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‘I’m human, I make mistakes,’ Simon Harris says after encounter with Cork carer

The 'likely Trump' factor behind the strikes Amazon and Starbucks is joined by Elon Musk's Starlink The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity. Read More Latest Mobiles Samsung Galaxy A16 5G ₹16,399 Lava O3 Pro ₹6,999 Vivo X200 5G ₹65,999 Tecno Phantom V Flip 2 5G ₹49,999 Lava Yuva 4 ₹6,999 Poco C75 5G ₹7,999 Tecno POP 9 4G ₹6,499 Itel Color Pro 5G ₹9,199 Vivo Y18T ₹9,499 Lava Blaze 3 5G ₹10,999

Things to do in Denton this holiday weekend: Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday, live music and moreEaros Raises $10 Million from Lemon Ltd. to Build Decentralized AI Infrastructure

After spending decades as a Texas prison inmate, Arnulfo Ayala flinched last month when a captain at the newly reopened Bartlett Unit extended an arm to shake the confessed killer’s hand. The professional gesture felt unfamiliar to Ayala, who’s grown accustomed to waking up to the sound of corrections officers yelling at him and calling him inmate number 936516. But at Bartlett — the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s newest prison — everything has seemed different. The food is tastier. The dorms are brighter and roomier. The walls are painted with colorful murals. And Ayala’s ideas for innovative programs to help fellow inmates prepare for life outside of prison are taken seriously. Ayala confessed to killing Raul Marin and in 2000 was sentenced to 35 years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to murder, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Ayala is scheduled to be released in 2034, unless he is paroled earlier. He was turned down for parole in 2021. “Back in the day, when you’d go to prison, you were more likely to get worse there,” said Ayala. “You delved into the negative environment, and when you went back into the world, you corrupted your community. With units like this, we have the opportunity to reverse that.” The Bartlett facility reflects one piece of TDCJ’s so-called “ 2030 Vision,” an ambitious effort to refocus the state’s massive prison system on rehabilitation rather than punishment. The agency hopes that by 2030, 95% of inmates have jobs lined up prior to their release and the life skills they need to avoid another prison sentence. This year, 24% of inmates had jobs before their release. The plan also aims to improve abysmal prison staffing levels by creating career counseling programs and establishing a more positive work-life balance for employees. Re-opened in October, Bartlett will eventually house 1,049 male inmates, most of whom will be in the last year of their sentence, preparing to reenter the free world. The prison sits about an hour north of Austin on 60 acres of land in Williamson County. Bartlett’s dorm-style housing is designed to be more comfortable than the typical prison cell, with comfortable couches and 55-inch televisions in the common areas. A portion of housing is reserved for military veterans at all stages of their sentence who will participate in special programming, such one where they prepare shelter dogs for adoption. Inmates will enroll in courses according to their interest. Options include culinary arts, computer programming and electrical lineman training, and each offer certifications that will help inmates land jobs. They’ll also receive interview preparation, resume reviews and financial literacy training with the hope that they’ll secure a job before they leave prison. Bartlett was previously a privately operated men’s prison, but it shuttered in 2017 due to declining inmate populations. Since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, Texas’ inmate population has steadily increased, and it is slated to continue rising over the next decade. Bartlett’s reopening also comes as the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is reviewing the operations of the state’s criminal justice system. In a September report, the Sunset Commission, which routinely reviews the performance of state agencies and identifies problems within them, found the prison system has a dangerous staffing crisis, outdated record-keeping practices and a lack of oversight on rehabilitation programs as key issues affecting the agency. Department leaders have presented the 2030 plan as one way to address some of those shortcomings. “We recognize that we need a culture shift,” said agency spokesperson Amanda Hernandez. “We are here to do that and make it happen.” For decades, the Texas prison system’s guiding philosophy has shifted back and forth between punishment and rehabilitation depending on the political climate and how high crime rates are. During the tough-on-crime era of the 1980s, Texas built more prisons and took a punitive approach to crime. But a class-action lawsuit resulted in a judge finding that the conditions of confinement violated the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling required the state to reduce overcrowding and improve prisoner rehabilitation and recreational programs. In 1989, the Legislature passed a comprehensive criminal justice bill that expanded the state agency’s responsibility to include administering rehabilitation programs and reintegrating former felons back into society. The 1989 legislation created the modern-day Texas Department of Criminal Justice by merging the