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Horse and cattle owners see shortage of veterinarians willing to take the reins of large animal careLas Vegas (3-12) at New Orleans (5-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL odds: Raiders by 1 Against the spread: Raiders 6-9; Saints 6-9 Series record: Tied 7-7-1 Last meeting: Saints beat Raiders 24-0 on Oct. 30, 2023, at New Orleans. Last week: Raiders beat Jaguars 19-14 ; Saints lost to Packers 34-0 . Raiders offense: overall (28), rush (32), pass (14), scoring (29) Raiders defense: overall (12), rush (13), pass (9), scoring (27) Saints offense: overall (19), rush (13), pass (23), scoring (22) Saints defense: overall (30), rush (30), pass (28), scoring (T17) Turnover differential: Raiders minus-17; Saints minus-1 After his 11 catches for 99 yards last week, rookie tight end Brock Bowers has a team-leading 101 catches for a team-high 1,067 yards and four TDs. As one of few healthy skill players left on New Orleans' offense, tight end Juwan Johnson has become more prominent in the game plan. The former Penn State and Oregon receiver, who was converted to a tight end during his third NFL season (2022), now ranks second on the club in catches this season with 38 and yards receiving with 402, while his three TD catches are tied for third on the team. Bowers will test New Orleans' coverage scheme. Those Saints responsible for containing Bowers could include linebackers Demario Davis and Peter Werner, as well as safeties Will Harris and Tyrann Mathieu. Raiders guard Jordan Meredith (ankle), linebacker Kana'I Mauga (calf) and guard Jackson Powers-Jordan (quadriceps/ankle) were all listed on Las Vegas' injury report this week. The Saints listed nine players on their injury report this week, including QB Derek Carr (left hand), running back Alvin Kamara (groin), center Erik McCoy (elbow) and guard Lucas Patrick (knee), who all missed practice time. Those limited at practice this week included defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (eye), defensive end Payton Turner (ankle), receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest) and Johnson ( foot). The Raiders have won two of the past three, while the Saints have won four of the past six. The teams have met eight times previously in New Orleans, with the Saints winning four and the Raiders winning three. The clubs' first ever meeting was a 21-all tie in New Orleans in 1971 at the old Tulane Stadium. Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell completed 24 of 38 passes (63.2 percent) for 257 yards without an interception last week. He has not thrown an interception in three of his past four games. ... Bowers last week became the second rookie in NFL history (joining Odell Beckham Jr.) and the third TE ever (joining Zach Ertz and Evan Engram) with 10 or more catches in four games in a season. Bowers’ 1,067 yards receiving leads all NFL tight ends this season and he needs just 10 more yards to surpass Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 in 1961) for the most by rookie TE. ... Veteran RB Ameer Abdullah had season-high 85 scrimmage yards (47 receiving, 38 rushing) and a TD rushing last week, giving him a TD in two straight games. He needs 75 scrimmage yards for his third season with 500 (along with 2015 and 2017). ... RB Alexander Mattison had 56 scrimmage yards and a TD rushing in Week 16. He caught a TD pass in his only career game in New Orleans, when he was with Minnesota in 2022. ... DT Adam Butler has a tackle for loss in five of his past six games and at least half a sack in three of his past four. ... DE K’lavon Chaisson had a sack last week, giving him a tackle for loss in four straight games. ... S Isaiah Pola-Mao had nine tackles and the first two forced fumbles of his career last week. ... Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler passed for 153 yards and rushed for 28 yards in Week 16, but also was intercepted and lost a fumble. He is 0-4 as an NFL starter. ... Versatile veteran RB Alvin Kamara, who hopes to return from a groin injury before this season ends, needs 7 scrimmage yards for his fourth 1,500-yard season and needs 50 yards rushing for his first 1,000-yard rushing season. ... WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a TD catch in three of his past four home games. TE Foster Moreau had 91 catches, 1,107 yards receiving and 12 TD catches in 61 games with the Raiders from 2019 to 2022. Moreau has 25 catches for 335 yards and four TDs this season. ... DE Cameron Jordan has a tackle for loss in each of his past two games. ... DE Carl Granderson has sack in two of his past three home games. ... DT Khalen Saunders had career-high two passes defensed and a tackle for loss last week. ... DT Bryan Bresee, a 2023 first-round draft choice out of Clemson, has a career-best 7 1/2 sacks in 2024. ... DE Chase Young has at least half a sack and a tackle for loss in three of his past four home games. ... LB Demario Davis has 114 tackles in 2024 and is one of three players (along with Eric Kendricks and Bobby Wagner) with 100 or more tackles in each of the past eight seasons. ... S Tyrann Mathieu has 99 passes defensed. He's intercepted a pass in each of his past two games against the Raiders. Bowers is a good bet to have another big game against a defense that ranks 28th in the NFL against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Pep Guardiola says rivals are ‘taking the p*** out of us’ as Man City boss admits he is losing sleep over horror runNebraska’s sprawling football operation arrives in New York City ahead of Pinstripe Bowl
Kalel Mullings broke away for a 27-yard run, setting up the Wolverines (7-5, 5-4) at Ohio State's 17-yard line with two minutes remaining in the game. The drive stalled at the 3, and Zvada came on for the chip shot. Ohio State (10-2, 7-2, No. 2 CFP) got the ball back but couldn't move it, with Will Howard throwing incomplete on fourth down to seal the Wolverines' fourth straight win over their bitter rival. “You come to Michigan to play this game,” Zvada said. “So, it's the biggest one of the year. It's the one that everyone looks forward to, and to be able to come in here and take the win, it's amazing.” This Ohio State loss in the “The Game” might have been the toughest of the past four because Michigan was unranked and wrapping up a disappointing season. The Wolverines were also playing without a couple of top players: tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for this rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. Records — and point spreads, for that matter — rarely mean much when these two teams meet. “Our defense played outstanding," Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. "We held a high-powered offense to 10 points, 77 rushing yards.” The Buckeyes were off all