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Former President Jimmy Carter left one last parting gift for president-elect Donald Trump after his death at 100 on Sunday. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs , the American flag should fly at “half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president.” This means that on Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, all flags will be at half-staff in honor of the late president. The longest-living U.S. commander-in-chief, Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia, his son, Chip, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday. Trump sent his condolences to Carter’s family in a Truth Social post Sunday, writing: “Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.” He added: “Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.” One last gift from Jimmy Carter, all flags will be at half-staff on Inauguration Day pic.twitter.com/vQsl8wlrXY Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continue to bolster the box office’s holiday performance, with both films raking in over $60 million this week. After an initial disappointing opening weekend, Disney’s prequel to its beloved tale bounced back over the Christmas stretch, bringing in a domestic total of around $63.8 million since Wednesday. Meanwhile, Sonic 3 trailed slightly behind with an estimated gross of $60.4 million since Christmas. As both films continue to perform well domestically and overseas, other new releases like Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu also found surprising wins at the holiday box office—with the vampire flick posting $40.3 million during its five-day opening. Elsewhere, the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown , is also on course to gross $23.3 million over the five-day Christmas stretch, while Nicole Kidman’s raunchy erotica for A24, Babygirl , reported a $7 million five-day opening. Wicked also continues to defy gravity, posting a global gross of $634.4 million and surpassing Mamma Mia! as the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation of all time. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Boxing Week sales are still in full swing, folks! As an avid J.Crew fan , I can honestly say that the brand’s discount-laden factory store (the brand’s online outlet) is a great way to get high-quality wardrobe staples without the big price tag. J.Crew Factory always offers discounts up to 40 percent off J.Crew, but for a limited time, you can unlock even more savings from already discounted items. Right now, J.Crew Factory is offering 70 percent off clearance items with the code SALE70 at checkout. Now’s the time to invest in evergreen staples like jeans and office-friendly blazers while they’re half off, or grab a few outwear essentials to round out your cold-weather lineup. The sale also includes tons of denim for just $50, pure cotton crewneck T-shirts for $20, and even new arrivals like NYE frocks and cashmere items. And the sale is not just for women; the gents’ and kids’ sections are equally full of additional savings. President Joe Biden let slip last year that former President Jimmy Carter asked him to give his eulogy—over a year before he died. Biden, 82, revealed the request after Carter, then 98, entered hospice care at his longtime home in Plains, Georgia in February 2023. “He asked me to do his eulogy,” Biden told a crowd of donors at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser about one month later. But Biden quickly caught himself, telling the donors “excuse me, I shouldn’t say that.” Carter died on Sunday, over two months after turning 100, his family confirmed. Speaking to reporters on Sunday night, Biden reflected on his decades-long relationship with the former president. “I’ve been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years, it dawned on me,” the president said. “He used to kid me about it, that I was the first national figure to endorse him in 1976 when he ran for president.” Biden did not comment again on the proposed eulogy when he addressed the public. The president said he would be ordering a state funeral for Carter—the first since the death of former President George H.W. Bush in 2018. A TV news reporter was assaulted by a Colorado man who shouted during the attack, “This is Trump’s America now!” criminal court documents allege. Arrested on Dec. 18 in Grand Junction, Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, was held on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. According to an arrest affidavit in the case, Egan allegedly followed the car of KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ron Alex while he was on assignment, and told him at a stoplight: “Are you even a US citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” He then allegedly tackled Alex and put him in a headlock where he “began to strangle him” before his co-workers intervened and helped. Witnesses also said that it looked like Alex was having difficulty breathing during the attack, which the Associated Press reports was caught on surveillance footage. Alex later told police he believed he was targeted because he is a Pacific Islander. Egan is slated to appear in court on Jan. 2 to determine if formal charges will be filed. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “ CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S. Kieran Culkin once got Mark Ruffalo high while on the job after switching out a prop joint with the real thing. In a profile with The Guardian published Saturday, Culkin recalled the prank his 17-year-old self concocted while starring alongside Ruffalo in an off-Broadway play in 2000, and explained that he “just watched” as Ruffalo took a draw of the “fake” joint before passing it to his co-stars on stage. “I’m like, ‘I thought this was a good prank. I’m stupid. Oh my God, I’m so sorry.’ But actually, they loved it,” Culkin remembered. “Mark says, ‘I haven’t smoked pot in 10 years; the second half’s going to be so much fun.’ There was this other actor who had never smoked pot in her life. She goes, ‘Is this what being high is? This is lovely.’ And then Phyllis Newman comes in and goes, ‘I haven’t smoked pot since the 1960s. Thank you, darling.’” The Succession star proceeded to express that he was “17 and stupid” and added, “I’m 42 now. I know better. I’m not going to try to get anyone high on stage.” President-elect Donald Trump is now the oldest living former U.S. president after Jimmy Carter’s passing at 100 on Sunday. Born in 1946, Trump is 78 years old—and is followed by George W. Bush, also 78, who was born just 22 days later. Bill Clinton, 78 himself, was also born in August 1946. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, 82, is now the oldest living U.S. president and will be the oldest former president after Trump’s inauguration in January next year. Barack Obama is the youngest living former president at 63. Carter’s death was confirmed by his son Chip in a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday. He died at his home in Plains, Georgia at 3:45 p.m. after entering hospice care in February 2023. Trump remembered the longest-living U.S. president in a Truth Social post Sunday, writing: “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.” Loved ones of Hudson Meek, the teen actor who died in a car accident last week, gathered to celebrate his life on Saturday. The “celebration of life” service, held at a Baptist church in Homewood, Alabama, was livestreamed on the Baby Driver star’s Instagram. Several of the loved ones shared their favorite memories of the 16-year-old, and a choir sang in tribute. Fans expressed their appreciation for the service and their condolences in the comment section. “Wonderful celebration of Hudson’s life,” wrote user @melindaeubankswest, while @jeanniecmom added, “Praying for Hudson’s family at this difficult time. Fellow teen actor Grace Culwell shared in the comments that she was in attendance, writing: ”Such a beautiful service & so glad we were able to be there. Sending so much love & prayers to you all.” Meek died on Dec. 21 in from injuries sustained during a fall from a moving car on Dec. 19 in his hometown, Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Meek was known best for appearing in the 2017 crime movie Baby Driver alongside Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx. A post shared by Hudson Meek (@hudsonmeek) Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were spotted enjoying themselves at Jeff Bezos ’ holiday party at a high-end sushi restaurant in Colorado, on Saturday. The power couple appeared smiling and holding hands in photos, published by Page Six, that showed them departing the gathering at Matsuhisa’s location in Aspen. Their invite came after Bezos traveled to Mar-a-Lago earlier this month to bend the knee to her father, President-elect Donald Trump. Saturday’s event appeared to serve as a date night for Trump’s eldest daughter and his former adviser after they attended his Mar-a-Lago Christmas gala earlier this week alongside their three kids. The pair kept it casual for the gathering—Kushner wore a dark-teal button-down and black slacks, while Trump donned a brown suede dress, a tan leather jacket, and a pair of high-heel boots. Page Six reported that actor Kevin Costner also made an appearance at the party after being spotted earlier with Jennifer Lopez at a different nearby spot, although she was not at the Amazon founder’s event. Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez shot down rumors last week that they had married in the same resort town where the gathering was held. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur . It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black , vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini. Two Sasquatch hunters were found dead after they went missing while searching for the mythical beast on Christmas Eve . The men, aged 37 and 59, were found after a 60-strong volunteer search and rescue team joined authorities in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State . They had intended to be home for Christmas Day, but a family member reported them missing to Skamania County authorities after they didn’t return by the morning. Police said the harsh weather conditions and their ill-preparedness for the forest contributed to the men’s deaths. Seven law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard used canines, drones, ground teams and helicopters to locate them. “Their exhaustive search efforts resulted in bringing family members home to their loved ones,” the sheriff’s office said of the search teams. The force extended their “deepest sympathies and condolences to the families” involved. Andy Cohen’s biggest gripe with CNN star and New Year’s Eve partner-in-crime Anderson Cooper? Cooper’s annual giggle fit. Cohen explained to People why the anchor’s unceasing laughter adds extra chaos throughout their annual special. “Well, [it’s] that I have to be the straight guy,” Cohen said. “Literally, he’s in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I’m the one that’s hitting all the commercial breaks.” Cohen said he turns “into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes” while Cooper becomes “Mr. Bravo.” “It’s a very funny role reversal,” the Bravo star said. The longtime friends have hosted the CNN event together since 2017 after former co-host Kathy Griffin was booted in the wake of backlash for posing with a mask depicting the severed head of Donald Trump. Cohen and Cooper have found themselves in various antics since then— some alcoholic , some not —leading to Cooper’s own frustrations with the Bravo host. Cooper joked on Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live earlier this month that he constantly worries about “who [Cohen’s] gonna insult and what the clean up on aisle 3 is gonna be in the morning.”

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In Gaza's crowded tent camps, women wrestle with a life stripped of privacy

Wall Street closes higher on business activity dataBy Zoe Sottile , Josh Campbell and Artemis Moshtaghian , CNN Mysterious flying objects overhead. Concern and confusion. And calls for military intervention. This isn't the plot of "War of the Worlds," but rather the result of numerous possible drone sightings in the US in recent weeks. The flying objects have been spotted over residential neighborhoods, restricted sites and critical infrastructure. The sightings have put intense pressure on federal agencies to provide more information about the aircraft, as officials have urged calm and emphasized there is no evidence suggesting the sightings pose a security threat. The Biden administration has not identified "anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risks over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast," White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Monday. "We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters, and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones," Kirby said. While the FBI is still checking out 100 or so tips, none of them appear nefarious, he said. "I can't rule out the fact that we might find some sort of illegal or criminal activity, some nefarious activity, (but) all I can do is tell you that right now we see none of that," Kirby said. The US is sending drone detection and tracking systems to two military facilities in New Jersey, according to three defense officials Monday. The systems are in the process of moving to Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research facility, in northern New Jersey and Naval Weapons Station Earle in central New Jersey, the officials said. Drones have been spotted near Picatinny Arsenal and over President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, according to military officials and state lawmakers. The sightings prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue temporary flight restrictions over the properties. "Several instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace" were also reported above Naval Weapons Station Earle, a US Navy base south of Middletown, although no direct threats were identified. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy received a briefing from the FBI on Sunday night regarding the drone sighting investigation around Naval Weapons Station Earle, he said in a post on X. "We are ready to assist the federal government in getting to the bottom of this," Murphy said. Reported drone activity prompted at least one airport - New York's Stewart International Airport - to temporarily close its runways for about an hour on Friday night. At around the same time, airspace above Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio was restricted because of drone activity while authorities monitored the situation, base spokesperson Bob Purtiman told CNN affiliate WHIO. The base closed its air space for several hours over the weekend, but the Pentagon says it is "not necessarily seeing any connection" to the drone sightings in New Jersey and elsewhere. "There are thousands of drones flown around the US on a daily basis," Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday. "So as a result, it's not that unusual to see drones in the sky, nor is it an indication of malicious activity or any public safety threat. And so the same applies to drones flown near US military installations." Wright-Patterson includes operations dedicated to monitoring cyber threats and the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, which oversees 14 intelligence squadrons around the country. CNN reached out to the Air Force for comment. The House Intelligence Committee is expected to receive a classified briefing about the mysterious drones over New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. The FBI and DHS said in a joint statement Thursday there is "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." Despite reassurances from federal officials, local politicians continue to press for more information and resources to investigate the sightings. In Morris County, New Jersey, officials have called for the "federal government to marshal all federal resources at its disposal, including the military, to end the unauthorized flight of drones over our county and other parts of New Jersey." Trump raised his own questions about the drone sightings during a wide-ranging news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. "The government knows what is happening. Look, our military knows where they took off from," Trump said. "If it's a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went, and for some reason they don't want to comment." When asked whether he had been briefed on the government's intelligence regarding drones, Trump responded, "I don't want to comment on that." Kirby said Monday that the administration has and will continue to make "a very good faith effort to be as open and direct" as possible. "What we're not going to do is speculate, and we're not going to hypothesize - we're not going to, we're not going to provide content that we can't be sure is accurate," he said. The FBI and New Jersey State Police urged the public in a joint statement Monday not to shoot at suspected drones, warning of potentially deadly consequences if manned aircraft are mistakenly targeted. Pilots of manned aircraft are being hit in the eyes with lasers pointed by individuals on the ground mistaking them for drones, the statement said. Drones, a broad term for unmanned aerial vehicles, are widely owned across the United States. Around 792,000 drones are registered with the FAA, nearly evenly divided between commercial and recreational use. They are used in various industries, including photography, agriculture and law enforcement. There remains significant confusion about the exact nature of the sightings and how many are cases of "mistaken identity," as suggested by Mayorkas and Kirby. Here's more on what we know and don't know about the reported sightings. Where have the drones been seen? Drone sightings have been reported in at least six states - New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio - while arrests have been made in connection with drone operation near restricted areas in Massachusetts and California. The sightings began 18 November near Morris County, New Jersey, according to the FAA. There had been drone sightings every night since then, Republican New Jersey Assembly member Paul Kanitra told CNN's Sara Sidner on Friday. Unnerved residents have frequently reported seeing drones hovering overhead, sometimes traveling in clusters. Democratic Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey posted videos to his X account showing what appeared to be a cluster of drones flying over the Round Valley Reservoir on Thursday night. But Saturday, he acknowledged most of the aircraft he initially thought were drones were "almost certainly planes," he posted on X. Representatives from the federal agencies investigating the sightings have briefed local officials behind closed doors, stating the possible drones sometimes appear to fly in a coordinated pattern and can remain in flight for up to six hours, according to Montvale, New Jersey, mayor Mike Ghassali. "This has gone too far," said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday, adding last month she "directed the New York State Intelligence Center to actively investigate drone sightings and coordinate with federal law enforcement to address this issue." Hochul announced Sunday that federal authorities are deploying a new "state-of-the-art drone detection system" to the state. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said he's asking the DHS to deploy special detection systems that use 360-degree technology to detect drones. New York State Police said Friday afternoon in a post on X they had received "numerous reports of drone sightings over the past 24 hours" and they were investigating the reports. "We have no evidence at this time that any of the reported sightings pose a public safety threat." Staten Island Borough president Vito Fossella said the drones, often seen flying at night, have been spotted hovering over critical infrastructure, including Port Liberty New York near the Goethals Bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and Fort Wadsworth, one of the oldest military installations in the country. Connecticut State Police announced Friday they have deployed a drone detection system to assist in the investigation of unauthorized drone sightings reported over Fairfield County. The governors of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia said they were aware of the sightings and that state police were involved. Two men were arrested Saturday night on trespassing charges after a drone came "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport in Boston, police said in a statement. Last week, a Chinese citizen who is a legal permanent resident of the US was criminally charged after allegedly taking unauthorized drone footage at Vandenburg Space Force Base in California as SpaceX was launching "a National Reconnaissance Office payload," according to a criminal complaint. Yinpiao Zhou was arrested 9 December at San Francisco International Airport, preparing to board a flight to China, the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said. He was charged with failure to register his drone and violation of national defense airspace. CNN reached out to Zhou's assigned public defender for comment Monday. He has not entered a plea and is held at the Santa Rita Jail without bond, according to records from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. When asked by CNN whether they believed the Vandenburg incident was connected to the Northeast US drone sightings, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said, "We don't allege that in our complaint." What are the aircraft? The FBI and DHS have said they believe most of the drone sightings are cases of "mistaken identity," with members of the public misidentifying small, legally operating manned aircraft as drones. Some of the sightings may also be commercial drones, Mayorkas told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday. "We know of no threat or nefarious activity," Mayorkas said. "If we learn of any cause for concern, we will be transparent in our communication of it." Some of the more recent sightings might be due to copycats flying their drones as the phenomena get more news coverage, former FBI supervisory special agent Tom Adams told CNN Friday. He said there are often innocent explanations for the sightings as well. "I can tell you from my firsthand