Department of Corrections, the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Texas Adult Probation Commission. In the 2006 sunset commission’s review of TDCJ, the agency found that TDCJ needed more significant investment from the state to improve recidivism rates and effectively rehabilitate former felons. The following year, the state invested $241 million on rehabilitation and diversion programs instead of spending money on additional prison beds. As a result, recidivism rates fell by more than 6%. “You go through different cycles,” said Marc Levin, chief policy counsel on the Council on Criminal Justice. “(Gov.) Ann Richards put in all these substance abuse facilities because drug treatment was a big priority. Then there was a change in attitudes and in 2003 there was a recession, so money was cut for treatment.” Levin said that in recent years, there has been bipartisan support for rehabilitation. And the nationwide labor shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic makes former inmates an attractive talent pool as well. At Bartlett, employers will come in for job fairs, and inmates will also participate in job interviews through Zoom. The state partners with about 1,110 employers who are open to hiring former felons. “The idea is to pilot these programs, see what is working, how do we fix it and expand it to other units,” Hernandez said. On the day of their release from Bartlett, inmates will don a new suit to mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. They’ll ring a liberty bell in front of their fellow inmates before they step out of the prison. To make the transition easier, inmates will serve as peer educators, offer additional support, helping their fellow inmates learn communication skills that they will need in any workplace. Field ministers will offer emotional and spiritual support to inmates and help them reconnect with their values. “One of the greatest things I heard when I got here was hope,” said Michael Thorne, an inmate who also serves as a field minister. “The church here is named Chapel of Hope to help others prepare for their exit.” Michele Deitch, a senior lecturer at University of Texas at Austin’s School of Law and LBJ School, said that creating more comfortable living conditions has been found to decrease violence and improve employee retention. “I really hope the change in mindset will reverberate throughout the agency,” Deitch said. “It’s something that will achieve better public safety outcomes and personal outcomes for people who are incarcerated.” TDCJ officials said they will also look to hire former inmates to work for the agency. Several inmates in Bartlett said they would like to return upon their release. Ayala said he hopes to return to prison as a case manager. “I’ve been in here almost half my life,” Ayala said. “I know the potential that’s behind these walls. A lot of people don’t know how to reach that potential.” This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.Sam Darnold leads game-winning drive in OT and Vikings beat Bears 30-27 after blowing late lead

A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her move

By Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Shares of Trane Technologies PLC .css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(54,119,168,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link svg{fill:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(47,112,157,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(47,112,157,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover svg{fill:rgba(47,112,157,1);} .css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{display:inline;color:var(--color-interactiveLink010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{transition-property:color,fill;transition-duration:200ms,200ms;transition-timing-function:cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1),cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1);}}@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{transition-property:color,fill;transition-duration:0ms;transition-timing-function:cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1),cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1);}}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:hover:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveLink020);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:hover:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink020);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:active:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveLink030);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:active:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink030);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:hover:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:hover:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:focus-visible:not(:disabled){outline-color:var(--outlineColorDefault);outline-style:var(--outlineStyleDefault);outline-width:var(--outlineWidthDefault);outline-offset:var(--outlineOffsetDefault);}@media not all and (min-resolution: 0.001dpcm){@supports (-webkit-appearance: none) and (stroke-color: transparent){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:focus-visible:not(:disabled){outline-style:var(--safariOutlineStyleDefault);}}}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(54,119,168,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link