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Fox News’ Brooke Singman reports on Trump’s latest Cabinet pick after Matt Gaetz withdraws his attorney general nomination. President-elect Donald Trump campaigned for president in 2016 in part by styling himself as a tough-on-crime contender who, if elected, would institute a national anti-crime agenda, crack down on immigration and bring "very strong, very swift," law and order. His incendiary rhetoric and messaging on crime had set off alarm bells among many Democrats and criminal justice advocates ahead of his January 2017 inauguration . "I am the law and order candidate," he told voters, before adding in the next breath, "I am also the candidate of compassion." But the second part of his remarks did little to assuage fears that under Trump, the U.S. would see an indiscriminate crackdown on crime. Jessica Jackson, a human rights attorney and CEO of criminal justice advocacy group REFORM Alliance, told Fox News Digital that she originally had some reservations of her own. "First and foremost, I'm a Democrat," Jackson said in an interview. "So, to work with President Trump back in 2018 was considered a little bit unusual." But Jackson did just that, lobbying for the First Step Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing federal prison populations through curbing disproportionate sentences, promoting rehabilitation and allowing certain inmates the possibility of early release. GAETZ WITHDRAWS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE Secret Service and prison guards stand on the roof as then-President Barack Obama tours a cell block at the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma. (Saul Loeb/Getty) (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Jackson was part of a large group of police groups, religious leaders, prosecutors and celebrities who lobbied on behalf of the First Step Act. Their efforts were successful, and in December 2018 Trump signed the First Step Act into law. The law has been roundly praised for both helping to reduce the federal prison population and, importantly, cutting down the rates of recidivism—the rate of formerly incarcerated persons who re-offend. Jackson noted that the law has resulted in a reduction of recidivism "from about 49% to 9.7%." A 2024 report from the Brennan Center for Justice estimates a slightly lower, but still striking, reduction rate of 46.2% to 9.7% of recidivism among former inmates aided by the First Step Act. "I think the biggest lesson that I learned in the first administration was if you engage with the administration, there are opportunities to make progress on the issues that you care about," Jackson said of working with Trump. Now, she and other criminal justice advocates see more opportunities to work together in Trump's second term. MIKE ROGERS REPLACING WRAY AS FBI DIRECTOR IS NOT HAPPENING, TRUMP ADVISER SAYS President Donald Trump hangs up after a phone call in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Washington. ((AP Photo/Alex Brandon)) One major opportunity that Jackson sees for Trump is passing the Safer Supervision Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at helping formerly incarcerated persons transition back into their communities. Proponents see the bill as a way to build on the success of the 2018 legislation. Former inmates overwhelmingly struggle to readjust to life after prison, and the Safer Supervision Act seeks both to aid in employment opportunities for former inmates and to reduce the litany of burdensome parole and probation requirements. It looks to address major hurdles faced by ex-cons, including a lack of structure, trouble finding a job and the many gaps in the federal parole and probation system, which is itself made up of understaffed and underfunded programs. These hurdles have, at times, landed ex-cons behind bars for what appear to be largely innocuous reasons—ranging from missing a meeting with a parole officer to leaving a judicial district without permission or associating with people who have former convictions or are engaged in criminal behavior. At times, it is not communicated to the ex-prisoner what exactly the restrictions are. Prison inmates wearing firefighting boots line up for breakfast in Yucaipa, California, November 6, 2014. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson) Jackson said that her team once worked with a former inmate who had traveled to and from work on public transit, eventually saving up enough money to make a down payment on a car. Unfortunately, when he went to finance the car, she said, "It turns out that unbeknownst to him, and buried in the list of onerous conditions, was that he couldn't open a bank account without talking to a supervision officer ." "So, here’s a guy who thinks he's doing something great—getting a car to go back and forth to work; taking his kids to school. And the next thing you know, he's got a violation of his supervision and is being sent back in," Jackson said. As a whole, former inmates are highly prone to recidivism: A 2023 Justice Department analysis of prisons in 24 states found that a whopping 82% of people released were rearrested at least once in the 10 years following their release. (A still-significant 43% were rearrested within a single year.) Jackson hopes that Trump will make good in his second term on expanding these criminal justice reform initiatives—by passing the Safer Supervision Act and implementing other measures, such as second-chance hiring. Asked whether she had been in talks with any transition team staffers, Jackson laughed. "It's funny, because everybody keeps asking me like, ‘Well, have you talked to anybody over there?’" "We came together in a very unlikely coalition, and we were able to make real progress—we never actually stopped talking to them," she said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "And I think we're excited about the opportunity to continue those conversations and to make progress where we can." Breanne Deppisch is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the 2024 election and other national news.