experience conducting operations for the FBI, as well as investigations into the suspected sighting of drones at critical infrastructure, it was fairly common for planets, crewed aircraft and even low Earth orbit satellites to be misidentified as drones at night," Adams said. At a news briefing on Saturday, an FBI official reiterated the sightings were largely manned aircraft mistaken for drones. The official noted similar flight approach patterns from nearby airports matched the visual sightings reported to tip lines. The FBI official said the tip line has received 5,000 tips, but fewer than 100 have led to leads "deemed worthy of further investigative activity." No evidence supporting "large-scale UAS activity" has been found, the official said, using the acronym for "unmanned aircraft system". There's been a "slight overreaction" to the reports, the FBI official said. Still, "we can't ignore the sightings that have been there, and we are concerned about those just as much as anybody else is," the official added. An official with the Department of Defense, however, was less confident about the nature of the sightings. "We don't know if it's malicious, if it is criminal. But I will tell you that it is - it is irresponsible," the official said. "Here on the military side, we are just as frustrated with the irresponsible nature of this activity." The Pentagon shut down speculation the drones may originate from a foreign entity or adversary on Wednesday, hours after US Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey Republican, told Fox News the drones were from "a mothership" from Iran that is "off the East Coast of the United States of America." "There is not any truth to that," deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said Wednesday. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States." The FBI is leading the investigation into the sightings alongside the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, while the US Coast Guard is assessing jurisdictional responses. On Sunday, US Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said the US government needs to be more transparent about the reported sightings. "One, we need a briefing for the members of the Senate to figure out what's going on here," the Democrat said during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation." "Two, we need more transparency." Despite federal officials' assurances the drones don't pose a public safety threat, Belleville, New Jersey, mayor Michael Melham has said he has received guidance police should call the county bomb squad and local fire departments should wear hazmat suits if they encounter a downed drone. "We just don't know what these things are, so we are being cautious," Melham said. Why shooting at drones may not be the answer In contrast to federal officials' pleas for calm regarding the sightings, Trump has urged the Biden administration to either release any information it has about the mysterious sightings or shoot the drones out of the sky. "Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government's knowledge. I don't think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!" Trump posted on Truth Social. US Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who sits on the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, similarly said Thursday the aircraft "should be shot down, if necessary, because they're flying over sensitive areas." Blumenthal clarified Monday in a CNN interview that he believed most drones could be forced down with "electronic jamming" rather than destroying them in the air. But shooting down unidentified aircraft poses its own problems. "It's not as though anyone can just take down a drone in the sky. That in and of itself would be dangerous," Mayorkas told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Similarly, a source familiar with the national investigation into the aircraft told CNN shooting them out of the sky would be "beyond risky," posing an unnecessary risk to people on the ground and legal challenges. The source noted the government has various strategies that can be deployed if a drone poses an imminent threat, but so far, the mysterious flights have not been deemed threatening. "Blowing it out of the sky is the last resort," the source said. Who regulates drones? Part of the challenge in monitoring drone activity stems from the fact regulation of the skies is almost entirely under federal jurisdiction, according to the chief executive of a company tracking unauthorized drone flights. "The laws that regulate aircraft are not built to empower police to deal with the drones," Axon chief executive Rick Smith told CNN News Central Friday, "so if your local state fair has a drone coming towards it that police believe might be dangerous, right now there's nothing they can do about it." FAA regulations allow operators of recreational drones to fly up to 400 feet above the ground in airspace not controlled by FAA air traffic controllers. The FAA does grant waivers on a case-by-case basis to those wanting to operate drones in more congested airspace or at higher altitudes. Missy Cummings, one of the Navy's first female fighter pilots, thinks there would be a different level of action from authorities if people were in danger from the possible drone sightings. "I think if this were a legitimate threat, we would be seeing different kinds of action," Cummings, a professor at George Mason University, told CNN's Fredricka Whitfield Sunday. "People don't want to hear this, but probably a significant number are manned aircraft, although I do think that they are legitimately seeing drones," Cummings said. CNN's Samantha Waldenberg, Sam Fossum, Betsy Klein, Annie Grayer, Edward-Isaac Dovere, Andy Rose, Hanna Park, Brad Lendon, Oren Liebermann and Travis Nichols contributed to this report. - CNNThe broadcaster’s former technology correspondent, 66, was formally made an OBE by the Princess Royal for his services to journalism on Wednesday. Cellan-Jones announced in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and he has since contributed to a podcast, Movers And Shakers, discussing life with the disease. Discussing the success of the podcast, which also features Jeremy Paxman, Cellan-Jones told the PA news agency: “It’s been an absolute scream. “We’ve had the most extraordinary reaction from the Parkinson’s community. “There is a community which felt absolutely left out in the cold and this award was for services to journalism, but I can’t help but think that maybe that played some part too.” Cellan-Jones said he talked to Anne about fundraising for Parkinson’s and how technology could possibly be used to monitor the disease. The journalist added: “She showed real interest in it. “Mike Tindall, whose father’s got it, is very active in fundraising – so we talked about that.” Cellan-Jones said the OBE was “very unexpected when it came”, adding that he felt “very privileged”. He said his rescue dog from Romania, named Sophie, was “making slow progress” after becoming a social media sensation with thousands of people following her recovery online. Speaking at Buckingham Palace, Cellan-Jones said several courtiers had asked after Sophie, adding: “She’s still incredibly nervous. She’s waiting at home, she wouldn’t have liked it here – a bit too busy. “She’s making slow progress, but she’s wonderful, and she’s been very important to us.” Earlier on Wednesday, broadcaster Alan Yentob, 77, was formally made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King for services to the arts and