svg{fill:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(47,112,157,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(47,112,157,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover svg{fill:rgba(47,112,157,1);} TT sank 0.54% to $412.56 Tuesday, on what proved to be an all-around mixed trading session for the stock market, with the S&P 500 Index SPX rising 0.05% to 6,049.88 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA falling 0.17% to 44,705.53. This was the stock's second consecutive day of losses.Amber Heard can relate to Blake Lively . The "Aquaman" star, 38, issued a statement to NBC News on Monday in support of Lively after the actress accused her "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment. Lively also alleged Baldoni coordinated an online smear campaign against her to silence her allegations and ruin her reputation. In her statement, Heard, who previously accused her ex-husband Johnny Depp of domestic abuse , addressed the way falsehoods can spread quickly on the internet, implying both she and Lively were victims of this phenomenon. "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying, 'A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,'" Heard told NBC. "I saw this first hand and up close. It's as horrifying as it is destructive." Lively's filing noted that after she complained about alleged misconduct on the set of " It Ends With Us ," Baldoni retained crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan and her company, The Agency Group. Nathan previously represented Depp during his defamation case against Heard. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. All of Blake Lively's allegations: Unwanted kissing, smear tactics and more USA TODAY has reached out to Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni, for comment. In a statement to NBC News, Freedman said, "TAG PR must be the most powerful group of publicists the world has ever seen for it to be able to completely change the perception of both Amber Heard and Blake Lively." He added that the only similarity between the two cases is that "every move they have made has been out there for everyone to see, widely filmed and documented for the public to make up their own minds — which they did, organically." Freedman previously told The New York Times that Lively's claims are "completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious." Depp sued Heard after she published an op-ed in The Washington Post claiming she was a victim of domestic abuse, but did not name him as the culprit. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star won the case and was awarded more than $10 million, while Heard received $2 million after a jury found she was defamed by Depp's former lawyer. The Depp-Heard trial attracted significant attention on social media in 2022, and clips that mocked the actress' emotional testimony about her abuse allegations racked up millions of views. In a 2022 interview, Heard told NBC that the "vast majority" of the trial played out on social media, and she argued the case was an "example of that gone haywire." "Even if you think that I'm lying, you still couldn't look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there's been a fair representation," she said. Blake Lively's 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' co-stars, Colleen Hoover defend her Depp has consistently denied Heard's domestic abuse allegations. Since the trial, Heard moved to Spain and recently confirmed she is expecting her second child. Numerous celebrities have come forward to defend Lively in light of her complaint against Baldoni, including America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn , her co-stars in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." "As Blake's friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation," they said. "We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others." Colleen Hoover, the author of "It Ends With Us," also expressed support for Lively on Instagram. "@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," Hoover wrote. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt." Contributing: Edward SegarraNone

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders has been discharged from the Carolinas Medical Center after suffering a neck injury in the Panthers' 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Panthers coach Dave Canales offered no update on Sanders’ status other than to say he was released from the hospital after being evaluated by doctors. Team officials said Sanders had full use of all of his extremities. Sanders, who has been a budding young star on the Panthers offense, caught a 10-yard pass near the sideline before being upended by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie near the end of the first half. He flipped in the air and landed on the back of his head and remained on the ground for several minutes as teammates gathered around him. Sanders was put on a backboard and taken to the locker room. He appeared to raise his arms with a trainer's hand draped on top of them as he left the field. Sanders had three catches for 49 yards before the injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLRico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBNBA fines Minnesota guard Edwards $75,000 for outburst

