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99jili The Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”

Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office

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Pockets of land around Lake Minnetonka served for thousands of years as the sites of sacred burial for the Dakota people. Now, some of that soil sits in giant piles outside Tonka Bay City Hall as local officials and tribal leaders try to figure out how to most respectfully handle material that was unearthed during a road construction project. “There’s two interests here: One is to build a roadway that is going to last, and (to) treat these burial remains with the respect they deserve,” said John Bradford with the consulting firm WSB, who serves as the city’s engineer. “And, we want to do both.” Striking that balance can prove difficult, in part because tribes weren’t always consulted when the roads, sewers and water systems were installed decades ago amid booming suburban growth. The infrastructure has aged since then and, as it comes due for replacement, cities are reckoning with the decisions made before modern laws protected Indigenous graves. “We’re all in difficult positions trying to be respectful and trying to do things in a good way after so much destruction and desecration,” said Samantha Odegard, a tribal historic preservation officer for the Upper Sioux Community, which is working with Tonka Bay officials. “But, obviously, it’s harder on us because it’s our sites, our relatives that were most directly affected.” Much of what is now the Twin Cities metro area served as homeland for the Dakota people for thousands of years, Odegard said. But many Indigenous people were forced out after the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. When people flocked to the suburbs a century later, many cities installed new roadways, water and sewer lines to support the growing communities. Current laws requiring officials to consult with tribes and return remains and sacred objects weren’t yet in place. Some sites were disturbed. “We’re trying to protect what’s there, but doing it in that context, that is very difficult,” Odegard said. “It’s harder to pinpoint exactly what areas needed to be avoided or have certain guidelines followed.” The locations of some cemeteries are hard to trace and, when they are known, their locations are closely guarded to prevent looting and desecration. So city officials across the state increasingly find themselves working with consultants and archaeologists as they prepare for major construction projects, with mixed success. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa spent nearly five years on recovery efforts after state crews disturbed burial grounds in Duluth during bridge construction. Restoration crews worked for three years in Minnetonka after a county road project inadvertently destroyed some mounds . Chanhassen officials recently brought in consultants to do an archaeological review of Lake Ann Park Preserve before doing additional work there. Tonka Bay Mayor Adam Jennings said his city is working on a roughly $8 million project aimed at replacing nearly 20% of the city’s roads, water and sewer lines, including along County Road 19. Many of those systems, he said, were installed in the 1960s and 1970s. “We were experiencing a significant number of water breaks and we just needed a new one,” he said. “It reached the end of its useful life.” City officials began consulting with tribes a couple years ago, including on plans for what they would do if they encountered sacred soils. Odegard and Cheyanne St. John, a tribal historic preservation officer for the Lower Sioux Indian Community, said there were concerns about whether crews followed the proper guidelines. City officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the tribal members’ concerns. In an earlier interview, Bradford, the city engineer, said crews initially planned to take out about two feet of soil and bring in sand to help stabilize the roadway. “I was under the impression, correctly or not, that we would just haul the soils off-site, and everybody was OK with that,” he said. But when they brought in a new cultural resources consultant partway through the project, he said that person recommended contacting the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Bradford said they heard through that process that some tribes wanted to keep the soil in a cemetery. For now, the soil sits in towering heaps outside City Hall, surrounded by barriers meant to guard it from erosion and people trying to carry it off. The piles drew questions from curious residents in a public meeting earlier this fall. Some wanted to know why the piles were outside City Hall and how long they might be there. Others wanted to know how it might affect the budget. Officials have said it’s cheaper to store the soil there than to delay construction. They’re not sure on the timeline for moving it. “It’s like anything else when you’re in politics. You get all kinds of questions from all kinds of residents, and you do your best to answer,” Jennings said. “A vast majority of the time, people get it.” In the meantime, city officials and tribal leaders are trying to finalize a plan for moving the soil and trying to explain to people both its significance and why tampering with it would be a crime. “I know that there is a lot of, sometimes, contention around the inconvenience of how project work is done,” St. John said. “But I think, oftentimes, the public is just not aware of how sensitive these locations are to our people. And we’re not an extinct culture. Those are our relatives that called those places home.” ©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLCNone

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Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

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Delivering Optimized, Outbound-Focused Contact Center Solutions for Modern Businesses LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- outboundIQ www.outboundiq.com proudly announces its accreditation as a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner (CIP), a distinction that reflects its deep expertise in optimizing and streamlining outbound-focused contact center operations. With a team of seasoned Five9 veterans, expert programmers, and industry thought leaders, outboundIQ is uniquely equipped to help businesses of all sizes unlock the full potential of Five9's Virtual Contact Center platform. Optimized Solutions for Complex Contact Center Needs outboundIQ specializes in providing expedited, outbound-focused contact center implementations, integrating advanced features such as inbound and outbound Voice, SMS, Chat, Email, Salesforce Integration, and other third-party app integrations. Clients can also leverage ongoing optimization engagements and monthly retainers for strategic consulting designed to support long-term, outreach-focused success. "Who better to handle your domain configuration than the experts that understand the outbound contact center world. To be an outbound expert, you must know 3 things; how to configure the domain front end, how the architecture interprets that design, and how carriers respond to your dialing behavior as a result of the build. outboundIQ has the advantage of deeply understanding all 3 things. Our experts are seasoned professionals that will guide toward the best build for your business. You tell us about your business, your needs and your processes, and we will build you a domain fit for purpose. outboundIQ offers best in class Domain Optimization, Implementation and Consulting for customers of all sizes and complexity. Due to our methodology and proprietary automations, we are able to bring our customers' projects to life within accelerated timeframes." - Jessica Clay , VP Support and Services "We launched our business in June and were fortunate to connect with the incredible team at outboundIQ early on. Navigating the world of outbound calling and building efficient prospecting systems isn't easy, but the entire team at outboundIQ brought our vision to life seamlessly. They implemented our ideas quickly and executed them flawlessly. Since partnering with them, our contact rates have significantly improved, our conversions have increased, and our overall business is thriving. We're deeply grateful for this collaboration and look forward to continuing our work together on future endeavors!" - Tim, Lit Financial "I genuinely don't know enough ways to thank the entire outboundIQ team. I inherited a domain riddled with mistakes, tangled beyond belief, and I had essentially planned to scrap the whole thing and start over. That's when this team, led by Jessica Clay's brilliance, took over to understand exactly what I wanted to create and completely revitalized my domain. We are all beyond thankful as they continue to consult for us to this day and I see no reason to stop. Thank you, Jessica, Jason, Rudy, Bruno, Sandy and everyone who gets the pleasure of working with these domain geniuses!" - Michael, Lifetime Home Remodeling A Holistic Approach to Outbound Excellence Creating a competitive, consumer-focused outreach program requires more than just advanced technology. As outboundIQ explains, a thriving contact center functions like a high-performing racing team: The Car: Five9 Virtual Contact Center provides a cutting-edge technology foundation. The Driver: Strong Dialer Administrators who skillfully manage operations. The Pit Crew: IT/Support teams ensuring seamless functionality. The Spotters: Data Analytics and Reporting experts optimizing performance. The Fuel: High-quality data driving better outcomes. outboundIQ's professional services team brings these critical elements together, ensuring clients achieve best-in-class outbound operations that prioritize consumer experience while maintaining a competitive edge. A Call to Collaboration With its new CIP certification, outboundIQ invites businesses to explore select partnership opportunities and projects to reimagine their contact center operations. Whether through expedited implementations or ongoing strategic consulting, outboundIQ is committed to driving measurable results for its clients. About outboundIQ outboundIQ delivers optimized, outbound-focused contact center implementations, combining years of Five9 expertise with cutting-edge strategies to help businesses achieve exceptional outreach outcomes. As a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner, outboundIQ provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of modern organizations. About Five9 Five9 is a digital enterprise's leading cloud contact center and software provider. The Five9 Intelligent CX Platform is reliable, secure, compliant, and scalable, designed to create exceptional personalized customer experiences. www.five9.com Media contact: Sandy Tafur Phone: 404-660-5314 mail: sandy@outboundiq.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outboundiq-achieves-certified-implementation-partner-cip-status-with-five9-302339797.html SOURCE outboundIQThe Eagles are NFC East champions and they did it at home against the Cowboys. It doesn't get better than that, right? Granted, their dominating 41-7 victory came against a Dallas team playing without Dak Prescott or CeeDee Lamb, and saw touchdown passes for the home team from Kenny Pickett and from Tanner McKee. But it counts just the same, and Philly's 13th win of the season assures they won't need to worry about getting a 14th as their playoff fate has now been sealed. Here's a look at a player whose stock is back on the rise, and a reason for Eagles fans to lament a bit after a very convincing win on an unseasonably warm December afternoon: Stock up: 📈 Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Last week, the Eagles lost to the Commanders for two main reasons (no disrespect to Jayden Daniels and his epic performance): Jalen Hurts left in the first quarter with a concussion, and Gardner-Johnson was ejected in the third quarter after his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Eagles' thinness at the safety position directly contributed to their inability to stop the Washington passing game. A week later, CJGJ — known around the NFL for both being a ball hawk and one of the league's most notorious trash talkers — decided to make it up to Eagles fans. CJ Gardner-Johnson PICK-6!!! 📺: #DALvsPHI on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/3WSZb2eQzk His pick-six in the Birds' first defensive stint in the game helped to give the offense find its sea legs under a backup quarterback. He added a second interception — his sixth of the season (the second most of any NFL player) — and that led to another Eagles touchdown. A total of 14 points off of Gardner-Johnson forced turnovers, not shabby at all. Gardner-Johnson hobbled off the field with an abdomen in the fourth quarter, and the hopes are it will be a minor one (his return was officially "questionable"). Three more points off another Dallas miscue came in the first half, when Oren Burks jarred a ball loose in the second quarter that was recovered by Jordan Davis. A fourth Eagles turnover came from, who else, Zack Baun who created a Rico Dowdle fumble in the fourth. Defensively, the Eagles keep finding ways to do it. If they're not suffocating offenses at the line of scrimmage or sticking to opposing wide receivers like gloves, they're creating big plays and turnovers. This kind of play could keep them on the field deep into January (or February). Stock down: 📉 Saquon Barkley's rushing record Hoisted with their own petard. The Eagles locked up the NFC East crown, as well as the NFC's 2-seed throughout the postseason. Which means that there is almost no chance any big name starters will see the field next week against the Giants in a totally meaningless Week 18 game in South Philly. (The only circumstance that would see the Eagles with a reason to play in Week 18 is both the Lions and Vikings losing later this weekend. If they both lost there would be a shot at the 1-seed.) Which means that Barkley's epic, unforgettable season will probably end, with the running back at 2,005 yards for the 2024 regular season. He'll fall an even 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson's all-time rushing record after a 23-yard fourth quarter scamper made him the NFL's ninth ever 2,000 yard rusher. With the fanfare, handshakes and hugs after the run that got him to the 2k mark, it seemed like a fitting end to Barkley's regular season. While the 1984 record is painfully within reach, 100 yards would require Barkley to play the majority, if not all of Week 18, and the risk of injury is too great for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Ironically, Barkley's 16 games played are right on par with the record he was chasing — as many were critical that he could theoretically be eclipsing the mark with an extra 17th game played. Dickerson set his record on 379 carries, while Barkley had 345 carries. If he had the same number of rushing attempts as Dickerson he'd be the record holder. In Sunday's win against Dallas, everything appeared to be going wrong for the running back early, as he was stuffed near the line of scrimmage repeatedly, collecting just 25 yards on his first 12 carries. But he turned it around, looking like his old shifty spry self, finishing with 167 rushing yards in the game. It was nice to see Barkley able to post solid numbers on the ground without Hurts under center. It is expected that the starting quarterback will return for the Wild card playoff round on the second weekend in January, when the Eagles host the No. 7 seed in the NFC. Follow Evan on Twitter: @evan_macy Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice SportsGolden Knights take on the Utah Hockey Club after Barbashev's 2-goal performance

Cuala hold nerve to overcome late Ardee comeback to win Leinster title'Demon Face' Appeared In Turkish Skies During Violent Storm? Truth Behind Viral VideoAn Australian streetwear store was stampeded by hundreds of teenagers on Boxing Day after its founder encouraged customers to “rob” his store. The almost unbelievable footage uploaded to the StreetX Instagram page shows hundreds of teenagers pouring into the store in Perth’s Central Business District. As the crowd of mostly young men jostled and pushed their way into two small entryways, onlookers watched the mayhem unfold. As one unlucky young fan stumbled on his way in, the crowd behind could be seen trampling him on their mission to claim one of the 400 free T-shirts that were being offered. Despite the troubling scenes, the label’s founder Daniel Bradshaw maintained that nobody was injured during the chaotic dash and that police were “fine with it”. Bradshaw has been known to stage similarly chaotic marketing campaigns and drew the anger of city rangers and police during his brand’s Boxing Day campaign last year. Bradshaw, talking to the West Australian in the lead up to the day, encouraged his followers to “rob” his stores. “We wanted to give our customers something fun. We made the entire store free. There were 400 items to ‘steal’,” he said. “We always do a Boxing Day sale. Last year, we did a giveaway out the back of a truck. This year we wanted something that ideally wouldn’t get us in trouble.” Bradshaw claimed there were control measures in place to protect customers from the scuffle that ensued. “We made sure we picked a shop with lots of space. It was a secluded section of the CBD too,” he said. “We let kids and parents in first. Once they moved out, we let the young guys in.” While some punters questioned the marketing methods of the Perth streetwear brand, Bradshaw lauded their “run and gun” approach as the first of its kind. “I haven’t seen anything like that in Australia before,” he said. The Boxing Day mayhem wasn’t limited to Perth, with people turning out in droves across Australia to snag themselves a bargain. DFO Outlet malls in Sydney and Harbour Town in the Gold Coast drew massive crowds, with lines stretching as far as the eye could see. Lines just to enter the shopping center in Homebush snaked through the parking lot at 10 in the morning. The huge lines and general unpleasantness of crowded shopping centers in the middle of summer has some people online questioning whether the bargains are even worth it. One social media user commented “Zero happens on Boxing Day that couldn’t wait till the 27th. “That’s just foul.” There were similar scenes at Melbourne’s DFO South Wharf shopping centre. There was a wait of up to two hours to enter the Nike store, with customers left standing in 97 degree heat outside. So while Boxing Day has left some questioning their conviction for bargain hunting, it seems free stuff will always attract a crowd. Just watch out for the stampede.

Telangana govt considers removing two-children criteria for rural local body polls

‘Squid Game’ Returns With A Vengeance: Creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk & Star Lee Jung-Jae Reveal WhyBy HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.”Social Democrats plan Labour alliance talks before any coalition chats as deputy leader reiterates 5 ‘deal-breakers’NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans keep proving that for every step forward, they always find ways to take two back. The Titans (3-9) clinched a third straight losing record to mark first-year coach Brian Callahan’s debut season in an ugly 42-19 loss to Washington. Yet another slow start, more turnovers, sacks, penalties ruined their chance at stringing together consecutive wins for the first time in more than two years. Callahan said Monday they’re trying to build consistency. “In the NFL, a lot of it is about not losing the game first, and we do right now with the amount of penalties and turnovers we’ve had,” Callahan said. “We put ourselves in position to lose games and not win them. And so, yes, there is a there is an element of learning how to win.” Tennessee had 11 of 12 penalties before halftime, trailing 28-7. The Titans also were the previous NFL team to be flagged for at least 11 penalties and trail by 20 or more points at halftime in Week 17 of 2005 against the Jaguars. Only Baltimore has been penalized more than Tennessee this season. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said after the loss that the Titans need to learn how to deal with winning better coming off a 32-27 win at Houston. Simmons said they were “hungover from our own success.” RELATED COVERAGE Justin Tucker’s erratic season isn’t getting any better, and it’s hurting Baltimore’s outlook Rams claim CB Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington Buccaneers are back to .500 and in position to control their playoff hopes down the stretch Callahan said Monday he didn’t see any hangover issues. “You have a performance like that and you’re sort of grasping for an explanation on why and there really wasn’t one other than we made too many errors early in the game and put ourselves in a hole,” Callahan said. What’s working Quarterback Will Levis’ development over the four games since his return from a sprained, right throwing shoulder at least gives the Titans promise for the future. The second-year quarterback made some nice throws and limited yards lost on two sacks Sunday. He threw two TD passes for 212 yards. Since his return, he is completing 61.7% of his passes for 960 yards with seven touchdown passes and only two interceptions with a 101.3 passer rating in that span. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . What needs help Now the defense is struggling after going into Washington second in the NFL in yards allowed, ninth against the run and first defending the pass. They gave up a season-high 267 yards rushing after giving up just 40 a week ago. The Titans also gave up 28 points within the first 20 minutes, becoming only the third team to do that in the past five seasons . The Titans also did that in Week 8 earlier this season after being routed by the Lions in Detroit. Washington did it against Dallas in Week 16 of 2021. Stock up WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Originally undrafted out of Indiana, Westbrook-Ikhine is tied for fourth in the NFL with eight TD catches entering Monday. That’s despite starting only five games this season and not having a pass thrown to him the first month of the season. He has earned a multi-year deal with his performance. He had three receptions for 61 yards against Washington and was targeted a season-high eight times. Stock down Rookie Jha’Quan Jackson. A sixth-round pick out of Tulane and nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Ed Reed has fumbled five times as the punt returner recovering only two of those. That got him benched against Washington. His fumbles have come in the past six games, including one in each of the past two. His fumble against Washington led to an early touchdown. Injuries LT JC Latham hurt a quadriceps muscle but finished the game. Callahan said they will see how CB Roger McCreary (shoulder) and LB Kenneth Murray Jr. (strained hamstring) recover during the week. Key number 36 — The number of games since the Titans have had consecutive victories. Next steps The Titans at least are home with their best focus trying to improve their standing inside the AFC South with four divisional games down the stretch. They have two games remaining against Jacksonville (2-10) starting Sunday with Trevor Lawrence likely out. But their biggest question now is how high does this franchise draft in April. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

A Barbadian scientist has been honoured among the Hemisphere’s brightest minds by the Organisation of American States (OAS). Dr Cardinal Warde was the lone Caribbean scientist among seven distinguished individuals from the Americas, awarded the prestigious Science, Technology and Innovation Award of the Americas during the VII Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Science and Technology, (REMYCT). The ceremony celebrated trailblazers from Barbados, Canada, Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Uruguay and the United States for their exceptional contributions to science and technology, as well as their commitment to fostering cooperation and development across OAS member states. The other awardees were Dr Alejandro Adem of Canada, president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); Dr Pablo Zamora of Chile, president of Fundación Chile; Dr Rosibel Ochoa of Honduras, Associate Vice Chancellor at UC Riverside; Dr Arturo Reyes Sandoval of Mexico, director of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN); Dr Natacha DePaola of the United States, professor of biomedical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), and director of the Illinois Tech Digital Medical Engineering and Technology Research and Education Centre and Dr Henry Cohen of Uruguay, head of the Department of Gastroenterology at the Hospital of the University of the Republic, and director of the ECHO Project. In her congratulatory message, OAS executive secretary for integral development, Kim Osborne, spoke of the importance of ensuring the contributions from the Americas to global science and innovation does not go unnoticed. “Each of you in your own way have made your mark on the world of science, technology, and innovation, today the OAS simply wants to say thank you for enriching our work with your time and expertise,” she said. A Champion for Caribbean Science Dr Warde, 79, a professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was recognised for his groundbreaking work in optoelectronics and his leadership in advancing science education in the Caribbean. As president of the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology, and Innovation (CADSTI) and Interim Executive Director of the Caribbean Science Foundation, Dr Warde has dedicated his career to equipping the next generation of scientists and engineers with tools for success. Born in Christ Church, Warde showed an early passion for science, converting his father’s carpentry shop into a makeshift chemistry lab. After excelling at Harrison College, he pursued higher education in the United States, earning his doctorate in physics from Yale University in 1974. Pioneering Research and Innovations At MIT, where he has served since 1974, Dr Warde is a leading expert in materials and systems for optical information processing and displays. His research spans diverse fields, including optical computing, wireless communication and holography. He has developed innovative optical neural network processors and light modulators that have advanced brain-like computing and high-resolution imaging technologies. Beyond academia, Dr Warde founded multiple successful technology ventures, including Optron Systems and Radiant Images, Inc., specialising in optoelectronic systems and displays. His inventions have earned him 12 patents, underscoring his impact on the tech industry. Advocacy for Education and Development Dr Warde is equally celebrated for his contributions to education policy in the Caribbean. He has worked tirelessly as a scientific advisor to the Government of Barbados and other regional entities to enhance STEM opportunities for Caribbean youth. Through the Caribbean Science Foundation, Dr Warde oversees the Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), a rigorous summer initiative that prepares gifted students for careers in science and engineering. He also established the Rosetta Irene Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund, supporting higher education for students from English-speaking Caribbean countries. Global Recognition Dr Warde’s accolades include the Barbados Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and the Caribbean American Heritage Award. He is also a Fellow of The Optical Society and holds honorary doctorates from the University of the West Indies and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. As a scientist, educator, and advocate, Dr Warde exemplifies the power of innovation and collaboration. His recognition by the OAS highlights the vital contributions of Caribbean professionals to global science and technology. The OAS Science and Technology Awards , established in 1972 as the “Bernardo Houssay” Award, honor the legacy of the esteemed Argentine Nobel laureate whose work on diabetes transformed global health. Since then, the award has celebrated outstanding achievements in fields like Biological Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Applied Technological Research. (PR) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.Rams’ offense is struggling, but the defense has put LA on the brink of an NFC West titleBy Byron Kaye Since Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen aired internal emails in 2021 showing the tech giant knew of social media’s mental health impacts on teenagers, world leaders have agonised over how to curb the technology’s addictive pull on young minds. Even a 2023 recommendation by the US surgeon general to put health warnings on social media, blaming it for what he called a teenage mental health crisis, could not help lawmakers from Florida to France navigate resistance on grounds of free speech, privacy and the limits of age-checking technology. The spark that ended the stalemate was when the wife of the leader of Australia’s second-smallest state read The Anxious Generation, a 2024 bestseller criticising social media by U.S. social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, and told her husband to take action. “I remember precisely the moment that she said to me ‘you’ve got to read this book and you’ve got to do something about it’,” South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas told reporters in Adelaide on Friday, a day after the country’s federal parliament passed a nationwide social media ban for youths under 16. “I didn’t reasonably anticipate it would take on so quickly,” he added. Malinauskas’s personal quest to restrict youth access to social media in his state, which represents just 7% of Australia’s 27 million population, to the world’s first national ban took just six months. The speed underscores the depth of concern in the Australian electorate over the issue. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to hold an election in early 2025. An Australian government YouGov survey found that 77% of Australians back the under-16 social media ban, up from 61% in August prior to the government’s official announcement. Only 23% oppose the measure. “It all originated here,” said Rodrigo Praino, a professor of politics and public policy at South Australia’s Flinders University. “The federal government including the prime minister understood immediately that that was a problem that needed to be solved (and) best addressed if it’s done nationwide. Allowing kids to indiscriminately use social media has become an issue globally.” When the father of four answered the call from his wife in May, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta had two months earlier said it would stop paying content royalties to news outlets globally, potentially triggering an Australian online copyright law. Meta’s decision, in part, prompted the federal government to open a broad inquiry into societal impacts of social media, ranging from the merits of age-gating social media to the knock-on effects of Meta cancelling royalties. Opposition lawmakers meanwhile began calling for age restrictions on social media against the backdrop of a legal fight between X and Australia’s e-Safety regulator over the spread of false and graphic content related to two public knife attacks in Sydney in April. In May, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, the country’s biggest newspaper publisher, began an editorial campaign to ban children under 16 from social media, calling “Let Them Be Kids”. Through the middle of 2024, News Corp mastheads and the parliamentary inquiry aired emotional accounts from parents whose children had taken or lost their lives as a result of bullying and body image problems tied to social media. After Malinauskas unveiled his state policy banning under-14s in September, Albanese was in the media the next day saying his government would enact a federal version by the end of the year. “Parents want their kids off their phones and on the footy field,” said Albanese, who like Malinauskas is from the centre-left Labour party. “So do I.” The proposed South Australian ban was, however, largely in line with restrictions already legislated in countries including France and U.S. states like Florida, which held the door open for teens over 14 to keep using social media with parental permission. The federal model Albanese’s government introduced to parliament in November carried no parental discretion, with the explanation that it freed parents from the burden of playing a policing role. The ban was roundly attacked by social media companies which complained it gave them full responsibility – and the threat of a A$49.5 million fine – without telling them how it would work. A trial of age-verification technology begins next year. The left-leaning Greens rejected the law as rushed and unfair on young people, while some far-right lawmakers broke from their party’s support and voted against it on concerns of government overreach and potential surveillance. But with locked-in support from the government and most of the opposition, the law was passed just after 11pm on the last parliamentary day of the year. It takes effect one year later. “I’m pleased to see that it’s got as far as it has in Australia,” said Robert French, the former High Court judge commissioned by Malinauskas in May to report on whether a state-based age restriction would be possible. Some of French’s recommendations, including making the ban national and putting responsibility on platforms to take reasonable steps to keep minors out, are included in the final legislation. “The basic sensible model is in place,” French said by telephone.

Flames bring 3-game losing streak into matchup with the PenguinsTAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s bid for a fourth straight NFC South title and fifth consecutive playoff berth is gaining momentum. Back-to-back , combined with Atlanta’s three-game losing streak, have propelled the Bucs (6-6) to a tie atop the division. Although the Falcons (6-6) hold a tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams, Tampa Bay can control its own destiny by finishing strong against a less than imposing schedule. The Bucs, who are back in the thick of the race after beating the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, figure to be favored in four of their five remaining games. “Every week, we said it’s a playoff game, we got to take care of us. It’s not going to be easy. As it was (Sunday), it’s going to be a dog fight every week,” coach Todd Bowles said after Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina. “We got to clean up some things, we know that, but it's hard to win in this league,” the coach said of the mistake-filled victory that lifted the Bucs back to .500. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it.” After facing Las Vegas (2-10) this week, the Bucs will finish with road games against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) and Dallas Cowboys (5-7), followed by home dates vs. Carolina (3-9) and the New Orleans Saints (4-8). Kicker Chase McLaughlin has been one of team’s most consistent performers, converting 21 of 23 field goal attempts. He was 4 of 5 against the Panthers, including 51-yarder to force overtime on the final play of regulation. He missed from 55 yards in OT before winning it with a 30-yard field goal on Tampa Bay’s next possession. Just when it appeared the defense was beginning to trend in the right direction, Carolina's Bryce Young threw for 298 yards without an interception against the Bucs in one of his better outings of the season. “In the first half, he did it with his feet and the second half he did it with his arm,” Bowles said. Running back Bucky Irving rushed for a career-best 152 yards and finished with 185 from scrimmage against Carolina, making him the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to have consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. A week after playing well offensively and defensively in a 23-point rout of the New York Giants, the Bucs were sloppy against the Panthers. In addition to throwing two interceptions, Mayfield was sacked four times. Tampa Bay was penalized seven times for 54 yards, and the defense was only able to sack Young once. Mayfield (sore leg), linebacker K.J. Britt (sprained ankle) and safety Mike Edwards (hamstring) will be on the injury report this week. Bowles said he’s not sure what Mayfield's practice status will be when the team reconvenes Wednesday, however he expects the quarterback to play Sunday. 37 and 101 — Wide receiver Mike Evans had another big day against Carolina, posting the 37th 100-yard receiving performance of his career — fifth among active players. He also moved ahead of Hall of Famers Steve Largent and Tim Brown for sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list for TD receptions with 101. The Buccaneers host Las Vegas in Tampa Bay's first home game in a month and the third consecutive outing against a last-place team. The Raiders (2-10) have lost eight in a row. NFL:The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”