media. The retired television executive, who was born in Stepney, London, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1968. He devised the flagship arts programme Imagine..., which he presented on, and was creative director of the broadcaster from 2004 until 2015. Yentob stepped down from the role in the wake of the collapse of the charity Kids Company, where he was chairman. The broadcaster said Charles had been “incredibly supportive” of him. Discussing Charles, Yentob told the PA news agency: “He’s been incredibly supportive, as I said to him, on many fronts, including the fact that I was the chairman of Kids Company, and he was incredibly supportive of that in the most difficult times. “And I think the way he’s come out about his illness, and the way the Princess of Wales has too, has been admirable.” Yentob said it would be “reckless” to not support the BBC, adding “it’s a place which embraces everyone”. The broadcaster added: “If you look at the figures, it’s still doing well, even though a very substantial part of its income has been removed.” Roxy Music lead guitarist Phil Manzanera, 73, was formally made an OBE by the Princess Royal for his services to music. His most well-known band, featuring singer Bryan Ferry, is famed for hits such as Love Is The Drug and More Than This – topping the singles charts once with a cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy. Discussing the honour, Manzanera told the PA news agency: “It’s very moving and humbling to be amongst all these people who do absolutely incredible things. “But, obviously, I am very happy to get it for services to music and music production, because I think music helps us all in our lives in terms of improving the fabric of our lives, and it’s a great support for so many people.” The musician said he discussed his upbringing in South America and central America with Anne, having grown up in Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba. Manzanera said Anne told him that her father, Prince Philip, “once flew a Viscount plane to Caracas airport”. He said his upbringing was central to his musicianship, adding: “It’s in my DNA, the rhythms of South America. “And the musicians that we’ve all come to know through the Buena Vista Social Club were the kind of music that I started playing guitar with. “It wasn’t Bert Weedon’s Play in a Day for me, it was the music of Cuba.” Actress Shobna Gulati, 58, was formally made an MBE for services to the cultural industries, Scottish professional golfer Stephen Gallacher, 50, was made an MBE and former Arup deputy chairwoman Dervilla Mitchell, 66, received a damehood for services to engineering.Hyderabad: Numaish exhibition postponed to January 3; Here’s why

Moody's places Sri Lanka's rating under review for upgrade after bond-exchange offerHoliday stress can lead Alzheimer’s patients and those with dementia to go missingThe smear campaign against Baba-Gana Adam

TORONTO — A year ago Monday, the Toronto Raptors traded OG Anunoby, the unofficial start to the team’s rebuild. While the Pascal Siakam deal that came a few weeks later more clearly showed the path the Raptors would take, it was the first decision the Raptors made for themselves that took them further away from valuing wins above all else. Advertisement Fred VanVleet’s departure in free agency the previous summer was the first indication the Raptors would do this, but the Anunoby deal represented acceptance. The Raptors had a hybrid plan — not quite shameless tanking, certainly not putting a premium on short-term winning. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, acquired in the Anunoby deal, would surround Scottie Barnes with like-aged players, and the return for Siakam would start the Raptors’ effort to build a group of supporting players on rookie deals behind that trio and Jakob Poeltl in an attempt to not wallow in losing for years and years. The Anunoby trade happened at the end of 2023. Their 136-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday was the last home game of 2024. It was a turnover-filled offensive embarrassment two days removed from a profound defensive embarrassment . The calendar year ends with a matinee affair in Boston on New Year’s Eve. The halcyon days of November, when the Raptors were piling up moral victories, are long gone. “Right now, as a team, we hit a wall,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said. “We hit a wall. It’s very simple.” “We just can’t allow ourselves to get down to this point and keep letting teams, every single game, (score) 130 points ... or more,” Barnes said. “For these last three games, that’s just unacceptable.” Actually, they have surrendered 430 points, or more than 143 points per night, over the last three games. Who’s counting? Including the last few games, this year was the one in which the Raptors finally took the medicine they didn’t pick up from the pharmacy until the moment they had no other real choice. With the year coming to an end, there was some light irony to be found in Bruce Brown making his season debut against the Hawks. The Siakam trade was never about Brown himself; the Raptors hoped, and continue to hope, that they might be able to get something for the veteran in a trade. Brown’s salary was the vehicle that made the deal CBA compliant. The Raptors thought that while he was in Toronto, Brown could be a connective piece to help the Raptors advance on the court. Advertisement Due to an off-and-on knee injury that ultimately required surgery in the offseason, Brown played just 35 games for the Raptors in 2024, all but one happening last season. In his absence — and the long-term absences, at various times, of Barnes, Quickley, Barrett, Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and others — the Raptors have had to throw out some lineups that strain credulity as legitimate NBA lineups. It’s possible the Raptors have unearthed some gems, with Ja’Kobe Walter and Ochai Agbaji, acquired either via the Siakam deal or in a subsequent deal, looking especially promising. Even still, it is hard to know what any individual performance has meant. “You’re always looking for continuity for your team and to have your guys available and healthy,” Rajaković said. “Only when you have that (do) you have the opportunity to see that and assess. If a backup player is in a starting role, that changes his role completely. He’s going against (a different) kind of talent. He’s playing different minutes. He’s playing a different role on the team.” They have not gotten that. Instead they have absorbed many, many losses. The Hawks loss gave the Raptors their second losing streak of 10 or more games of the year. With the defeat, the Raptors are 20-61 in 2024. Five teams, including the Raptors themselves, are on pace to finish with a worse record than that this season, while only two finished below that win total last season. By design or not, they have been one of the worst teams in the league, full stop. There are many hopes for 2025, but all of that losing leading to a high draft pick in June is near the top of the list. Forgetting any trades, the most important thing that happened to the Raptors in 2024 was some lottery balls not bouncing their way . Had they stayed at sixth or moved up in the lottery last spring, they would have kept their pick in June’s draft. They still would have owed one, potentially this year’s, to the San Antonio Spurs to complete the ill-conceived Poeltl trade . Instead, they lost their pick, with the eighth selection bound for Texas. Advertisement That medicine came with a vile