Global stocks end mostly up with DAX crossing 20,000 for 1st timeCINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals took care of business and won three straight games for the first time this season. Cincinnati is playing its best football, but it might be too late to sneak into the playoffs, with five teams battling for the two remaining AFC postseason spots. At 7-8, the Bengals are on the bubble along with two other teams that have the same record, the Colts and Dolphins. To have a chance, the Bengals will need to beat the visiting Denver Broncos (9-6) on Saturday, then try to take down the Steelers (10-5) at Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale. They’ll need some help from other teams, too. The rub for the Bengals is that they have yet to beat a team with a winning record this season. Now with some momentum for the first time, the Bengals will have to clear that hurdle. “It’s just what it’s supposed to feel like for us. This is our expectation,” coach Zac Taylor said after the Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns 24-6 on Sunday. “We just put ourselves in a position to now play some real meaningful games. ... We found a way to get the win and now we can turn our focus to a short week and the Denver Broncos.” What’s working Joe Burrow became the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 250 yards and three or more touchdowns in seven consecutive games. One of his TD passes, to Tee Higgins, came as he was falling down. He finished 23 for 30 for 252 yards. ... Ja’Marr Chase continues to build his resume as he strives to win the receiving “triple crown.” He had six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Browns and leads the league in receptions, yards and TDs. ... K Cade York tied a franchise record with a 59-yard field goal. “The guys have responded this way all season,” Taylor said. “We lost some heartbreakers to be quite frank, and games that just came down to the end. It doesn’t mean that we’ve had a bad football team and we weren’t in it. We’ve been in this, and now — I don’t want to say getting our confidence back, because we’ve had confidence — but we’re just making the plays necessary at the critical points of the game to take control of these games. That’s really what’s happened the last three weeks, and we’ve got to continue that.” What needs help Burrow has fumbled 10 times this season. Against the Browns, he lost a fumble on a strip-sack with the Bengals on the Cleveland 2-yard-line. Stock up Last week, S Jordan Battle scooped a fumble and ran it all the way back, only to fumble as he crossed the goal line, leading to a touchback. Against the Browns, he intercepted a second-half pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the end zone. The Bengals’ defense has nine takeaways in the past two games. Stock down Cincinnati’s depleted offensive line allowed four sacks. Injuries The offensive line took a hit when tackle Amarius Mims went out with an ankle injury and didn’t return. Key number 5.1 — Yards per carry by RB Chase Brown, who seems to get better every week. He had 18 carries for 91 yards. Next steps The Bengals continue their improbable effort to slip into the playoffs when they host the Broncos in their home finale on Saturday. They finish the season the following week at Pittsburgh. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

(Bloomberg) -- New York’s controversial congestion pricing project cleared a pair of hurdles as two federal judges declined to put the traffic plan on hold just weeks before it is scheduled to begin. US District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan on Monday rejected a request from a handful of groups to pause the program while their lawsuits proceed, which would have stopped the tolls from going into effect next month. Hours later, US District Judge Cathy Seibel in White Plains declined to grant injunctions sought by suburban Rockland and Orange counties. The plan isn’t completely in the clear for a Jan. 5 launch. A federal judge in New Jersey may decide at any time to send the plan back for additional environmental review following a challenge from the Garden State. There is also a lawsuit by the Long Island town of Hempstead pending in state court. But the rulings in Manhattan and White Plains are a boon for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Governor Kathy Hochul. She recently reinstated a revised version of the plan, which would give the MTA revenue to modernize a transit system that is more than 100 years old and has been neglected for years. Judges’ Reasoning Liman issued his decision after hearing arguments against the plan from a variety of groups on Friday, including the Trucking Association of New York, residents of Battery Park, the United Federation of Teachers, and New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax, which describes itself as a community-based organization representing area residents concerned with the costs and environmental impacts of the program. In his opinion, Liman said that granting the injunction “would negatively harm the public interest as it would delay the environmental and economic benefits” the program was designed to provide and force the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority to “bear a sizeable financial burden.” Why New York Made a U-Turn on Congestion Pricing: QuickTake “Numerous studies have established that the congestion addressed by the tolling program itself, if