afternoon. Howard was 19 for 33 for 175 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and Jayden Fielding missed two field-goal attempts. The run game was hardly there. “It's hard, man,” an emotional Howard said. “I really don’t have much right now. I do know we're a two-loss team. We're going to get into the playoffs and make a run. But, I mean, this one hurts.” Mullings was Michigan's primary weapon. He rushed for 116 yards and the Wolverines only touchdown of the game in the first half as neither team could get much going offensively on the frigid afternoon. “They made plays, we made plays, so as the game wore on you could definitely, slowly feel them starting to lose confidence, lose that energy and lose that faith,” Mullings said. Howard was clunky all day. In the first half he threw an interception from deep in his own territory that led to Michigan's touchdown. He went out for a play in the second quarter to be checked for a head injury. After the game, he said he was fine. “We're very disappointed, and never thought this would happen right here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We expected to win this game and go play in the Big Ten championship game.” After the game, Michigan players attempted to plant their flag at midfield and were confronted by Ohio State players. A skirmish ensued as both teams pushed and shoved before being separated. Michigan: Did just enough and caught Ohio State on an off day. Ohio State: It's inexplicable how badly the Buckeyes played in their biggest game of the season. They would need No. 4 Penn State and No. 10 Indiana to lose later Saturday in order to make it into the Big Ten title game next week. There has been talk all season about how many of the Ohio State team leaders, including receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive end Jack Sawyer, chose to return for another year instead of entering the NFL draft because they wanted to beat Michigan at least once. Those players were inconsolable after the game. One of them, linebacker Cody Simon, was asked how he felt. “I just can't speak that right now,” Simon said. “I feel like we let the whole Buckeye nation down.” Michigan will wait for a minor bowl game. Ohio State, assuming either Penn State or Indiana wins on Saturday, will see how the final College Football Playoff rankings shakeout on Dec. 8. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Pat Riley vehemently enters fray on Heat conjecture: ‘We are not trading Jimmy Butler’
RUTH SUNDERLAND: Labour must listen to business Before election, Reeves and Starmer went on charm offensive with business They still insist they want to unleash growth Labour needs to ditch the naïve socialist beliefs about economy By RUTH SUNDERLAND FOR THE DAILY MAIL Updated: 16:53 EST, 8 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Every minister's nightmare is to be upstaged in front of the media by an angry member of the public. Most people have never heard of James Murray from the Treasury, who is one of Rachel Reeves' henchmen. He was sent out last week to plug Labour's supposedly wondrous plans to overhaul business rates, by charging big warehouses more – though unless and until the proposals become reality, small retailers face bigger bills. Murray may have been expecting a smoothly choreographed PR tour, chatting to Labour-friendly shop owners when he was wheeled round Darlington, where the Treasury has a northern outpost, a few days ago. He was soon brought down to earth by Jane and Frederic Robineau, who own a popular patisserie in the town. They told him small business owners are 'crying around their kitchen tables' trying to figure out how to cope with big rises in National Insurance and the minimum wage. Fingers on the pulse: PM Keir Starmer with Chancellor Rachel Reeves The minister was perhaps fortunate the media had not turned out en masse to witness his humiliation, as the two-and-a-half train journey from London to County Durham seemed to have deterred most. But if his boss Reeves and her boss Sir Keir Starmer do not want to listen to the Robineaus, perhaps they might pay heed to Sir Rocco Forte, who also runs a family business, albeit a much larger one. Forte, as the Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday, has left the country. His departure for Rome was accompanied by a vitriolic parting shot at Labour. Although Forte says he has quit Britain primarily because his business interests are now mainly in Italy, he accuses Reeves of a 'disastrous budget' and dragging us back to the 1970s. He knows many others, he says, who are leaving too. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Cake shop owners lash out at Chancellor's right-hand man... I'm so angry, I want to ban Rachel Reeves from my grocer... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account The Budget, coupled with the relentless gloom emanating from Reeves and Starmer on the economy, has flattened entrepreneurs. Optimism among business leaders has fallen almost as low as the record depths plumbed at the start of Covid, according to the Institute of Directors. In other words, Labour is almost as bad for business sentiment as a deadly global pandemic. Not a good look. Read More Half of bosses 'to cut jobs and raise prices' after Labour's £25bn NI raid on employers Before the election, Reeves and Starmer went on a charm offensive with business. They still insist they want to unleash growth, and Reeves has put forward plans such as creating local authority pension megafunds, which she claims could unlock £80billion of investment in UK infrastructure, along with reforms to boost competitiveness in financial services. In themselves these ideas are sensible, but they are totally out of tune with the divisive, punitive and fearful atmosphere Starmer and Reeves have created, where entrepreneurs and families have been made to feel their only value to the government is as cash cows to be milked for tax. Individuals like Angela Rayner and colourfully-coiffed former transport secretary Louise Haigh come across as overgrown student protesters rather than mature politicians. This does nothing to burnish the international credentials of UK PLC, at a time when we ought to look like a more stable business environment than the crisis-hit France and Germany. Labour needs to ditch the naïve socialist belief that the only part of the economy that matters is the public sector and start listening to the wealth creators. The hostility towards business is adding daily to the pall of negativity. Time to grow up and govern. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: RUTH SUNDERLAND: Labour must listen to business e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.What misuse of ambulances means for patient safety
As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation?