aftertaste, too, but was necessary. Imagine a 2024-25 season that unfolded more or less like this one but without a guaranteed draft pick coming in June. Yes, the Raptors would have a player such as Portland’s Donovan Clingan or Minnesota’s Rob Dillingham, Memphis’s Zach Edey or Utah’s Cody Williams, and any of their rookie years would be interesting to monitor in Toronto right now. If healthy, they obviously would have had access to many, many NBA minutes. But that draft seemed short on superstar upside at the time, and nothing that has happened in the first 11 weeks of the season has made that look wrong. The 2025 draft has that sort of potential, which is exactly what the Raptors need — a player who can hit a high level quickly and help the team’s young core take a step forward with a financially sustainable payroll. That is the hope that will sustain the Raptors and their fans through the first half of 2025 and, perhaps, beyond. For now, all the Raptors can do is hope that this medicine will eventually cures what ails them. Notes • Brown checked in midway through the first quarter, and played in a bench-heavy lineup led by Barnes. He looked like a player feeling his way through his first game in a long time, but got to test out that knee and get his teammates excited at the same time. He got better as his outing went on, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes. THAT'S OUR COWBOY 🤠 pic.twitter.com/fm5k77X7gg — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 29, 2024 “I felt like myself. That was just the best part,” Brown said. “(I was) playing on one leg last year. I can move. Y’all seen me out there hustling, trying to give my all. It wasn’t like that last year.” Brown said he was expecting to be back a few weeks ago, but the post-surgery swelling did not dissipate fully. Putting another credible creator in bench groups should allow Barnes to act as a screener more often, while not putting the ball in the hands of the Raptors’ non-shooters at guard, Shead or Davion Mitchell, too often. • The Raptors turned the ball over on each of their first five possessions, and six of their first seven. A few of them were home run passes that would have led to easy layups, but still. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that sort of turnover spree to start a game. Advertisement The Raptors finished with 31 turnovers, one shy of a franchise record, with Barnes having a career-worst eight on his own. A few of them were ugly and/ or careless . “We’ve got to take it much more seriously than this,” Rajaković said. “This has been an ongoing thing with our turnovers this year. We’ve got to do a much better job of addressing it. I’ve gotta do a better job of keeping guys accountable to the standard. • Barnes’ jumper looks iffy from many spots on the floor, but his turnaround jumper from the outer paint has been silky of late. • This was probably the first Canadian-to-Canadian buzzer-beater in Raptors history. BONNNJOOOUUUUUURRRRR 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0p0tlprCft — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 30, 2024 • Walter has some good basketball sense for a rookie who played just one year in college. The Hawks aren’t the mid-2000’s Detroit Pistons, but he recognized a zone quickly and found Olynyk for a gimme . (Photo: Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press via AP)

Holiday stress can lead Alzheimer’s patients and those with dementia to go missingSecond Lieutenant Madison Marsh was crowned Miss America in 2024. (USAF via SWNS) By Dean Murray Miss America Madison Marsh - also a U.S. Air Force 2nd lieutenant - has reflected on her year in the role. A potential Top Gun-style aviator, with a coveted place to train as a fighter pilot, the 23-year-old has had a busy 12 months since winning the title in January. The Arkansas native has spent months traveling the country inspiring women and advocating for military careers while pursuing her Master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University . However, in an interview this month, Madison has reaffirmed her heart is in the Air Force. Speaking about her early dream to be an astronaut, it was the positive influence of the Air Force that eventually enamored her to the military branch. (Miriam Thurber/USAF via SWNS) Madison said: "The thing that started it all was actually space camp. And I got to see the stars for the very first time, like without any light pollution and started talking to these people about space camp ended up going. "When I met these astronauts, I had heard so much about the military and how almost all of them were retired military fighter pilots, test pilots and I knew that was something that I wanted to do. "You know, my goals have kind of changed over the past couple of years because my entire path in entering the military started because I wanted to be an astronaut, and now I no longer want to be an astronaut. "So it always left me with the question of why am I staying? Because if that dream has changed, what am I here for? And ultimately, it was because of the people that I've gotten to have. More from this section "People are the most important thing in my entire life. And the fact that the Air Force, wherever I've gone, I have found family and friends and people that are going to take care of me. 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, poses at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Miriam Thurber/USAF via SWNS) "And to be honest, I don't really feel like that in any other job or role that I've gotten to have. The Air Force and the people in it are always going to have my back. And I think that's such a beautiful thing. "When looking at a mission that is so much bigger than yourself and also having that family component of people that are always going to have your back." From a young age, Madison had a love of science and a dream to be a pilot and astronaut. Her parents encouraged her dreams, sending her to Space Camp when she was 13 years old where she met astronauts and fighter pilots. Around that time, she learned about the United States Air Force Academy. At 15 years old, she started flying lessons earning her pilot’s license two years later and then began to work towards her goal of becoming a cadet. (Miriam Thurber/USAF via SWNS) Madison was crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023, just before graduating from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and commissioning as an Air Force Officer. Currently, she is in a master’s degree program at the Harvard Kennedy School through the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Civilian Institution Programs. However, Miss America still has the option to attend undergraduate pilot training once she completes her studies. Madison also honors her mother Whitney, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2018, when Madison was just 17 years old. She dedicates her time in the spotlight to raising awareness about pancreatic cancer, both through the founding of the Whitney Marsh Foundation and through supporting the PanCAN charity's initiatives.