unchecked by that program, will also continue to impose tremendous costs on individuals and businesses throughout the New York metropolitan region,” the judge wrote. “Those costs are economic and environmental.” At a hearing in White Plains Monday, Seibel said that she recognized that the program “is going to be more costly to some groups than to others,” and that while the decision to implement congestion pricing may be “unfair or unwise,” that is “not the same as unconstitutional.” Rockland County had alleged the tolls unfairly force residents to take mass transit despite limited options for commuters. “There are pros and cons of living in Rockland and Orange counties,” she said. “This is one of the cons.” Liman said delaying the program would result in $12 million in additional costs per month for the city and state transportation agencies and lost revenue of about $40 million a month. Delaying the revenues “would additionally prevent the MTA from undertaking beneficial capital programs such as investments in the region’s subways, buses, and commuter railroad, measures to make numerous subway stations more accessible to individuals with disabilities, improving outdated signaling, improving safety and customer service, and extending public transit to underserved areas,” the judge wrote. Barrage of Challenges The first of the suits before Liman was filed in November 2023 by Families for a Better Plan for Congestion, a group of Battery Park residents who claimed the plan fails to consider the effects of an expected surge in traffic into the parts of their neighborhood exempted from the toll. They were followed by the United Federation of Teachers, which contends congestion pricing unfairly burdens city teachers who live in places without access to mass transit. The union was joined by Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, who argues his constituents will face higher commuting costs, more traffic and worse air quality. Among the concerned residents in the suit by New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax are the owner of a funeral home in the East Village, a New York City teacher who serves as a caretaker for his life partner, a blind New Jersey resident confined to a wheelchair and the owner of a Chinatown ice cream parlor. The groups argued that federal and state agencies failed to take advantage of the governor’s pause to further study the plan’s potential disparate impacts, in violation of the State Administrative Procedure Act. Liman in June rejected arguments by some of the opponents that the environmental review process was flawed. Separately, Judge Leo Gordon hasn’t set a date to rule on a suit by the Garden State suit since a two-day hearing held in April, before Hochul paused congestion pricing in June just as it was set to start. She then announced the revised plan last month. Lawyers for New Jersey have urged Gordon to issue his decision as soon as possible. (Updates with White Plains judge’s ruling in second paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.Riding a 3-game win streak, the Bengals cling to playoff hopes with the Broncos next

LAHORE: While agreeing with a proposal to establish revolving funds for the construction and maintenance of schools, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her resolve to improve the standard of public sector schools at par with private schools. “Construct 5000 new classrooms in schools under Public Schools Reorganization Programme (PSRP),” the CM said while chairing a special meeting of the School Education Department to review its various projects and their related issues. She added, “Modern labs will be established to increase learning capacity of students.” The Chief Minister reviewed a proposal to launch a mobile bus library project in government schools in order to promote study culture among students.” She added, “Uniforms should be properly enforced in government schools.” Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was presented by the authorities concerned a report on the ongoing school meal programme in three districts of South Punjab. She directed the relevant authorities to establish a formal learning centre for out-of-school children in Punjab. The Chief Minister was briefed, “More than 13.2 million milk packs have been distributed in 3527 schools under the school meal programme.” She was apprised, “Enrolment of more than 38,000 new students has also been completed since the start of the programme. A daily report on the provision of milk packs to students is presented on the dashboard. After the introduction of the school meal programme, children are also tested for calcium.” The Chief Minister was briefed, “34% increase in schools enrolment has been observed under the Public School Reorganization Programme. More than 121,000 new students have been enrolled in 5,675 schools of the province.” She was apprised, “Special Mentoring Unit has confirmed 60% of the new admissions.” She was updated, “164% increase in the attendance of teachers in schools has also been observed after the start of public school reorganization programme.” She was briefed, “07 training sessions for the teachers in each divisional headquarter have been completed under PSRP Phase-I.” The CM was apprised, “Teachers will teach children in remote villages through smart class technology. Children will be taught through smart board connected with solar technology. The number of out-of-school children is highest in the suburban areas of cities. 