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Patrick Mahomes was pumped up when the NFL schedule was released and he saw his Kansas City Chiefs were playing on Christmas Day for the second straight season. His excitement lasted for only a short time. "Until I realized it was on Wednesday," Mahomes said Monday. Plenty of sore bodies will take the field Wednesday when the Chiefs (14-1) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) in what will be the third game in 11 days for both teams. Both squads just played on Saturday. The Chiefs posted a 27-19 home win over the Houston Texans and the Steelers fell 34-17 to the host Baltimore Ravens. "You're not going to feel great," Mahomes said of the short week. "That's kind of just what it is. You don't make excuses in this league. You go out and play football, and you fight until the very end, and you try to get a win at the end of the day. "You're motivated to play a great football team, to play in Pittsburgh in a great environment, a great stadium. It'll be rocking playing on Christmas, so everybody's going to be watching." If Kansas City wins Wednesday, it clinches the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Chiefs have 14 victories for the third time in the past five seasons. The franchise has never won 15 games in a season. Kansas City hasn't committed a single turnover during its five-game winning streak. Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson isn't fond of hearing "turnover" after he made two big mistakes in Saturday's loss to the Ravens. Wilson lost a fumble after a 19-yard gain to the Baltimore 4-yard line in the second quarter and later was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Wilson called it "unacceptable" and now has his focus on making amends against Kansas City. "I don't think there's enough time to really sulk or worry or fear," Wilson said. " ... The one thing I'm not going to do is keep my head down, though. I know for us we got so much great confidence in who we are and what we can do and how we're going to respond. "We can't let a tough game like this take us into a negative state of mind because there's a lot more to play for and a lot more we're searching for, and we can still win the (AFC) North." Wilson is correct. If the Steelers win their final two regular-season games, they will win their division. They would have clinched it last weekend if they had won in Baltimore. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is hardly concerned about Wilson's miscues. It was the veteran signal-caller's first time committing multiple turnovers in nine games with the team. "He's tough on himself because he's got a desire to be great," Tomlin said. "He wants to lead us to victory. He owns that. I don't expect that to be an issue in terms of his readiness or trajectory of this week." Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) missed Pittsburgh's walkthrough on Monday. Standout receiver George Pickens (hamstring) was a full participant and may return after missing the past three games. Safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) also could return to action. Jackson's return would be big if Porter can't play. Kansas City also held a walkthrough on Monday. Left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring), safety Chamarri Conner (concussion) and star defensive end Chris Jones (calf) missed the session. Jones was injured against Houston. Meanwhile, Mahomes said his sore ankle is feeling better than it did last week. The Chiefs lost 20-14 to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day last season. Kansas City has won the past three meetings with the Steelers, including a 42-21 rout in an AFC wild-card game on Jan. 16, 2022. --Field Level MediaANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan gave athletic director Warde Manuel a five-year contract extension Thursday on the heels of the Wolverines' upset over rival Ohio State and a strong start to the basketball season. Manuel, who has held the position since 2016, signed through June 30, 2030, the school announced. Manuel is also chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee. “During Warde’s tenure as director, Athletics has put a structure in place where our student-athletes compete for Big Ten and national championships, excel in the classroom, and proudly graduate with their University of Michigan degrees,” university President Santa J. Ono said in the announcement. Michigan had a disappointing football season, finishing 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten), but a 13-10 win over then-No. 2 Ohio State took some pressure off of the program. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for the rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Wolverines won the national championship last year in their final season led by coach Jim Harbaugh, whose tenure at the school involved multiple NCAA investigations for recruiting and sign-stealing allegations. Manuel supported Harbaugh through those processes. In basketball, the women's team made its season debut (No. 23) in the AP Top 25 this week. The men are 7-1 a season after firing coach Juwan Howard, who lost a school-record 24 games in 2023-24 as Michigan plummeted to a last-place finish in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. Michigan has won 52 Big Ten championships since 2020. “Every day, I am thankful to work at this great institution and to represent Michigan Athletics," Manuel said in a statement. "I especially want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and staff who compete for each of our teams and who have helped us achieve unparalleled success athletically and academically. I am excited to continue giving back to a university that has provided me with so much over my career.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
The morning catch up: US sharemarkets dip ahead of key jobs data as Europe gains groundBurt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, said. He was at least 90 years old. “Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor – an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts. The aquarium added: “He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years.” A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 16 feet long. He was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most well-known crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove. The 1986 film stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile before being saved by Dundee. Burt is briefly shown lunging out of the water. But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the film made a mistake by depicting an American alligator, which has a blunter snout. The Australian aquarium where Burt had lived since 2008 features a Cage of Death which it says is the nation’s only crocodile dive. It said it planned to honour Burt’s legacy with a commemorative sign “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park”.