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — For Gaza’s women, the hardships of life in the territory’s sprawling tent camps are compounded by the daily humiliation of never having privacy. Women struggle to dress modestly while crowded into tents with extended family members, including men, and with strangers only steps away in neighboring tents. Access to menstrual products is limited, so they cut up sheets or old clothes to use as pads. Makeshift toilets usually consist of only a hole in the sand surrounded by sheets dangling from a line, and these must be shared with dozens of other people. Alaa Hamami has dealt with the modesty issue by constantly wearing her prayer shawl, a black cloth that covers her head and upper body. “Our whole lives have become prayer clothes, even to the market we wear it,” said the young mother of three. “Dignity is gone.” Normally, she would wear the shawl only when performing her daily Muslim prayers. But with so many men around, she keeps it on all the time, even when sleeping — just in case an Israeli strike hits nearby in the night and she has to flee quickly, she said. Israel’s 14-month-old campaign in Gaza has driven more than 90% of its 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of them are now living in squalid camps of tents packed close together over large areas. Sewage runs into the streets , and food and water are hard to obtain. Winter is setting in. Families often wear the same clothes for weeks because they left clothing and many other belongings behind as they fled. Everyone in the camps searches daily for food, clean water and firewood. Women feel constantly exposed. Gaza has always been a conservative society. Most women wear the hijab, or head scarf, in the presence of men who are not immediate family. Matters of women’s health — pregnancy, menstruation and contraception — tend not to be discussed publicly. “Before we had a roof. Here it does not exist,” said Hamami, whose prayer shawl is torn and smudged with ash from cooking fires. “Here our entire lives have become exposed to the public. There is no privacy for women.” Wafaa Nasrallah, a displaced mother of two, says life in the camps makes even the simplest needs difficult, like getting period pads, which she cannot afford. She tried using pieces of cloth and even diapers, which have also increased in price. For a bathroom, she has a hole in the ground, surrounded by blankets propped up by sticks. The U.N. says more than 690,000 women and girls in Gaza require menstrual hygiene products, as well as clean water and toilets. Aid workers have been unable to meet demand, with supplies piling up at crossings from Israel. Stocks of hygiene kits have run out, and prices are exorbitant. Many women have to choose between buying pads and buying food and water. Doaa Hellis, a mother of three living in a camp, said she has torn up her old clothes to use for menstrual pads. “Wherever we find fabric, we tear it up and use it.” A packet of pads costs 45 shekels ($12), “and there is not even five shekels in the whole tent,” she said. Anera, a rights group active in Gaza, says some women use birth control pills to halt their periods. Others have experienced disruptions in their cycles because of the stress and trauma of repeated displacement. The terrible conditions pose real risks to women’s health, said Amal Seyam, the director of the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza, which provides supplies for women and surveys them about their experiences. She said some women have not changed clothes for 40 days. That and improvised cloth pads “will certainly create” skin diseases, diseases related to reproductive health and psychological conditions, she said. “Imagine what a woman in Gaza feels like, if she’s unable to control conditions related to hygiene and menstrual cycles,” Seyam said. Hellis remembered a time not so long ago, when being a woman felt more like a joy and less like a burden. “Women are now deprived of everything, no clothes, no bathroom. Their psychology is completely destroyed,” she said. Seyam said the center has tracked cases where girls have been married younger, before the age of 18, to escape the suffocating environment of their family’s tents. The war will “continue to cause a humanitarian disaster in every sense of the word. And women always pay the biggest price,” she said. Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, over half of them women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Its count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel launched its assault in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others. With large swaths of Gaza’s cities and towns leveled, women wrestle with reduced lives in their tents. Hamami can walk the length of her small tent in a few strides. She shares it with 13 other people from her extended family. During the war, she gave birth to a son, Ahmed, who is now 8 months old. Between caring for him and her two other children, washing her family’s laundry, cooking and waiting in line for water, she says there’s no time to care for herself. She has a few objects that remind her of what her life once was, including a powder compact she brought with her when she fled her home in the Shati camp of Gaza City. The makeup is now caked and crumbling. She managed to keep hold of a small mirror through four different displacements over the past year. It’s broken into two shards that she holds together every so often to catch a glimpse of her reflection. “Previously, I had a wardrobe that contained everything I could wish for,” she said. “We used to go out for a walk every day, go to wedding parties, go to parks, to malls, to buy everything we wanted." Women “lost their being and everything in this war," she said. "Women used to take care of themselves before the war. Now everything is destroyed.” Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.WOODRIDGE, Ill., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Haven Dispensary , recognized as Illinois' top-rated cannabis retailer, invites cannabis enthusiasts to its 2nd Annual "Danksgiving" event on Wednesday, November 27, from 9 PM to midnight, at Hollywood Blvd Cinema in Woodridge . High Haven's "Danksgiving" combines entertainment, community, and cannabis culture in one exciting night. Attendees will enjoy cult classic films, live DJ sets, exclusive vendor pop-ups, premium swag, and more. Following the main event, High Haven will also offer enticing holiday deals through Green Wednesday, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday at all three dispensary locations in Normal , Darien , and Elgin . Danksgiving Event Details: Where: Hollywood Blvd Cinema, Woodridge, IL When: Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 9 PM - Midnight Activities: Special screenings of Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and The Big Lebowski , vendor booths, VIP swag, live DJ, and brand-sponsored giveaways "Danksgiving" VIP guests will receive enhanced swag bags and premier seating, while general admission ticket holders can also look forward to special giveaways and engaging booths by community favorites like Woody's Glass Blowing and Horror House. Leading cannabis brands, including Nature's Grace and Wellness, Legacy, and Timeless, will be featured, along with the popular SESH Bus, courtesy of Cresco and Good News. "We're thrilled to host 'Danksgiving' again this year, offering an unforgettable evening for cannabis lovers to celebrate community, entertainment, and industry-leading products," said Jenna Botwinski, Marketing Manager at High Haven. "Beyond the event, we'll have incredible holiday deals to make sure our customers enjoy savings throughout the season." High Haven Holiday Deals For customers looking to enjoy premium cannabis products and accessories at a discount, High Haven is putting together the best cannabis deals in Illinois for the holiday seasons across all three store locations in Normal , Darien , and Elgin . Special offers will