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golden empire jili slot Storrs, Conn. — With an easy 85-41 victory over Farleigh Dickinson last Wednesday, Geno Auriemma became the winningest coach in his sport, as defined by the greatest number of career victories. The win was No. 1,217, passing Tara VanDerveer, who retired after last season at Stanford. Both have passed Mike Krzyzewski, who won the most games in men’s college basketball, 1,202. There are other factors to being the “winningest” coach, such as winning percentage, championships won, record in what would be considered the most important games, such as postseason games. Comparing one sport to another, to be sure, is a study in apples vs. oranges, but when such a coaching record falls, whether or not it is a counting stat, it speaks to consistency and longevity, and the nature of coaching, by which we mean job security, is such that longevity cannot be achieved without sustained excellence. Auriemma, 70, checks every box. In addition to the highest number of wins in what he helped to make a high-profile sport, he also has the most championships, 11, and a remarkable winning percentage of 88.2% across 40 years. He has 137 more wins, with 24 losses and an .852 percentage, in NCAA Tournament games and a 23-4 record in No.1-vs.-No.2 matchups; most coaches would sign for that record against unranked opponents. So by every measure he is the most successful coach in women’s basketball and a transformational figure in its history. And as he continues to add to his win total at a torrid pace, it’s less and less likely anyone will come close for generations to come. In most other sports, the ‘winningest coach’ title requires some explanation, as we set out to do here with a look at the career victory leaders in various sports and who is chasing them. Winningest: Don Shula, 347 As Shula, who coached the Colts from 1963-69 and Dolphins from 1970-95, approached George Halas’ mark, the NFL decided that regular season and playoff games would both count toward the official record. Shula is best known for coaching the undefeated 1972 Dolphins, and after repeating as champs, he won enough to remain in the job as long as he wanted it. Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with the Patriots, was hot on the trail and left New England after last season with 333 victories. It’s widely assumed he will coach again and chase the record, though he is 72. He would have to land in the right situation and, history tells us, have a great quarterback. The Chiefs’ Andy Reid, 66, has a way to go with 293 wins. Winningest: Connie Mack, 3,731. This calls for an asterisk, maybe several. Mack managed Pittsburgh from 1894-96, then bought into the Philadelphia Athletics of the new American League and managed from 1901-50. As an owner and, essentially, GM, he was not about to fire himself. He went to the World Series nine times, and won five, but had long strings of dreary seasons and, in fact, also lost more games, 3,948, than anyone else. Because he managed in civilian clothes, he was actually not allowed to step onto the field and, as he “managed” until the age of 87, his sons or other coaches did most of the actual managing over his last 10 years or so. No other coach or manager in any sport was so entrenched, not even far more successful managers. Second on the wins list is Tony La Russa, who won 2,884, but had a .536 winning percentage. It’s unfathomable that Mack’s total will ever be approached. The winningest active manager is Bruce Bochy, now with Texas, with 2,171 wins and four championships, and he is 69. Winningest: Gregg Popovich, 1,394 Popovich, 75, is still active, though currently out recovering from a stroke. He passed Don Nelson (1,335) in March 2022. Popovich, who has coached the San Antonio Spurs since 1994, has won five championships and has won 62.8% of his games, but hasn’t had a winning season since 2018-19. Doc Rivers, 63, is the next winningest coach still active in the league with 1,119. He won a title with the Celtics in 2008 and is now with the Bucks. Winningest: Mike Thibault, 379 Former CT Sun and Mystics coach Mike Thibault has the most victories, 379, amassed between 2003-22, winning 56.7% of his games, and also got his teams to the playoffs 16 times, including a championship run in 2019. However, Cheryl Reeve, 58, who has coached the Lynx since 2010 and has won four titles, is poised to pass Thibeault. With plenty of help from UConn’s Maya Moore and Napheesa Collier, Reeve has 330 victories, a .647 percentage. Winningest: Scotty Bowman, 1,244 Among pro coaches, Bowman may come the closest to Auriemma’s across-the-board dominance. He won the most regular-season games and also the most playoff games (223). He won nine Stanley Cup championships, five with Montreal, one with Pittsburgh and three with Detroit, so his success cannot be pegged to one franchise, one player or core of players. In 28 playoff appearances, he had a .632 winning percentage. Former Whaler Joel Quenneville, 66, has 