France's toppled government adds to the European Union's bigger political problems
Donald Trump prosecutor Fani Willis was dealt a massive blow Tuesday after her prosecution of the YSL gang — Georgia’s longest-running trial — ended with the acquittals of the last two defendants in the case. A Fulton County jury Tuesday morning found Deamonte Kendrick — who raps under the name Yak Gotti — not guilty on all charges and also acquitted Shannon Stillwell of all charges except for one count of firearm possession by a convicted felon. Stillwell and Kendrick were accused of murdering rival gang member Donovan Thomas Jr. – aka “Big Nut” – during a drive-by shooting outside an Atlanta barbershop on Jan. 10, 2015. Stillwell was also accused of fatally shooting Shymel Drinks in 2022 in alleged revenge for murders days earlier of two other YSL associates. Stillwell was sentenced to 10 years — the maximum penalty for the gun charge. But he will receive credit for the two years he’s already served and can serve the balance of the time while on probation. The duo were both stabbed in separate incidents while jailed during the long-winding trial — with Kendrick getting wounded Sunday and Stillwell last year. In October, co-defendant and Grammy winner Young Thug — whose given name is Jeffrey Williams — copped a surprise plea deal in the case accusing him of being the ringleader of the YSL gang – or Young Slime Life. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Williams, 33, to 40 years but his sentence was commuted to time served on the condition he complies with the conditions of probation for 15 years. If Williams — who was behind bars for over two years pending the case — violates these terms he must serve 20 years in prison. The case kicked off in 2022 against 28 defendants, accusing them of being part of the Bloods-connected gang and carrying out various crimes including, murder, armed robbery, drug dealing, carjacking and violence. Nine of the defendants pleaded out before trial started, another four — including Williams — copped to their crimes during trial, and another 12 still have cases pending. The final defendant had his charges dropped after he was convicted in an unrelated murder case. The trial is the longest running one in the Peach State’s history and was brought by DA Willis’s office. Jury selection took 10 months and testimony — which featured nearly 200 witnesses — began in November 2023. The case — brought under racketeering charges — was plagued with problems including a prior judge stepping down from overseeing the case in July after he was accused of misconduct by the defense. Williams’ lawyer, Brian Steel was held in contempt of court and sentenced to 10 weekends in jail for confronting Judge Ural Glanville. The state’s top court stepped in to grant Steel bond while he appealed Glanville’s ruling. The judge ultimately recused himself. Defense lawyers in the case blasted the prosecution’s case which relied heavily on evidence including song lyrics and social media posts to allege they were part of an organized criminal gang. Kendrick’s lawyer Doug Weinstein, during closing arguments, accused prosecutors of trying to link together random crimes to “see what sticks” but failed to prove they were all part of a criminal enterprise. He also accused the DA’s office of cherry-picking evidence including social media posts and allegedly unreliable witness testimony while the group were simply using music to lift themselves out of financial struggles and rough upbringings. Defense attorney Max Schardt admitted his client, Stillwell, had broken the law in the past to survive on the tough streets of Atlanta — rather than trying to advance the goals of the YSL gang. Prosecutors claimed that any lies witnesses made at trial were because they were speaking in front of people they “snitched on” while their statements to the police were true. The DA’s office also claimed the social media posts and songs helped prove the testimony by showing the defendants were “bragging about murder.” Willis has come under fire in the past year for her admitted affair with Nathan Wade, whom she hired to lead the prosecution against Trump — which was also brought using racketeering charges. Willis is also the last hold-out in the four criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump. Two federal cases against Trump have since been dropped by special counsel Jack Smith and Trump’s sentencing in the Manhattan state hush money case has been indefinitely postponed by a judge. “We always respect the verdict of a jury,” said DA spokesperson Jeff DiSantis said of the YSL verdicts. With Post wires Originally published as Donald Trump prosecutor Fani Willis dealt major blow after jury acquits two defendants in massive YSL gang trial