95% of parents of out-of-school children want to teach their children.” Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif appreciated the efforts of Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and his team for the success of CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s school meal programme and other initiatives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024Daily Post Nigeria Troops sustain onslaught against oil thieves, recover 80,000 litres of stolen crude Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Troops sustain onslaught against oil thieves, recover 80,000 litres of stolen crude Published on November 24, 2024 By John Gabriel Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, working with other security agencies, have continued the onslaught against oil theft in the Niger Delta. According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, in operations conducted in Buguma Creeks in Asari-Toru LGA, eight illegal refining sites were deactivated. “Additionally, at Iyalama/Bakana, also in Buguma, a Wellhead used as a loading point by the criminals was discovered, several cooking pots of different sizes, receivers as well as four wooden boats were taken out with over 8,000 litres of stolen products confiscated,” the statement added. It said troops also intercepted a wooden boat stocked with over 6,000 litres of condensate in the same area. Similarly, around Ogaji-Ama, in Buguma South East River, two wooden boats loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude were intercepted. The statement further disclosed, “In a related vein, operations were conducted, around Asaramatoro Creek in Bonny LGA, where an illegal refining site with over 10,000 litres of stolen crude housed in a local reservoir was discovered. “Relatedly, along Idu Ekpeye in Ahoada West LGA, a wooden boat with over 2,000 litres of stolen products was intercepted. At Obiafu general area in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (ONELGA), over 3,000 litres of stolen crude concealed in sacks were recovered. “Also, at Oboburu in ONELGA, troops had an encounter with an armed vandal who opened fire on them. They responded and he was neutralised. One pump action gun and 5 cartridges were recovered at the scene. While, around Ke Community in Degema LGA, a large wooden boat hidden inside the creek suspected to be used by the oil thieves was intercepted. “Further combing of the general area led to the confiscation of a fibre boat ladened with over 1,500 litres of stolen products. Clearance operations was also conducted along the Imo River, particularly around Oyigbo, Asa, Ukwa and environs, with remarkable successes recorded. ” These included the dismantling of over 20 illegal refining sites, 169 cooking drums, 29 metal container receivers as well as the recovery of over 15,000 litres of stolen products. “In Bayelsa State, several operations were conducted with successes recorded. At Clough Creek in Ekeremor LGA, a wooden boat hidden inside the Creek loaded with over 2,500 litres of stolen products was intercepted. “Likewise, around Sangakubu general area in Nembe LGA, an illegal refining site was dismantled with over 1,500 litres of stolen products recovered. ” The operation was also extended to Southern Ijaw LGA, along Tebidaba Creek, where illegal refining sites, a wooden boat with unquantified quantity of stolen products handled appropriately. “While, in Delta State, troops on routine patrol, along Ekpan in Uvwie LGA, intercepted over 2,500 litres of stolen products stored in a tank within the premises of Lamiel Hotel and Suites. “Additionally, troops on pursuit, intercepted two vehicles stocked with stolen products at Abe Community in Orhiomwon LGA of Edo State. In Akwa State, troops have continued to dominate land and waterways to ward off criminal activities. “During the operations conducted within the period under review, several achievements were recorded across the joint operations area. “These included, the dismantling of 34 illegal refining sites, arrest of eleven suspected oil thieves, deactivation of 19 boats and over 80,650 litres of stolen products recovered. Others included, the deactivation of 180 cooking drum pots, 29 metal container receivers, several vehicles and motorcycles. “Those arrested have been profiled and handed over to the relevant authority, while products were handled appropriately. “The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended troops for their resilience.” Abdulsalam assured that the Division under his watch would continue to sustain the ongoing operations to ensure increase in oil and gas production. He also reassured that efforts would be sustained to thwart the intentions of criminal elements operating in the region. Related Topics: Troops Don't Miss Tinubu: ‘You have no shame’ – Atiku’s aide knocks Bwala You may like Troops kill notorious terrorist in Yobe, neutralise 114 others nationwide Nigerian troops kill notorious terrorist, Munzur Ya Audu in Yobe Troops nab suspected bandits informant in Taraba, clear camps Troops apprehend suspected gunrunners, recover arms in Plateau Nigeria Army reacts to informants’ refusal to cooperate with troops in Zamfara Troops arrest Taraba kidnapping kingpin who abducted 20, extorted over N70m ransom Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd