koeybuway (Ker-bu-y) and Moegibuway (Migi-bu-y) people — and others who trace their heritage to the Western Province villages of PNG. Very few tourists, if any, pass through the tiny island airport that looks more like a bus stop. A bench seat and tin roof are the only protection from tropical showers and the scorching sun. Most of the people who use the airport are residents returning home, mainlanders visiting family, or government employees flying in to provide essential services for the island. When we arrive, we are mistaken for butterfly researchers. We're told they visit the island looking for new and rare species. The town has a primary school, supermarket, health centre, community hall, church, petrol station and a new addition, a coffee shop in Conwell "Nathan" Tabuai's home. It's the northernmost cafe in Australia. And Nathan's coffee is as good as the best on the mainland. There's also a shuttered and dusty wet canteen, no longer serving alcohol but still a centre for community gatherings. With no high school on the island, teenagers travel off-country to complete their secondary education. As cars trundle along pot-holed streets at walking pace, Saibai is the definition of a sleepy island village. Palm trees bearing coconuts line the shore and Hills Hoist clotheslines rotate in well-maintained front yards, taking floral dresses for a spin as they dry in a sea breeze scented with tropical flowers. The bright houses have paintings of animals proudly representing the totems of the seven clans on the island: Saibai Koedal (crocodile), Dhoeybaw (wild yam), Thabu-burm/Katbay (snake), Sui/Saydam (bird), Umay (dog), Ait Koedal (inland crocodile) and Samu (cassowary). Dogs roam the streets. Some are pets, some are wild and have to be watched. Everything runs on "island time", as the residents call it. Conversations and consultations voiced at an agreeable pace are key to the community. But underlying this leisurely lifestyle is a growing urgency to preserve what is left — and what can still be remembered — of the languages, culture and stories of this island paradise before it is reclaimed by the sea. Legal and climate experts liken rising sea levels and climate harms to “colonisation”. The ancient language of Kalaw Kagaw Ya (KKY) remains widely and uniquely spoken on the island. It's an ancestral thread in the fabric of modern daily life. "Language is the vehicle of knowledge that we carry with us," says elder Aunty Marianna Babia, who is documenting and preserving the language. "It's everywhere, in singing, storytelling and just everyday speaking to each other." In her floral handbag she carries a notebook to scribble down words she comes across. Trying to keep up with technology, she sometimes taps them into her phone. But while new words have been created for things like planes (boethal uruy) and cars (woeylal), many old ones have been lost, much like the soil that makes up the island. The number of fluent KKY speakers continues to diminish as people leave the island or pass away, and Torres Strait creole, a combination of traditional languages and English, becomes more dominant. KKY is now a critically endangered language, according to UNESCO, the Australian government and Torres Strait communities. Aunty Marianna fears the entire language could become extinct if the people of Saibai have to leave their island. "If you are living elsewhere ... you lose the names of things that are here — plants, animals, trees ... everything," she says. Passed down for millennia Elder Sedrick Waia, of the Ait Koedal clan, spends his days listening to traditional music on a speaker as he creates crafts. Uncle Sedrick's yard is full of his masterpieces hung proudly in readiness for a market stall. Each design has a meaning. The carving on a burubur (drum) represents the seven clans and is named Nathara Kubi — the roof of a crocodile's mouth. Many of his works are used by the local Muyngu Koekoper dance group for performances about the island's unique environment or Saibai warriors' historic battles. Speaking in KKY translated for us by Saibai Islander Barbara Ibuai, Uncle Sedrick explains the meaning behind some of the artefacts and the stories handed down from Saibai ancestors and told in dance. He says he's working to preserve the old stories, songs and language that form the foundation of Koeybuway and Moegibuway culture. It's a guarantee for an uncertain future. "We're not allowed to change them. It's forbidden," Uncle Sedrick says. "If Saibai ... sinks, we can take our old ways, our old songs, our stories with us when we go so that culture can remain. "There is a responsibility to pass it on to the new generations." The youngest of the Saibai generations gathers for the local school showcase and Uncle Sedrick plays a ukulele to lead the community in traditional songs. Raindrops sizzle on the hot road as little feet dance and elders play the burubur. Laughter and joy fill the humid air. The people of Saibai are very spiritual, Uncle Paul explains, and Gogobithiay (land, sea and sky) is how the island speaks to them. The umbilical cord burial tradition is one of the ailan kastom (island custom) practices symbolising cultural identity to keep connections to country strong. Uncle Paul's wind is Kuki (west wind) and star Methakurap, which appears over the west of the island as the sun sets. Constellations also tell islanders when the seasons are changing, what to plant and when to start hunting turtles and dugongs. Now, traditional hunting grounds have changed as those culturally important foods — and important sources of protein — move to new locations. Uncle Paul's grandfather was a seafarer and could navigate by the stars. "When the stars of the Tagai constellation faced upwards, it was dry season," Uncle Paul tells us on the deck of his home. Tagai was a great fisherman and features in many creation stories across the Torres Strait Islands. When Tagai's spear faces down, it indicates the monsoon and rough seas are approaching. In the westernmost part of town is Saibai's cemetery, where the dead lay under ornate headstones. It's a place islanders visit often, not just for funerals but to commune quietly with their ancestors. "It means a lot to the community because all our loved ones are here," Uncle Paul says. "I go to the cemetery once a month to talk to them. "We are cultural and spiritual people. We believe we ask them and our message will be delivered very quickly because they are already there." Graves are not just resting places for the dead. They are homes for them in the afterlife, decorated by families with painted totems and colourful tiles. "Once we have put the headstone on, that means the house has been built and blessed. They are now living in better places," says Uncle Paul, as he leads us to the grave of one of his sisters. But king tides repeatedly flood the burial grounds, bringing waves that smash the lovingly decorated graves. Some families are now contemplating the deeply distressing act of exhuming loved ones to relocate them to higher ground. "It's not culturally appropriate," Uncle Paul says. "We don't want to disturb them. They are sleeping." As global warming exacerbates storms and tides, Uncle Paul fears the sea wall will not be enough to save this sacred place and the community will be forced to leave both the island and their ancestors. For the past four years, Uncle Paul has been working with fellow Torres Strait Islander Pabai Pabai, from Boigu Island, north-west of Saibai, on a . They have argued in the Federal Court that the government has not done enough to protect their islands from climate change, and that reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions will be too little, too late to stop what they can see happening to their home now. The federal government has acknowledged that the Torres Strait Islands are vulnerable to the effects of climate change but denies it has breached its duty of care. Australia accounts for 4.5 per cent of global fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions and is among the largest fossil fuel exporters in the world. The Climate Targets Panel, an independent group of the country's most senior climate scientists and policymakers, estimates Australia's greenhouse emissions need to be , not 2050, to avoid irreversible damage to the Torres Strait Islands. The case is a first of its kind in Australia but other significant climate-related cases have been heard around the world. This year, Europe’s highest human rights court ruled member nations must better protect their citizens from the consequences of climate change. If Uncle Paul and Uncle Pabai are successful, they will seek damages and court orders forcing the federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions further and faster, which could have significant implications for Australia's mining and export industries. With the findings expected early next year, Saibai waits with nervous anticipation. "We're not going to stop. If we stop, Saibai will be under water," says Uncle Paul. "I'll have no land, I'll have no culture, I'll have nothing." Many Saibai islanders are hesitant to talk about what life could be like if they are forced to leave their ancestral home, like those who have already resettled on the Australian mainland, mostly in Bamaga and Seisia on the tip of Cape York. For some, the decision to stay or leave was made decades ago in meetings held by clan leaders after torrential rain and king tides flooded the village in the 1940s. One of the migrants to the mainland, Aunty Togiab McRose Elu, a Saibai Koedal clanswoman who goes by Aunty Rose, made the long boat journey with her father when she was a baby. "He was concerned about what the future was going to hold," she says. But for Aunty Rose, who lives in Brisbane, the children and grandchildren of those who left must be able to return. "As I get off the plane, I set my foot on the land, I know that I'm home. That's where I belong — here is the motherland," Aunty Rose tells us. "This is our land here, and the seas and the waters. The land on the mainland doesn't belong to us." The families who stayed are committed to holding on as long as they can and much of that determination revolves around the church on the foreshore. It's a neat, white building that would look unremarkable in most mainland suburbs but is the tallest building on the island. "There's only a few of us left but we have that feeling inside of us that we don't want to move until the church goes under," elder Neimeiah Dai says. Built by their forefathers from coral dragged from the seabed, it's the heart of the community, a symbol of faith, trust and belief. "It's our land we are fighting for," he says. "It is our backbone, our strength. If we lose that we lose everything." Credits Related stories Climate Change Environment Climate Change Related topics Cairns Climate Change Environmental Impact Federal Government Indigenous Australians Indigenous Culture Oceans and Reefs Torres Strait IslandsWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday stepped into a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new test of federal regulatory power. The justices will review an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund. The Federal Communications Commission collects money from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. A conservative advocacy group, Consumer Research, challenged the practice. The justices had previously denied two appeals from Consumer Research after federal appeals courts upheld the program. But the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, among the nation’s most conservative, ruled 9-7 that the method of funding is unconstitutional. The Biden administration appealed that ruling, but the case probably won't be argued until late March. At that point, the Trump administration will be in place and it not clear whether it will take a different view of the issue. The 5th Circuit held that the funding method is unconstitutional because Congress has given too much authority to the FCC and the agency in turn has ceded too much power to a private entity. The last time the Supreme Court invoked what is known as the non-delegation doctrine to strike down a federal law was in 1935. But several conservative justices have suggested they are open to breathing new life into the legal doctrine.

Providing round-the-clock energy, using minimal space and considered a clean source of power — geothermal energy seems like an ideal option for countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, where the potential is high, and governments are seeking to transition away from highly polluting fossil fuels. Yet most of the potential of geothermal energy, created by harnessing heat produced by the earth from underground reservoirs of hot water to power turbines that generate electricity, remains untapped in these countries and across the world — as financial, regulatory and community roadblocks have stalled growth. More readily available financing and domestic regulatory changes are starting to address these barriers, but experts say more should be done to unlock the vast clean energy source trapped just beneath the Earth’s surface. Countries with high geothermal potential — such as the United States, Indonesia and the Philippines — are usually located close to tectonically active regions where hot water or steam is naturally carried to the Earth’s surface through volcanic activity, or can be accessed by shallow drilling. “We’re essentially standing on our own sun, which we can get clean, reliable energy from,” said Marit Brommer, CEO of the International Geothermal Association based in Germany. Experts also laud geothermal plants for their ability to operate continuously to meet the minimum level of power demanded around-the-clock, unaffected by weather, with long lifespans and minimal maintenance. As countries shift towards renewable and cleaner energy, geothermal use is expected to grow: In Southeast Asia, geothermal power generation is expected to increase tenfold from 2020 to 2050, reaching 276 million megawatt-hours, according to the International Energy Agency. With their steaming volcanoes and bubbling lakes, Indonesia and the Philippines — two archipelagic Southeast Asian countries located on the seismically active “Ring of Fire” — are the second and third-largest users of geothermal energy in the world, with some of the highest geothermal energy potential. The U.S. is number one. Yet Indonesia uses less a tenth of its gargantuan reserves, making up 6% of its power supply. In the Philippines, about 8% of geothermal capacity has been developed, constituting 14.6% of the country's energy use, the country's largest source of renewable energy. Both countries plan to expand use of geothermal energy as they transition away from fossil fuels: Indonesia aims to increase the share of geothermal power generation by at least 8% by 2030, making it the second-largest renewable energy source after hydropower. The Philippine government is targeting several projects to boost geothermal capacity by adding nearly 1.5 gigawatts, nearly doubling its current use. But the exploratory stage of geothermal development — when companies do tests and drilling to confirm the size, temperature, pressure, and potential production rates of sites — is expensive and risky. That makes it hard to attract finance for development, said Shigeru Yamamura, an energy specialist at the Asia Development Bank. “That’s the most difficult part of developers, because (financially) they cannot take 100% of the exploration risk themselves,” Yamamura told The Associated Press. Climate finance for geothermal development is limited for most Southeast Asian nations, accounting for only 9% of finance available for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — a political and economic bloc of ten states in the region, which includes Indonesia and the Philippines. A 2024 ASEAN energy report said “blended finance” using both public and private sources, grants and green bonds could help bridge the gap. The Philippine government has announced green energy auction schemes for geothermal energy and is preparing a “smart green grid plan” that prioritizes renewable energy — vital to enable private developers to get financing from banks. This signals progress in policy support for investment, Yamamura said. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has focused on geothermal as part of the country's energy transition. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources says it's working to shorten permitting times and considering ways to increase rates of return on investments in geothermal projects. The state electric utility, Perusahaan Listrik Negara, also said it's committed to ramping up geothermal energy development. The World Bank is providing a $150 million loan to scale up Indonesian investments in geothermal energy by reducing the risks of early-stage exploration. The Green Climate Fund and the Clean Technology Fund are providing a $127.5 million. Even when finance is secured, community pushback can slow development. In Indonesia, residents of villages have protested projects, citing safety and environmental concerns: Several geothermal sites in Indonesia have had deadly gas leaks in the past five years. Some Indonesian communities don't understand what geothermal energy is and how they could benefit from its development, said Timothy Ravis, a doctoral student in global development at Cornell University. Protests at geothermal sites in the Philippines have led at least one company to pay royalties to Indigenous groups worried about land degradation caused by geothermal development. Governments and businesses should work to gain the consent of communities near projects to help ensure they succeed, said Brommer. “We need to show that this development benefits all people, not just a company,” she said. “It's not about being a good neighbor, it's about being the best neighbor and really working with communities to respect their concerns."

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Comedians will take pretty much any gig. Well, except one. For decades, amateur and professional comics have complained about performing on New Year’s Eve. Audiences get antsy waiting for the ball to drop or lock lips with the person sitting next to them. Not to mention, everyone’s probably sipping a drink or two. That’s precisely why Jeff Dunham decided to mix things up. “It’s one of the highest paying nights and one of the worst nights to do a show,” the 62-year-old comic told the New York Post in an exclusive interview. “When I started doing theaters and arenas, I said ‘I’m going to change the rules a little bit and do my New Year’s Eve show in the afternoon.'” The famed comedian who does ventriloquism is sticking to that clever plan this year. He’ll be headlining at Newark, NJ’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. “This 3 o’clock business is great because people can come to the show early. They can then go out and drink and then go to partying and it’s great.” At the early show, which is part of Dunham’s recently-announced ‘Artificial Intelligence Tour,’ fans can expect to see the funnyman interact with classic characters of his that audiences know and love. “My standby guys that have been there forever will be at the show. Peanut, Walter, Achmed, Bubba J. Maybe Jose. People get upset if Jose or Achmed aren’t in the show. So Jose might be added back in by New Year’s.” And, even with how prolific Dunham is, he makes sure he isn’t just repeating material from his 13 previous specials (two of which were released in 2024!) and tours. “I always take the the highlights from the last special and include them in the show because it helps me roll into the new material and keeps surefire stuff in the show,” Dunham explained. “I treat my show just like you’re going to see your favorite musician in concert. You expect to hear some of the greatest hits, but at the same time, you expect new stuff.’ My live shows are a happy medium.” More than anything though, Dunham’s show is just a good time. “I’m very proud of my act because it has no redeeming value whatsoever,” he chuckled. “We’ll have some good laughs and some goofy, stupid, fun.” This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For those that can’t make the New Year’s Eve show, Dunham will be at Belmont Park’s UBS Arena on Friday, Feb. 21 and Rochester ‘s Blue Cross Arena on March 20. Jeff Dunham Prudential Center tickets As of now, it isn’t too late to scoop up tickets for the New Year’s Eve gig at Prudential. Below, you’ll find a complete breakdown of tickets by section at the New Jersey Devils’ arena. Don’t expect too much material about New Year’s resolutions at the show either. “When it comes to diets and those kind of thing, I don’t wait until the first of the year. If I’m gonna do something, I’m gonna do it right now,” Dunham noted. Jeff Dunham tour 2025 After the Newark NYE stop, Dunham has 52 dates lined up on his ‘Artificial Intelligence Tour.’ To see if he’s headed to a venue near you, you can find his complete calendar here: Jeff Dunham characters Per usual, Dunham’s stable of characters that fans have grown to know and love over the years will accompany him onstage. Just a few of those iconic dummies include curmudgeonly Walter and hyperactive Peanut, as well as those based on stereotypes like Jose Jalapeno, Bubba J and Achmed the Dead Terrorist join him onstage at all shows. While the core characters have been with him for decades, Dunham is still innovating. “One of the best bits that we didn’t use in the special was when I was making Peanut talk and, every once in a while, I’ll flub up completely and Peanut goes, ‘what the hell was that? Are you okay?’ I’m like, ‘I’m fine.’ He goes ‘it sounds like I didn’t have a tongue’ and he goes, ‘that’s what you need: a dummy with no tongue.’ Then it just went downhill from there in a wonderful way.” These days, after years on the road with these iconic puppets, Dunham most identifies with Peanut and Walter. “One of my goals in life is to not become like Walter,” Dunham smiled. “When I started out, I was young man in college. He was a 64-year-old old man but Walter hasn’t aged a day since that. Now, I’m 62. Pretty soon I’m going to catch up to him.” To stay ahead of the bit, Dunham makes sure to address this unusual situation he’s gotten himself into. “The joke in the show is Walter goes, ‘what’s going to happen when you die?’ I go, ‘I don’t know.’ He says, ‘I’ll probably be in the balcony on The effin’ Muppet Show.'” “Then, I’m like Peanut because I like to think I still have a little bit of a kid left in me.” For a comprehensive look at all of Dunham’s characters, we recommend taking a look at his website . Jeff Dunham comedy specials Dunham is one of the most prolific comics working today. Prior to the upcoming tour, he’s released a staggering 13 specials dating back to 2006. As he told us, “I usually write a little bit every single day. And that’s how we’ve ended up with 13 specials since 2006.” For a closer look, here’s how you can stream each of them. “Arguing With Myself” (2006) can be streamed on Netflix “Spark of Insanity” (2007) can be streamed on Amazon Prime “Very Special Christmas Special” (2008) can be streamed on Netflix “Controlled Chaos” (2011) can be streamed on Netflix “Minding the Monsters” (2012) can be streamed on Netflix “All Over The Map” (2014) can be streamed on Netflix “Unhinged In Hollywood” (2015) can be streamed on Netflix “Relative Disaster” (2017) can be streamed on Netflix “Beside Himself” (2019) can be streamed on Netflix “ Completely Unrehearsed Last-Minute Pandemic Holiday Special ” (2020) can be streamed on Paramount+ “Me The People” (2022) can be streamed on Comedy Central “I’m With Cupid” (2024) can be streamed on Paramount Plus “Scrooged Up Holiday Special” (2024) can be streamed on Amazon Prime Jeff Dunham origin story Dunham isn’t the first comic to get onstage with a dummy. “When you go way back in history with this art form, you go back to vaudeville days and the ventriloquists were shoved onstage when the curtain came down so they could set up the stage for the next ‘real’ act,” Dunham said. “It wasn’t until Edgar Bergen came along with Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd — who were two really defined characters and the jokes were so well-written — that’s ventriloquism went over on radio.” Bergen’s success informed Dunham’s trajectory. “I didn’t want to just be a variety act at the Comedy Magic Club. The goal was to be the headliner and be as funny as anybody else.” So, he started when he was just eight-years-old. The Dallas native performed Cub Scout banquets as well as church and talent shows. He went that route for a decade before stepping foot in a comedy club in 1978. “I did the opposite of most comedians because most comedians say ‘okay, I want to get into comedy.’ They’re doing comedy clubs and work their way up. By the time I got there, I was a performer and I knew how to get in front of an audience and was well-versed in how to do a show.” After a decade toiling away in the clubs — and building helicopters on the side — Dunham was finally asked to do a five-minute set on Carson in 1990. I auditioned for Jim McAuley at ‘The Tonight Show’ nine times before I got the call. I got eight ‘no’s’ and he just keeps saying, kept saying to me, ‘you’re just not funny enough yet.'” “”I realized if I was going to follow these huge names or even some of the middle guys that were hilarious, I have to learn to be funny. It can’t be just amusing. So I decided instead of being a ventriloquist who does jokes, I’m going to have to be a comedian who does ventriloquism.” Going back a year or two, Dunham got bold and would ask comedy club bookers “when can I start headlining?” The one answer that stuck out to him was when the woman who was in charge of choosing acts at the Tempe Improv told him “you can headline when the headliners can no longer follow you.” Dunham said “ok!’ and started to blow the roof off the place. “Before you knew it, the headliners started complaining that they didn’t want me to be the opening act anymore.” Anyhow, on April 6, 1990, enough of the comedy industry had taken notice of Dunham that he was finally ready to make the jump to “The Tonight Show.” His five-minute set went over so well, Carson waved him over to chat with him and do a few minutes of panel. For a first-timer on the show, this was a particularly impressive feat that’s typically reserved for seasoned veterans. “I had no idea I was going to the couch but then (director) Freddy de Cordova said to me ‘don’t you have another character besides Peanut?'” Dunham told him Walter was also in his arsenal and de Cordova suggested putting him behind the couch. The 28-year-old was skeptical but did as he was told. After he wrapped his set to emphatic applause, it turned out de Cordova’s instincts were right after all. Still, Dunham was shocked. “You can see the blank look on my face when I’m thanking the audience after my bit and the floor director waves me to the couch. I was like ‘me? You want me to go over there to talk to him?’ What are you going to say to freakin’ Johnny Carson? ‘How are your kids?’ How do you make small talk with the King?” Dunham sat down and chatted politely for a few minutes. Then Carson asked, “do you have somebody with you?” At that moment, Dunham breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought, ‘oh, finally, Walter can save me’ and everything was ad-libbed” which led to an excellent exchange where the dummy made fun of “The Tonight Show” — “well, lah, dee, da,” he grumbled — and then leaned over to take a good look at Johnny’s sidekick, Ed McMahon. “I know that guy,” he muttered. “Stop sending me all your damn mail.” Johnny laughed and all was right in the world. “I look back at that now, and think, man, at 28, those were some cojones to say to that guy because what if it didn’t work? You laugh when the king laughs. The studio audience would have sat there and silence if Johnny didn’t laugh.” When all was said and done, Dunham met his agent who was standing backstage. He told him “your life will never be the same.” Side note: Dunham is not happy with this set. “I watch that act now and cringe because it’s me doing the doll drinking a glass of water or making the dummy talk. That’s all this ventriloquist stuff , which I frown upon now. It’s supposed to be a sitcom on stage. It’s supposed to be telling jokes, making people laugh. But at that point in my career, that was the best I could have done at that moment in time. “ Jeff Dunham Hollywood Walk of Fame In September 2017, Dunham was honored with the 2,619th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The humble comic never saw the recognition coming. “There were a couple of unexpected things that happened along the way of my career,” Dunham said. “One was doing arenas. The only person that ever did comedy like that was Steve Martin in the late ’70s and I never thought a comedian could ever reach that kind of status. The second surprise was when we went international and started doing shows outside our borders. I’d never even considered that would be a possibility. Then, the third one was getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame because when I moved to LA in ’88, I just wanted to get bigger and better than the comedy clubs. First, I wanted to be able to do comedy clubs and then after that, but to be on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and see all those names of people, that was one of the biggest surprises.” Dunham doesn’t know if the achievement gets him any more gigs or but to him it’s a bona fide stamp of approval that says “wow, I’ve been here, done something that somebody took note of besides buying tickets.’ So that was unbelievably special to me to be associated with so many greats.” Jeff Dunham addresses the critics Over the years, the comic has dealt with flak for employing potentially unflattering tropes of Hispanic and Middle Eastern cultures in his act. When asked about the material that some may deem offensive, he was quick to jump in with defense. “I always find that the people that are most upset about the stereotypical depictions of characters in my show are people that have nothing to do with that race. I really think that most people in this world have a good sense of humor and and can take a good joke. “ Dunham claims that when it comes to race, religion and sexual orientation, he doesn’t punch down and over the years have removed characters that didn’t quite work in his act. “When I did Sweet Daddy D, who was my Black character that I used for only a little while, I did my very best to talk to Black comedians and go ‘I know you tell white jokes. Please tell me the jokes that you say when we’re not around. How can I make this character legit?’ So, I tried to make him my manager, and the only reason that he didn’t work in the act is because I could not walk a mile in that guy’s shoes because I have no experience being a person of color. I don’t know what they’ve lived through and what they deal with on a daily basis.” He did the same when he introduced a female character that only last three months. “I did my best to write material so that it sounded legitimate and real but...that didn’t work either, because I could not ad-lib, I could not think like a woman. I was around women all the time and had no idea.” Dunham says when it comes to Jose and Achmed — two of his most popular characters — he knows that an image of a white man with a Latino and Middle Eastern dummy may look offensive but urges those who have never seen him live to dig a little deeper. “Please come watch the entire show. Don’t see a clip. Don’t see a picture and say that guy’s racist because I guarantee if you show someone who knows nothing a picture of me and Achmed the Dead Terrorist without listening to any jokes or any material, that looks racist. You’re judging that book by the cover,” he said. “I do my very best to make sure that everyone knows that Achmed does not say that he’s Muslim. He says, ‘look, it even says on my a–, made in China. All I was doing back then was making fun of those guys who did those horrible things to us in our country. And at that moment in time, that’s who everyone’s ready to laugh at and whistle in the dark at their fears because we were still scared of that, because we didn’t know where Osama bin Laden was. I was reacting to what our country was ready to laugh at and wanted to laugh at, and that’s where he came from. It was the ‘dead Osama’ back then...I changed him to Achmed the Dead Terrorist and now people get angry if he’s not in the show. “It’s just kind of reacting to the times and what I think people can relate to. To me, that’s the biggest key in what I do. The characters have to be relatable, and that’s why I always use trite stereotypes. People know who rednecks (his Bubba J. character is Southern) are. There’s not a town or city in this world that doesn’t have rednecks in a city nearby.” Over the years, Dunham tells us Achmed has developed a cult following overseas. “My favorite example of how I get to see the world through maybe a different lens or rose-colored glasses was when I was doing a world tour in 2014. I was in Abu Dhabi performing for 4,000 Muslim folks. There weren’t a bunch of Americans there to see me. It was all the local people that came to see the show. And I pulled Achmed, the dead terrorist out. It was like a homecoming. It could have gone over better. Two nights later, I’m in the middle in Tel Aviv, Israel doing the exact same show for 4,000 Jewish people. Didn’t change a word of it and their favorite character was Achmed.” Still, he’s quick to add that you won’t “learn anything at his show.” Dunham told us “critiquing my show is like going to McDonald’s and saying, ‘but they don’t have Chardonnay.’ We dumb it down to the biggest laughs and that’s what gets left over. And guess what? One of the biggest laughs in the show is when Achmed the dead terrorist said ‘that’s what she said.’ So it’s not my fault! It’s the audience’s fault for laughing too loud at certain jokes.” When it comes to politics, Dunham takes a no-sides approach where he makes fun of whoever is in charge. Recently, he had Walter play Joe Biden. Now that Trump has been re-elected, he may revive some old bits making fun of him. “Some of my videos when Trump was President the first time, we would dress Walter up like Trump and call him Grump and he had the big hair. We’d take him outside, the wind would blow his hair, he’d be bald underneath and get pissed off. I even got a couple of texts from one of Trump’s sons saying, ‘this is great. We love it. Keep going. Even Dad loves it.’ I thought ‘that’s either great or a threat. I’m not sure.’ You have to push a little bit. Hopefully, there’s some material in there that’s not just Big Mac stuff, maybe there is some Chardonnay in there, I’m not sure.” Comedians on tour in 2025 If you fancy yourself a comedy nerd, this is your year. Many of the biggest names in the laughs business are staging mega tours these next few months. Here are just five of our favorites funny people you won’t want to miss live in the near future. • Jerry Seinfeld • Kevin Hart • Sarah Silverman • Sebastian Maniscalco • Bill Murray Want to catch a concert? Here are all the 2025 Grammy nominees on tour . See you at a show!

Australia facing grim situation in Adelaide Test but Justin Langer tips ‘fightback’

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Nike's Worst May Nearly Be Over: Analyst Sees CEO Transition And Strategic Fixes Sparking A Turnaround

The Titans have issues to fix and hope to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they host the JagsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have the slimmest of playoff hopes and must win out to have any chance of keeping them alive. Figuring out who they are would be a first step in the right direction. The Titans (3-9) also must bounce back from last week's ugly loss at Washington that cost this franchise yet another chance to string together consecutive wins for the first time in more than two years. “We know that this is a big opportunity for us to develop as a team and to create and to continue developing our identity,” quarterback Will Levis said. “And so we’re going to make sure that we do our best throughout these next few weeks to do that.” The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) lost Trevor Lawrence for the rest of the season after the hit he took from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in last week's 23-20 loss to Houston. Their already dim playoff hopes were extinguished Monday night when Denver won. That leaves the Jaguars playing for pride and potentially drafting No. 1 overall for the third time in five years. “It’s all about how you finish,” tight end Evan Engram said. “How we finish probably won’t erase the feeling we have of the season. But as the pride of this franchise, the pride of the team, it’s definitely worth going to finish strong and going to get some wins and fighting for that.” The Titans went into Washington with one of the NFL's stingiest defenses and wound up shredded, giving up a season-worst 267 yards rushing. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said, “We can’t allow what happened last week to happen again.” Wide receiver Calvin Ridley says he's excited to see some old teammates Sunday and downplayed a question about how close Jacksonville's offer to keep him last March might've been when he chose to sign with division rival Tennessee instead. “Doesn't matter right now,” Ridley said. “I'm excited for this week. Jags come in here, play with my boys. I'm excited.” Ridley played one season with Jacksonville after the Jaguars traded for him . He had 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight TDs last season with the Jaguars. So far this season, Ridley has 43 receptions for 679 yards and three TDs. “I just know I'm going to be ready,” Ridley said. Jacksonville has lost 16 consecutive games when tied or trailing at halftime. It’s a complete flip from the 2022 season, in which the Jaguars rallied to beat Dallas, the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee down the stretch to make the playoffs. The 20-16 victory against the Titans in the regular-season finale that year is the last time coach Doug Pederson’s team has come from behind to win after trailing or being tied at the break. Tennessee led 13-7 at the half in that one and was minutes from winning a third straight AFC South title . Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen needs 4 1/2 sacks to break the franchise record of 55 held by Tony Brackens. Hines-Allen has at least half a sack in four consecutive games against Tennessee, which has given up 43 sacks in 2024. “My family knows about it probably more than me,” Hines-Allen said. “My wife tells me all the time, ‘Hey, get that record. All you just need is four sacks.’ Like, you can just (get) four sacks. “I had a couple games last year where I had three, so I can’t say it’s out of the realm. But I never had four sacks; don’t know what it feels like to do that in one game. But hopefully speak it into existence.” Mac Jones will be starting at quarterback and is 0-2 with the Jaguars this season. He has one more interception (three) than touchdown passes (two) in five appearances. The Titans are looking to see if Levis can keep building on his strong play of the past month and start turning those into wins. Levis is 1-3 since returning from a strained throwing shoulder. He has seven TD passes with two interceptions for a 101.3 passer rating in his past four games. He also is completing 61.7% of his passes for 960 yards. “The cool thing right now for Will is that as we’ve corrected things, he’s corrected them,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said . “And that’s been really fun to watch as he’s made adjustments from game to game, sometimes even from in the game made an adjustment to a coverage or a read, and that part’s been good to see.” AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long in Jacksonville, Florida, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

PHOENIX — Sports experts may be divided about who will win the Peach Bowl but at least one African Elephant Zoo Atlanta is rooting for the Sun Devils to beat the Longhorns. Msholo, a 34-year-old male African Elephant at Zoo Atlanta, picked ASU to win the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The No. 4 Seed, Big 12 Champion Arizona State Sun Devils will take on the No. 5 Seed Texas Longhorns at 1 p.m. ET on New Year's Day. The 57th annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will ring in the new year from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as the first college football game played in 2025. This is ASU's first appearance in the College Football Playoff and their first Peach Bowl appearance since 1970 when they beat North Carolina 48-26. Texas will make its first-ever appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after defeating Clemson in the first round of this year’s playoff. Arizona State's only previous meeting with Texas was in the 2007 Holiday Bowl where the Longhorns defeated the Sun Devils 52-34. >> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone. Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account , or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office