Relentless floods. Searing Heat. Vanishing coastlines. Thailand's cities are under siege from climate risks. Without urgent intervention, the worst is yet to come. The evidence is clear: Cities in Thailand are grappling with triple climate challenges -- rising temperatures, destructive floods, and coastal erosion. These threats do not endanger lives and ecosystems. They also cause significant economic loss since cities are the backbone of the economy. Globally, cities generate 80% of GDP while hosting over 56% of the population. Repeated extreme weather events can lead to economic disaster. Thailand is no exception. Heatwaves Over half of Thailand's population now lives in cities, and this number is growing along with the risks of heatwaves, flooding, and coastal erosion. In Bangkok, urban heat islands have caused city temperatures to rise by 5.26C over the past 25 years, according to a study by the Asian Institute of Technology and Khon Kaen University in 2020. Chiang Mai, known for its cool climate, now experiences temperatures over 36C in many areas. Another study from Burapha University in 2019 also mentioned that rapid urbanisation and shrinking green spaces have made the eastern region 2.56C hotter over the last decade. As a result, deaths from heat waves have surged. Vulnerable groups, such as outdoor workers, the elderly, and slum dwellers, are hit the hardest, exacerbating Thailand's already distressing inequality. Flooding Flooding is a major issue in Bangkok, with 737 flood hotspots, according to the data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, worsened by more rainstorms. Floods disrupt daily life, cause traffic gridlock, and damage infrastructure, causing significant economic loss. During rush hours, heavy rain can cause up to 2,000 hours of travel delays daily alone. This number might seem to be small, but the calculation is based on the traffic situation at only 16 major intersections in Bangkok. As Bangkok sinks, rising seas will worsen the problem, while flash floods become more common. Chiang Mai, the largest city in the North, suffered unprecedented flooding this year, highlighting the need for better preparedness and action. Despite the devastation year after year, current flood prevention measures like barriers and drainage systems are short-term fixes. Sustainable solutions require comprehensive river basin management, better water-retention areas, and long-term city planning, including active community involvement. Coastal erosion Rising sea levels and stronger storms have eroded 26% of Thailand's 3,151-kilometre coastline. Over the past 30 years, the country has lost around 100,000 rai of coastal land, with Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian losing 2,735 rai. This erosion threatens cities, communities, ecosystems, and the economy, displacing villages and destroying vital ecosystems like mangroves. Urgent action is needed to protect the coastline. Piecemeal solutions Current efforts to address heatwaves, flooding, and coastal erosion are sadly fragmented and inadequate. As cities grow hotter, the government has done little -- if anything -- to expand green spaces, promote eco-friendly buildings, or invest in long-term solutions. Some measures, like taxing water retention areas as unproductive lands, have made things worse by reducing flood absorption areas. Concrete sea walls, built without comprehensive environmental studies or local input, have also worsened coastal erosion nearby, showing the flaws of relying solely on hard engineering solutions from a top-down policy. Long-term flood prevention is also lacking. Flood walls and drainage upgrades, for example, address the symptoms, not the root causes. Sustainable approaches require ecological planning, sufficient water retention, inclusive city planning and community involvement. Additionally, environmental and social assessments need to be fair, transparent, and participatory, which they are not at present. Global examples Piecemeal solutions do not work. The impacts of climate change are not just environmental -- they are also economic and social crises. What Thailand needs is a cohesive, long-term strategy to make cities climate resilient, and there is much to learn from other countries. After deadly heatwaves in 2022 that claimed 425 lives in Phoenix, US, mainly among the homeless and the elderly -- the city set up a data system to track vulnerable groups and give them easy access to shelters and water stations. It has saved lives and improved emergency responses. Meanwhile, London uses green, environmen- tally friendly buildings through collaboration between local government, the private sector, building owners, and climate experts to tackle rising temperatures. Copenhagen, Denmark, after dealing with repeated heavy rain and flooding, has created dual-purpose parks that act as floodwater reservoirs during storms. The city has also built giant underground tunnels to separate rainwater from sewage, helping improve climate resilience and urban liveability. In China, "sponge cities" are being developed to fight severe flooding. These cities use parks to absorb rainwater, temporary water-retention areas, and roads designed to soak up water and slow runoff. After the 1953 North Sea flood that killed 1,800 people and flooded 9% of the Netherlands, the government used modern sea wall technology to prevent future floods. They also listened to local fishermen's input to adjust the project and improve its effectiveness. Closer to home, Singapore is fighting city heat with better urban planning. This includes improving cooling systems, reducing car use, building eco-friendly structures, and adding more green, open spaces across the city. In Indonesia, Jakarta's flooding problem is being tackled by planting mangroves, clearing garbage to improve water flow, and relocating people from flood-prone areas with community input. These areas are being turned into water-retention zones. Indonesia is also moving its capital from Jakarta to the island of Borneo. International examples offer practical and effective strategies for making cities resilient to climate risks -- valuable lessons for Thailand. To