969 wins. He has been out of hockey since a sexual assault scandal involving one of his staffers came to light, but teams have the green light to hire him again. Barry Trotz (914), now in the front office in Nashville, and Paul Maurice (881), the last Whalers coach who won the Cup with Florida last season, are in the distance. Maurice is only 57. Winningest: Mike Krzyzewski, 1,202 Coach K, who started at Army, then moved to Duke, 1980-2022, where he won five NCAA championships. He won 100 more games, against 30 losses, in the NCAA Tournament. He retired with a .766 winning percentage. Herb Magee, “The Shot Doctor,” who coached Philadelphia Textile (now Thomas Jefferson) from 1967-2022, won 1,144. Among active coaches, Dave Holmquist, 73, who has been at Division II Biola since 1978, has 1,056 wins, most at the NAIA level, and a .704 percentage. Jim Boeheim had 1,015 wins at Syracuse. Jim Calhoun had 920 wins at Northeastern, UConn and Saint Joe’s, with three championships and .699 winning percentage. Among active Division I coaches, Arkansas’ John Calipari (856, including wins ruled vacated due to NCAA infractions), Kansas’ Bill Self has 828, including vacated wins, Rick Barnes has 809, so Krzyzewski’s mark looks safe for a while. Winningest: Geno Auriemma, 1,217 It looked as if Auriemma and VanDerveer would duel for the title for years, but VanDerveer, 71, called it a career. Pat Summitt won 1,098. Among other active coaches, N.C. State’s Wes Moore has 833, including 69 early in his career in D-II. Winningest: Joe Paterno, 409 Though John Gagliardi, who coached in NAIA and at Saint John’s in Minnesota, a D-III program, won 489 games, Paterno (409-136-3, two national championships) is the standard for major Division I football for his years at Penn State, 1966-2011. However, how much of the head coaching duties he performed as he coached well into his 80s would be a question. He retired in the midst of the child sex abuse scandal involving long-time assistant Jerry Sandusky, a shadow cast over his legacy. Paterno got one more win than longtime Grambling coach Eddie Robinson, 32 more than Florida State’s Bobby Bowden. Among active coaches at FBS programs, Mack Brown, 73, now at North Carolina leads with 288. Paul Assaiante, who retired in 2023, coached men’s squash at Williams, Army and, for 30 years, at Trinity, finishing with 17 national titles and a 507-29 record, winning 252 matches in a row at one point, longest winning streak in college sports history. ... In college women’s soccer, North Carolina’s Anson Dorrance, who retired last August, left behind 809 wins, an .887 winning percentage and 21 NCAA championships (of 41 Tournaments staged since 1982). ... In college men’s hockey, Boston College’s Jerry York retired with 1,123 wins and five NCAA championships. ... In men’s soccer, Jay Martin, who has been at Ohio Wesleyan since 1978, leads with 738. ... In college baseball, Florida State’s Mike Martin won a record 2,029 games, with 736 losses with 18 trips to the College World Series, though no championships, between 1980-2019. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards. Altmeyer put Illinois in front with a 30-yard TD run with 3:07 to go. He passed to Josh McCray on the 2-point conversion, making it 30-24. Rutgers responded with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Athan Kaliakmanis had a 15-yard run on fourth down. He passed to running back Kyle Manangai for a 13-yard TD with 1:08 remaining. Illinois then drove 75 yards in eight plays for the unexpected win. Kaliakmanis was 18 for 36 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 13 carries for 84 yards and two TDs. Monangai had a career-high 28 carries for 122 yards. Kaliakmanis found Ian Strong for a 2-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the first half, and he scored on a 1-yard run to lift Rutgers to a 24-15 lead early in the fourth quarter. Illinois responded with Aidan Laughery’s 8-yard TD run, setting up the roller-coaster finish. The start of the second half was delayed because of a scrum between the teams. There were no punches thrown and the officials called penalties on both schools. Monangai’s day Monangai become the third player in Rutgers history to rush for 3,000 yards when he picked up 4 on a third-and-1 carry early in the second quarter. The defending conference rushing champion joins Ray Rice and Terrell Willis in hitting the mark. The takeaway Illinois: The great finish keeps the Illini in line for its first nine-win season since 2007 and a prestigious bowl game this season. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights were seconds away from their first in-conference three-game win streak since joining the Big Ten in 2014. Up next Illinois: At Northwestern next Saturday. Rutgers: At Michigan State next Saturday.Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Daniels and the Commanders host Penix and the Falcons in prime time with playoff chances at stake

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VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wondershare, a global leader in innovative software solutions, proudly announces the launch of Recoverit 13.5 , the latest iteration of its flagship data recovery software. The newest version introduces efficient external storage data recovery, enhanced multi-device compatibility, large video file recovery, a more intuitive user experience, faster and cost-efficient recovery, and robust data security features, making it the go-to solution for reliable, high-performance data recovery across devices. Building on over 20 years of expertise, Recoverit has become a leading desktop data recovery tool tailored for individual consumers, with a strong focus on video, photo and large video files recovery from any device. It provides professional and reliable data recovery solutions for a wide range of devices, quickly resolving data loss problems caused by accidental deletion, formatting, device damage, virus attacks, unknown error codes, and more. Key Upgrades in Recoverit 13.5: Industry-Leading Device & Operating System Compatibility New OS Support: Fully compatible with MacOS 15 Sequoia. Hardware Innovation: Optimized for the latest Apple Silicon chip series. Enhanced Storage Support: Full compatibility with Windows on ARM architecture, ensuring versatile performance across diverse environments. Powerful Recovery for External Storage Improved Recovery Functions : Enhanced capabilities for CFexpress cards, SD card ( SanDisk, Samsung, Kinston etc. ) and external hard drives ( e.g. Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba ) , delivering a superior recovery process. Broadened Scenarios : Now compatible with RAID systems , gaming external hard drives , and AI PCs , ensuring support for a wider range of use cases. Enhanced Product Design and Features Expanded Functionality : New features include less ram occupation and the ability to resume scans , providing a comprehensive solution tailored to user needs. Upgraded Product Design: Enhance the expert/tech-oriented look by introducing Dark Mode and authorization optimization ( Files and Folders/Full Disk Access ) ; optimize compatibility with portable devices; implement a comprehensive UI/UX overhaul. Advanced Large File Recovery Superior Large Video File Recovery: Specially designed to handle large video files, such as: 4K , 8K those UHD video by full frame camera, delivering exceptional results for professionals and casual users alike. Commercial-Grade Advanced Recovery Features: Empower users with powerful recovery options for critical scenarios. Availability Recoverit 13.5 is now available for both Windows and macOS users, with pricing options tailored to diverse needs. Visit recoverit.wondershare.com for more details. About Wondershare: Wondershare is a globally recognized software company, known for its innovative solutions in creativity and productivity. Driven by the mission "Creativity Simplified," Wondershare offers a range of tools, including Filmora and DemoCreator for video editing; PDFelement for document management; EdrawMax, EdrawMind for diagramming; and SelfyzAI, Pixpic, FaceHub for image recovery and editing. With over 1.5 billion users across 200+ countries and regions, Wondershare empowers the next generation of creators with intuitive software, trendy creative resources, and a dynamic ecosystem, continually expanding the possibilities of creativity worldwide. Media Enquiries: Bingqing Yang [email protected] SOURCE Wondershare Technology

Canine-friendly bar Bark Social in Manayunk closed abruptly Thursday after the business declared bankruptcy, leaving dogs with one fewer social spot in Philly. The company explained in an Instagram post that its demise is the result of financing it had expected not materializing . The Manayunk bar, opened in April 2023 along the Schuylkill River next to Regal UA movie theater in the shopping center at 3720 Main St. It was one of five Bark Social locations. Others were in Baltimore and suburban Maryland and Washington, D.C. A sixth location had been planned to open in Los Angeles in 2025. "We know this is abrupt, but as a small start-up, Bark Social relies on investors to fuel its growth," the Instagram post states. The company also said it wanted to "do right by its team members." Fast Company reported Friday that Bark Social's employees were not offered severances . The company also will not be offering refunds to dog owners who had bought memberships to the bar, and Bark Social's director of marketing, Chris Rubacha, suggested members contact their banks to "inquire about chargebacks." Basic memberships for dog owners ranged from $50 per month and to $365 a year, and a premium membership, with additional perks, cost as much as $1,000 per year. The online calendar for the Manayunk Bark Social showed a comedy show, White Claw tasting and pet portraits had been scheduled to take place Friday. The location had indoor and outdoor spaces for guests and their pets. Bark Social also offered daycare services for dogs.