be available throughout the Thanksgiving season, including on Green Wednesday, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, making it the perfect time to stock up or try new products at exceptional prices. Green Wednesday: Early access to exclusive product bundles and discounts on top brands like Cresco, Nature's Grace, and Good News. Black Friday: Deep discounts on flower, concentrates, and accessories, including "Buy One, Get One" offers on select items. Cyber Monday: Online-only promotions featuring discounts up to 40% on edibles, tinctures, and vape products. Customers can visit High Haven to stock up on premium cannabis products and accessories during this prime holiday shopping season. Here are the participating locations: High Haven Dispensary – Darien, IL – THE GAS STATION High Haven Dispensary – Normal, IL – The Puff Palace High Haven Dispensary – Elgin, IL – The Record Store About High Haven Dispensary: High Haven Dispensary is Illinois' leading cannabis retailer, celebrated for its quality products, welcoming atmosphere, and commitment to cannabis culture. With locations in Normal, Darien, and Elgin, High Haven serves communities statewide with a wide selection of top cannabis brands, exclusive deals, and immersive experiences. For more information, visit highhavencannabis.com. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c15c362-dd79-4652-aa3b-6dfaaa2a8fdc https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/862eefcf-0d41-4696-b9f3-f7856f014191"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

President-elect Trump says Ukraine to 'possibly' receive less military aidFor a moment, Aaron Ramsdale looked in trouble. Ismaila Sarr , from inside his own half, took aim at the Southampton goal, and Ramsdale was left frantically scrambling back towards his own net. Even a few weeks ago, the sight of Sarr attempting to lob the opposition goalkeeper from his own half would have been unthinkable — it is a sign of his significantly raised confidence. Advertisement Had he executed it slightly better, he would have put Crystal Palace ahead against Southampton in the most audacious way, but his effort was a little too weak and skewed off-target. Yet the only reaction was encouragement; with no obvious alternative options, why not take the shot on? It revealed how things have changed in a peculiar season so far for Sarr and the rest of Palace’s forwards. Only Everton , Ipswich and Southampton have scored fewer than Palace’s 20 goals, but things have certainly been improving in recent games. A goalless draw away to Bournemouth on Boxing Day was a creditable result, even if Palace lacked threat, aside from a fizzing Eberechi Eze shot early in the second half. But before that, Palace had scored in each of their last seven games in all competitions, including two against Manchester City and three against Brighton & Hove Albion . Of the 20 goals Palace have scored in the league this season, 10 have come from their forwards, with Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta accounting for four each. The other two have come from Eze, whose second of the season was an instinctive, excellent finish to win Sunday’s game against Southampton 2-1 at Selhurst Park. Earlier this month, manager Oliver Glasner suggested Eze has been trying too hard . “Strikers get confidence when they score,” Glasner said before the win over Ipswich earlier this month. “For example, Eze. He had so many chances this season. All of a sudden he was (over)thinking.” But against Southampton, when it came to doing what comes naturally — latching onto a loose ball and lashing it towards goal — Eze came good. “He had many big chances, great saves from the keeper, missing by one inch, hitting the post,” Glasner said of Eze’s recent form after the match. “All of a sudden, it was in his head. He was suffering. Advertisement “I’m really pleased for him. He had an injury, now he’s playing with a quite swollen foot after an impact at Brighton. This will help him. “You can train with the striker, you can talk to them, hug them, kick them. The only thing that helps is that they need this goal they’re looking for and he got it today.” Palace were not especially convincing against Southampton but did create openings, including opportunities to score more than the two goals that won them the game — the other goal came from a Trevoh Chalobah header, which drew Palace level after going behind to a goal from Tyler Dibling . Mateta was exceptional in holding the ball up, fouled repeatedly by Jan Bednarek . He may only have four goals plus an assist this season, but Mateta has contributed more in his overall play. A contract extension option was triggered by the club last week , after renewal talks were at an impasse for some time, to take his deal until June 2027. Sarr has been boosted by familiarity and fitness, having never played as a No 10 before. “He understands more and more in this position,” Glasner said in his press conference before the draw with Bournemouth. “We showed him the space where he can show his strength.” “In the beginning, I often told him he wasn’t (playing as) the last line, he didn’t find the space in the pocket. Then we showed him. He had the open shape and could go face-to-face with the defender. Then the finish is maybe the confidence. But getting into the situations (to score) is what we showed him. “We wanted to have pace, a player who can make runs in behind. (To find) the perfect profile we are looking for, we can’t spend (a lot of) money so we have to find players with most of the profile, then it’s our job to teach them where they can show their skills and talent.” Sarr may not have got a goal against Southampton but he troubled their defence throughout, particularly in the first half, and linked well with Mateta, as well as playing in Daniel Munoz for an excellent chance in the second half. Advertisement He thrives against high defensive lines, using his pace and newfound awareness to move into the space and exploit it, and he has demonstrated the ability to capitalise on Mateta’s success in the air. Sarr can do little wrong after that brace against Brighton , but appreciation for his recent performances goes beyond that, based on his commitment, hard work and clinical finishing. Neither Eddie Nketiah nor Daichi Kamada stand much chance of dislodging him without dramatic contributions as substitutes. Palace will hope that the goal from Eze — who has scored six from outside the box in the Premier League in 2024, more than any player other than Chelsea ’s Cole Palmer (seven) — is the start of a resurgence for him. It is clear that a combination of Mateta, Sarr and Eze has become Glasner’s preference, even with Eze struggling to make his usual impact to date. Justin Devenny is perhaps the only possible danger to Eze’s position, but he will not start ahead of him. Sarr and Mateta — the latter with his remarkable transformation since the turn of the year — have shown that, with patience and the right circumstances, underwhelming form can be turned around in the blink of an eye. There is no reason why the same can’t be true for Eze. GO DEEPER Jean-Philippe Mateta: Reborn at Crystal Palace and propelling France towards Olympic gold There will clearly be tougher tests than Southampton, but there must now be hope that the trio can flourish together, perhaps even spurred on by further competition in the No 10 role from a January transfer window addition. (Top photo: Eze after scoring Palace’s winner against Southampton; by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)