fight heatwaves, cities can add more green spaces, reduce car use, and improve air conditioning systems. Green buildings, like those with rooftop gardens, can also help cool urban areas. For flooding, adding green spaces, improving drainage, and building "sponge cities" that soak up water can reduce damage from heavy rains. To protect coastlines, planting mangroves, restoring natural ecosystems, using innovative engineering, and relocating buildings from high-risk areas are essential steps. These solutions combine nature, smart engineering, and community support to address climate challenges effectively. They can be grouped into four colour-coded strategies. Grey focuses on traditional engineering, green on eco-friendly, natural solutions, blue on water absorption, and white on relocation. Importantly, all these strategies prioritise local knowledge and input, using a participatory process to help residents adapt their habits and behaviours. The solution is simple: reduce car use and improve air conditioning to cut emissions, make buildings eco-friendly, and expand green spaces, water-retention areas, and mangroves. Focus on new ideas and involve local communities. If needed, relocate people from high-risk areas. Adapting cities to climate change begins with understanding the risks, identifying vulnerable groups and dangerous areas, and checking if the city is ready to respond. This means reviewing city infrastructure, working together with all stakeholders, and creating long-term plans for sustainable growth. Cities need strong plans, careful assessments, and smart investments in solutions that tackle multiple climate risks. For Thailand, this means adding more green spaces, turning unused urban land into parks or wetlands with tax incentives, updating old buildings to be eco-friendly, and relocating risky developments with fair compensation and community input. These actions can help our cities prepare for climate change. For sure, adaptation will not be cheap, but the price of doing nothing will be far greater. The time to act is now. Sumet Ongkittikul, PhD, is vice president for internal systems and research director of transportation and logistic policy, and Nuntachart Ratanaburi is a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). This article is the author's adaptation from his presentation 'Making Cities Resilient to Climate Change' at the 2024 TDRI Annual Public Conference on Oct 30, 2024.ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan gave athletic director Warde Manuel a five-year contract extension Thursday on the heels of the Wolverines' upset over rival Ohio State and a strong start to the basketball season. Manuel, who has held the position since 2016, signed through June 30, 2030, the school announced. Manuel is also chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee. “During Warde’s tenure as director, Athletics has put a structure in place where our student-athletes compete for Big Ten and national championships, excel in the classroom, and proudly graduate with their University of Michigan degrees,” university President Santa J. Ono said in the announcement. Michigan had a disappointing football season, finishing 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten), but a 13-10 win over then-No. 2 Ohio State took some pressure off of the program. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for the rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Wolverines won the national championship last year in their final season led by coach Jim Harbaugh, whose tenure at the school involved multiple NCAA investigations for recruiting and sign-stealing allegations. Manuel supported Harbaugh through those processes. In basketball, the women's team made its season debut (No. 23) in the AP Top 25 this week. The men are 7-1 a season after firing coach Juwan Howard, who lost a school-record 24 games in 2023-24 as Michigan plummeted to a last-place finish in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. Michigan has won 52 Big Ten championships since 2020. “Every day, I am thankful to work at this great institution and to represent Michigan Athletics," Manuel said in a statement. "I especially want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and staff who compete for each of our teams and who have helped us achieve unparalleled success athletically and academically. I am excited to continue giving back to a university that has provided me with so much over my career.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football* Dollar gains, with Treasury yields * Global stock index up, Wall St indexes close higher * Consumer confidence comes in light, capital goods rise By Sinéad Carew and Amanda Cooper NEW YORK/LONDON, - A global equity index rose on Monday with help from Wall Street, and U.S. Treasury yields climbed to an almost seven-month high while data showed a deterioration in U.S. consumer confidence and investors prepared for fewer Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025. In U.S. equities, Nasdaq and the S&P 500 were boosted mostly by rallies in megacap technology stocks such as Nvidia Corp and Broadcom Inc. Earlier, the Conference Board said its U.S. consumer confidence index weakened in December to 104.7 versus economist expectations for an increase to 113.3 and November's upwardly revised 112.8 on concerns about future business conditions. While new orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods rose in November