Headed South for Winter? 5 Tips for Snowbirds About to Take FlightHeaded South for Winter? 5 Tips for Snowbirds About to Take FlightGot 5 Benjamins? After failed AG bid Gaetz selling Cameo videos for pep talks, weddings, whateverThe slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate. Last Updated: Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

(BPT) - Every year, roughly 20-30% of older Americans head to warmer climates for the colder winter months. Snowbirds are often retirees on fixed incomes, though flexible work environments now provide more opportunities for anyone to spend several months escaping the chill. Whether on a fixed income or an empty nester with disposable income, consumers are interested in saving money where they can. With this in mind, snowbirds can look to their AARP membership to take advantage of relevant discounts and offerings as they fluff their feathers and get ready for takeoff. From savory breakfast options while driving to your seasonal destination, to home and auto protection, and even resources to support mental and physical health, AARP member benefits offer deals and savings that will help snowbirds take flight this winter. "Spending winters in warmer places has so many benefits that come with being able to be outside more often. Warmth and sunlight not only increase serotonin levels , which can result in more positive moods and a calm, focused mental outlook, but they also stimulate vitamin D production and may even boost immunity ," said Elvira Christiansen, Director of Retail and Loyalty for AARP Services. "An AARP membership makes it even better by offering savings as you plan your trip, as well as at many dining, entertainment and retail locations you will come across in your winter getaway destination, helping you to enjoy it to the fullest." 1. Order Up Road trips are often the preferred way to travel to a winter home for the flexibility of having a car once there. Whether your drive will have you behind the wheel for hours or days, you'll want to make sure you have your meals planned out. Fill up with a tasty breakfast or lunch with a stop at Denny's, which is easy to spot from most major highways. AARP members can save when heading to Denny's . With over 1,500 locations nationwide, members save 15% on everything from diner classics to breakfast items every day; maximum discount not to exceed $10. Restrictions apply. 2. Primary Care from Almost Anywhere Feeling under the weather can put a damper on your winter travels, so it's a good idea to make sure you can access quality healthcare even when you're at your winter destination. If you are on Medicare, you can check whether there is an Oak Street Health primary care clinic near you. Oak Street Health , the only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health clinic. 3. Wellness Checklist Once you check off primary care needs for your winter destination, don't overlook other priorities like maintaining your prescriptions and protecting your vision. Start by making sure your prescriptions are up to date before you head out of town. If you do need a refill while you're away, you have access to a free prescription discount card from AARP ® Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx ® that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on FDA-approved medications. You do not need to be an AARP member to take advantage of these benefits, though AARP members receive additional perks, including deeper discounts on medications, home delivery, coverage for your dependents and more. If you're having trouble with your vision, want to update your sunglass prescription, or simply want to maintain your annual visits to an optometrist or ophthalmologist while away, AARP members have access to information on vision insurance options that offer individual and family plans, featuring a large doctor network, savings on frames, lens enhancements, progressives and more. 4. Home (Safety) Away from Home One thing that should always be a priority is keeping your home safe while you're away for the winter. While Neighborhood Watch is always helpful, long periods away from a home require additional security systems. With an AARP membership, homeowners can secure their homes for less. Members save 5% on monthly home security monitoring with ADT Home Security , which covers smart home security systems including intrusion monitoring, connected smoke and CO detection, and smart automation for video doorbells, security cameras and smart locks. 5. Pack Auto Coverage in Your Luggage Driving south for the winter? Utilize AARP member benefits to save on auto care so you can road trip worry free. AARP members save up to 20% on annual membership fees for Allstate Roadside Assistance plans, which provides access to assistance for towing, jump-starts, tire changes, lockout assistance, fuel delivery and more. Allstate Roadside plan benefits can be used 24/7 in any car you drive, including rented and borrowed ones. And, if you want to bring any personal items with you but don't have room to squeeze them in your car, Budget Truck Rental has a variety of trucks for you to choose from. AARP members can save 20% on local or one-way truck rentals on Sunday through Thursday and 10% on Friday and Saturday, plus receive a $10-per-day Physical Damage Waiver. Regardless of how you're traveling or spending your winter months, AARP member benefits can help you maximize your budget while you prioritize the things that matter. To learn more about the benefits and discounts for AARP members to help you prepare for your relaunch, please visit aarp.org/save . AARP member benefits are provided by third parties. AARP receives a royalty fee for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.Travis Kelce's brother Jason Kelce reveals Christmas gift idea for Taylor Swift

Is this Christmas a time of fragile hope for the war-torn Middle East? Or could the abrupt end to Syria's brutal civil war, raging since 2011, be paving the way for fresh tensions and new divisions? Mixed messages are coming out of Damascus. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Islamist fighters from across the country streamed into the capital, each carving out their own territories in the city. At the centre of this seismic power shift stands Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant force in the rebel alliance. Syria's triumphant guerrilla general has been keen to distance himself from his militant past with the Islamic State. Swapping his jihadi fatigues for a suit, he now presents himself as a leader seeking to govern as a civilian rather than as a perpetual warrior. On Tuesday, al-Shaara's fledgling government announced a landmark agreement: anti-Assad rebel forces will disband, their fighters merging into a single unified Syrian army under a newly formed ministry of defence. A glimmer of hope for the region's future? Perhaps. Still, for many Syrian Christians – who make up some 2 per cent of the country's population – this festive period brings more anxiety than celebration. Yesterday was the first Christmas day in 50 years without Assad's tyrannical rule and, although the new government made it a public holiday along with Muslim festivals, not all the signs are encouraging. Earlier this week, a video spread on social media showing hooded fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama. Earlier this week, a video spread on social media showing hooded fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of... Mark AlmondNot since Alexander the Great has a Greek teenager made such a startling impact on the world. Not since David Hookes in the Centenary Test in 1977 has a debutant appeared on cricket’s biggest stage and given it a shake-up as audacious as this. Bazball is a reinvention of Test cricket, but on Boxing Day, Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old Sydneysider of Greek heritage, inverted the game altogether. One orthodox backfoot defence in mid-morning was greeted with a round of applause because it was the novelty. More than a first impression, it was meteorite’s crater. The precocious Konstas is a player of his time , but nothing in his short career quite foreshadowed this. From the moment he literally ran onto the ground, leading Usman Khawaja by 50 or more metres, everything he did was amped up. Khawaja smiled as he might at his dog on a walk. Read more from Greg Baum Sam Konstas plays a ramp shot against Jasprit Bumrah. Credit: Chris Hopkins It’s hard to predict how long India’s bowlers will have to toll on day two, given Australia’s innings could still go large. The tourists used six bowlers on day one. Jasprit Burmah got through 20 overs while Washington Sundar put down 12 overs after he was brought into the XI to complement Ravindra Jadeja. India’s bowling card on day one. Credit: The Age Australia’s players appear very relaxed at the MCG nets ahead of day two. Batting coach Michael Di Venuto gets the group together in a circle and says a few words. Australia will want over 400. The tail need to find a way to hang with Steve Smith if he continues like he did yesterday. Sam Konstas is kicking a soccer ball with opening partner Usman Khawaja. Goes alright. Probably thought he was playing soccer yesterday after that bump from Virat Kohli. Yellow card worthy. The scene at the nets on Friday morning. Credit: Tom Decent Not since Alexander the Great has a Greek teenager made such a startling impact on the world. Not since David Hookes in the Centenary Test in 1977 has a debutant appeared on cricket’s biggest stage and given it a shake-up as audacious as this. Bazball is a reinvention of Test cricket, but on Boxing Day, Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old Sydneysider of Greek heritage, inverted the game altogether. One orthodox backfoot defence in mid-morning was greeted with a round of applause because it was the novelty. More than a first impression, it was meteorite’s crater. The precocious Konstas is a player of his time , but nothing in his short career quite foreshadowed this. From the moment he literally ran onto the ground, leading Usman Khawaja by 50 or more metres, everything he did was amped up. Khawaja smiled as he might at his dog on a walk. Read more from Greg Baum Sam Konstas plays a ramp shot against Jasprit Bumrah. Credit: Chris Hopkins Hello and welcome to our day two coverage of the Boxing Day Test. It’s difficult to remember a better opening day to one of these iconic matches in Melbourne. Sure, the middle session was slow-going for a bit, but that’s Test cricket. Everything that happened either side of it was captivating. Debutant opener Sam Konstas made people sit up and take notice by taking the game to India , and Jasprit Bumrah in particular, like few could have expected. With Australia reaching 6-311 at stumps, and Steve Smith well beyond 50 runs, anything is possible from here.Hurricanes rally with 5-goal third period, beating the Stars 6-4