amid strong demand for machinery, orders of durable goods, ranging from toasters to aircraft, dropped 1.1% after increasing 0.8% in October, with declines mostly reflecting weakness in commercial aircraft orders. Citing weak consumer confidence as a key negative for equities on Monday, Robert Phipps, a director at Per Stirling Capital Management, highlighted the 10-year Treasury yield's jump to its highest level since late May. "It's important for equity investors that the 4.6% level holds for 10-year Treasury yields and if we break above it there's a risk the market will go ahead and test 5%," he said, pointing to a slowing in Fed rate cuts as the reason. "The market is adjusting to a less dovish Fed policy," said Phipps, noting U.S. indexes looked weaker under the hood besides the rallies in heavyweight stocks. "It is a deceptively strong market," he said. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66.69 points, or 0.16%, to 42,906.95, the S&P 500 rose 43.22 points, or 0.73%, to 5,974.07 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 192.29 points, or 0.98%, to 19,764.89. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe rose 5.51 points, or 0.65%, to 849.74 while earlier, Europe's STOXX 600 index finished up 0.14%. Ahead of Tuesday's shorter trading day and Wednesday's market close for Christmas, Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder said investors still had last Wednesday's steep sell-off on their minds after the Fed clearly signalled for fewer rate cuts next year. "There's concern about the economy. There's concern about the Fed making a wrong move and there's the great unknown of what Trump is actually going to do," said Ghriskey, referring to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. In U.S. Treasuries, 10-year yields hit their highest level since late May as the Treasury Department this week sells short- and intermediate-dated debt. The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes rose 6.7 basis points to 4.591%, from 4.524% late on Friday, while the 30-year bond yield rose 6.3 basis points to 4.7791%. A $69 billion two-year notes sale was met with healthy demand on Monday for the first auction of $183 billion in coupon-bearing supply this week. The 2-year note yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations for the Fed, rose 3 basis points to 4.342%, from 4.312% late on Friday. In currencies, the dollar rebounded while the euro fell as recent global central bank meetings set expectations for diverging rate cut paths in the year ahead. The dollar index, measuring the greenback against a basket of major currencies, rose 0.27% to 108.08. The euro was down 0.22% at $1.0406 and against the Japanese yen, the dollar strengthened 0.45% to 157.12. Elsewhere, Sterling weakened 0.31% to $1.253 and Mexico's peso < MXN=> weakened 0.6% versus the dollar. Oil prices settled down slightly in thin trade before the holiday with concerns about a supply surplus next year and a strengthened dollar. U.S. crude settled down 0.32%, or 22 cents at $69.24 a barrel and Brent fell to $72.63 per barrel, down 0.43%, or 31 cents on the day. Gold prices edged lower in subdued holiday-season trading, weighed by a robust dollar and high U.S. Treasury yields. Spot gold fell 0.39% to $2,610.66 an ounce. U.S. gold futures fell 0.67% to $2,611.10 an ounce. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Gumla: Students and teachers of St Ignatius School here celebrated Christmas with message of peace and love. Students presented carols on the birth of Jesus Christ . The school also displayed the nativity scene. The function started with lighting of candles by St Ignatius’ rector Fr Florence Kujur and school principal Fr Manohar Khoya. Kujur said, “The birth of Jesus Christ is the advent of our guiding light.” Khoya said, “The festival of Christmas is a symbol of love and peace. We feel joy during this festival. Jesus took birth on earth for the salvation of all humans.” TNN We also published the following articles recently Box said to contain bones of Jesus brother found in Israel, on display in US A 2,000-year-old limestone burial box, believed to have contained the bones of James, brother of Jesus, is on display in Atlanta. Discovered in 1976 and authenticated in 2013, the ossuary bears the inscription 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.' The exhibit includes 350 artifacts from Jesus' time, enhancing its historical significance. Birth anniversary of folk singer Bhikhari Thakur to be celebrated at his native village Preparations are underway in Kutubpur diara, Saran district, for the birth anniversary celebrations of renowned folk singer Bhikhari Thakur. Organized by the art, culture, and youth department with the district administration, the event honors Thakurs contributions to Bhojpuri culture and society. His visionary works addressed social issues, and he was praised by notable figures for his multi-faceted talents. Christmas & New Year festivities light up parks in city Public parks in Ranchi have become lively hubs for Christmas and New Year celebrations, with attractions like the Birsa Munda Fun Park hosting carnivals, rides, and film screenings. Families are enjoying seasonal festivities at Morabadi Children's Park, Oxygen Park, and Nakshatra Van. Educational screenings and illuminated walkways enhance the festive atmosphere, making these parks centers for community engagement. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes.
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — There's more than just school pride and bragging rights to all that bellyaching over who might be in and who might be out of college football 's first 12-team playoff. Try the more than $115 million that will be spread across the conferences at the end of the season, all depending on who gets in and which teams go the farthest. According to the College Football Playoff website , the 12 teams simply making the bracket earn their conferences $4 million each. Another $4 million goes to conferences whose teams get into the quarterfinals. Then, there's $6 million more for teams that make the semifinals and another $6 million for those who play for the title. Most of this bonanza comes courtesy of ESPN, which is forking over $1.3 billion a year to televise the new postseason. A lot of that money is already earmarked — more goes to the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference than the Big 12 or Atlantic Coast — but a lot is up for grabs in the 11 games that will play out between the opening round on Dec. 20 and the final on Jan. 20. In all, the teams that make the title game will bring $20 million to their conferences, all of which distribute that money, along with billions in TV revenue and other sources, in different ways. In fiscal 2022-23, the Big Ten, for instance, reported revenue of nearly $880 million and distributed about $60.5 million to most of its members. The massive stakes might help explain the unabashed lobbying coming from some corners of the football world, as the tension grows in advance of Sunday's final rankings, which will set the bracket. Earlier this week, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark lit into the selection committee, which doesn't have a single team higher than 15 in the rankings. That does two things: It positions the Big 12 as a one-bid league, and also threatens to makes its champion — either Arizona State or Iowa State — the fifth-best among conference titlists that get automatic bids. Only the top four of those get byes, which could cost the Big 12 a spot in the quarterfinals — or $4 million. “The committee continues to show time and time again that they are paying attention to logos versus resumes,” Yormark said this week, while slamming the idea of teams with two losses in his conference being ranked worse than teams with three in the SEC. Story continues below video The ACC is also staring at a one-bid season with only No. 8 SMU inside the cut line of this week's projected bracket. Miami's loss last week all but bumped the Hurricanes out of the playoffs, a snub that ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said left him “incredibly shocked and disappointed." “As we look ahead to the final rankings, we hope the committee will reconsider and put a deserving Miami in the field," Phillips said in a statement. The lobbying and bickering filters down to the campuses that feel the impact. And, of course, to social media. One of the most entertaining episodes came earlier this week when athletic directors at Iowa State and SMU went back and forth about whose team was more deserving. There are a few stray millions that the selection committee cannot really influence, including a $3 million payment to conferences that make the playoff. In a reminder that all these kids are going to school, after all, the conferences get $300,000 per football team that meets academic requirements to participate in the postseason. (That's basically everyone). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Just days after winning a record seventh club best-and-fairest, Monique Conti is returning to the basketball court. The dual-athlete superstar, who turns 25 later this month, will play for the 's newest outfit, Geelong United, in Round 6, just four weeks after her last game of football. United have two crucial fixtures in four days, with games against Adelaide Lightning (home) on Sunday afternoon, then a trip to Melbourne next Wednesday night to face reigning champs Southside Flyers in ESPN's Game of the Round. The midfielder's latest accolade is another addition to a bulging trophy collection. A premiership player and best-and-fairest winner as a teenager at the Western Bulldogs, Conti has claimed the Tigers' top honour in all of its six seasons of existence and in 2023 was crowned the AFLW's best and fairest. "I was trying to say in my speech, every single time (I win) I'm just as grateful as the first time. This stuff doesn't come easy, it comes from head down bum up. I don't do anything for the individual accolades, it's for team success and anything else is a bonus and a reward for the effort," Conti says. "I don't think I'm at my best, or my peak, I've got so much more to work on but when you get rewarded with something like that it makes you feel good, but you also think 'what's next?' Conti made her WNBL debut with the Melbourne Boomers as a high school student, before AFLW was even established. She took some time away from the basketball court before returning to the league with Southside for the 2020 hub season, where she was part of a championship alongside Olympians Jenna O'Hea, Sara Blicavs, and Liz Cambage. Following another breather, Conti played for Southside again in 2022-23 before returning to the Boomers last season. She followed coach Chris Lucas to Geelong when United took on the Boomers' licence ahead of season 2024-25. So, what is it that draws Conti back to basketball after a gruelling football season? "I can't sit still," she laughs. "I love basketball so much and it would be like losing a part of me if I didn't play, a missing piece. "Thanks to Chris, I found enjoyment playing again. No expectation or pressure, just having fun. I couldn't finish on last season and that be it. I feel like I've got so much more to give, and I made some sort of an impact on the team which I feel like I was kind of stripped of the past few years." Conti took a short break following the Tigers' last game on November 10 before turning focus to a different shaped ball. "I had about two weeks where I didn't really do anything and in the back end of that I was getting some shots up and as the weeks went on, I started progressing my basketball training, so I've done enough to be ready to go and my body feels good," she says. "I took it easy this year, I didn't go straight from footy into basketball like I did last season." Having played her professional WNBL and AFLW careers for teams in Melbourne until now, Conti has lived at home with her tight-knit family, but this week moved in with United teammates Keely Froling and Hannah Hank in Geelong. She's already organised for mum Simone to stock up the freezer with her famous schnitzels, lasagne and pasta sauce. "With Geelong, I love that it's history, a new club and I wanted to be part of that. It's a new experience and something different," Conti explains. "It's great to have some familiar faces in Chris and Keely, Jaz Shelley and I were Gems team mates at the Under-17 World Cup in 2016, Taylor Mole was part of that program. "Plus, summer in Geelong? Can't say no to that." With Geelong's two wins coming against their upcoming opponents, there's the chance to establish some momentum over the next week. "Sunday's a big game, if we can win that's a big tick for us. The Flyers just beat Canberra and we lost to Sydney by 35 last week but we know on our day we can beat them. "The league is so tight and anything can happen on any given day."South Korean President has declared he will lift a shock martial law declaration he had imposed just hours earlier, backing down in a standoff with parliament which roundly rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media. Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night in a televised address to thwart "anti-state forces" among his domestic political opponents. But outraged lawmakers rejected the decree, in South Korea 's biggest political crisis in decades. Yonhap news agency said the cabinet had agreed early on Wednesday to scrap the martial law as one opposition leader vowed to impeach the president as he vowed to remove the measures. Cho Kuk, head of a minor opposition party, met celebrating protesters outside parliament after it was announced the martial law would be lifted and said: "This isn’t over. He put all the people in shock." He vowed to impeach Yoon by putting together votes from other parties. South Korea's won currency recovered somewhat after Yoon backed down and was 0.8% lower at 1,414.45 per dollar. Yoon's surprise declaration of martial law, which he cast as aimed at his political foes, was unanimously voted down by 190 lawmakers in parliament. His own party urged him to lift the decree. Under South Korean law, the president must immediately lift martial law if parliament demands it by a majority vote. The crisis in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s, and is a US ally and major Asian economy, caused international alarm. The UK called for a “peaceful resolution” to the situation in South Korea following the president’s attempt to impose martial law. Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said Britain was “deeply concerned” by the events and that the British Embassy in Seoul was in touch with the Korean authorities. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Number 10 said it was “closely monitoring developments”. Earlier, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the United States was watching events in South Korea with "grave concern" and hoped that any political disputes would be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law. Some 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea to guard against the North. After Yoon's announcement of martial law, South Korea's military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command. Helmeted troops briefly tried to enter the parliament building and parliamentary aides were seen trying to push the soldiers back by spraying fire extinguishers. Yoon did not cite any specific threat from the nuclear-armed North, instead focusing on his domestic political opponents. It is the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea. Yoon, a career prosecutor, squeezed out a victory in the tightest presidential election in South Korean history in 2022. He rode a wave of discontent over economic policy, scandals and gender wars, aiming to reshape the political future of Asia's fourth-largest economy. But he has been unpopular, with his support ratings hovering at around 20% for months. His People Power Party suffered a landslide defeat at a parliamentary election in April this year, ceding control of the unicameral assembly to opposition parties that captured nearly two-thirds of the seats. There have been more than a dozen instances of martial law declaration since South Korea was established as a republic in 1948. The last time, in 1980, a group of military officers led by Chun Doo-hwan forced then-president Choi Kyu-hah to proclaim martial law to crush calls by the opposition, labour and students for the restoration of democratic government.
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