Mikaela Shiffrin's bid for a milestone 100th alpine World Cup victory was on hold after the US superstar crashed out of the Killington giant slalom won by Sweden's Sara Hector on Saturday. Shiffrin, already the owner of the most World Cup victories in history, was poised to claim a once unimaginable century after topping the first-run times. She looked on course for the win when she crashed heavily in the second leg and Sweden's Olympic gold medaallist Hector emerged with the victory with a total of 1min 53.08sec. Shiffrin, whose mistake rounding a turn caused her to lose her balance and slide through a gate, lost one ski and careened into the catch-fencing. She was taken from the course on a sled, offering a wave to fans on her way. The extent of any possible injuries she might have suffered was not immediately known. "Mikaela took the sled down and is currently being evaluated," USA Ski & Snowboard said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. "More info to come, but take solace in the fact that she asked about her splits." Shiffrin, 29, already has 13 more World Cup wins than the most successful man, Ingemar Stenmark, and 17 more than the second woman, compatriot Lindsey Vonn. Needing three wins to hit 100 to start the season, she bagged her 98th and 99th career titles with back-to-back slalom wins in Levi, Finland, and Gurgl, Austria. That gave her a chance to complete her century in front of home fans in Killington, not far from where she attended Burke Mountain Academy as a youngster. Shiffrin -- who has won six slaloms at Killington but never a giant slalom -- was greeted by ecstatic cheers as she crossed the finish line of the first leg atop the times. She was 17-hundredths of a second ahead of Hector after the second sector of her second run. But her day ended not in celebration but in the 21st "Did Not Finish" in her 274 career starts. Vonn, who has just announced plans to come out of retirement, posted on social media: "Hope @MikaelaShiffrin is OK." Hector was delighted with her win, while sympathetic to Shiffrin. "I'm very happy, after going through a difficult period," she said. "Obviously, I'm very sad for Mikaela who was skiing so well. "I saw her fall. My heart goes out to her," she added. Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic finished second, 54-hundredths of a second behind Hector, and Switzerland's Camille Rast was third, 1.05 seconds back. The women are scheduled to race a slalom on Sunday. bbLSU-Oklahoma score: Live updates, analysis from the regular-season finale in Tiger StadiumReady Capital Corporation Declares Fourth Quarter 2024 Dividends
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Myanmar’s desperate military junta is ramping up attacks on villages that have fallen to opposition groups, carrying out beheadings, gang rapes and torture, with women, children and the elderly among the victims, the U.N. independent human rights investigator for Myanmar said in a new report. Thomas Andrews, a former U.S. congressman from Maine, said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly circulated Friday that the junta has responded to military defeats and the loss of territory by using sophisticated weapons against civilians and seeking to destroy towns that it cannot control. Calling Myanmar “an invisible crisis” because the world’s attention is focused elsewhere, he said, “Escalating atrocities against the people of Myanmar are being enabled by governments that allow, or actively support, the transfer of weapons, weapons materials, and jet fuel to junta forces.” Andrews didn’t name the governments. But he praised Singapore for cracking down on weapons transfers that has led to a 90% reduction by Singapore-registered companies, and said sanctions imposed by the United States on junta-controlled, state-owned banks have disrupted military supply chains. RELATED COVERAGE Myanmar airstrikes indiscriminately target civilians a rights group says in a new report Myanmar’s conflict-torn Rakhine state could face an imminent acute famine, UN report warns Head of Myanmar’s military government visits close ally China for the first time since taking power The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar lamented, however, that their actions remain an exception. He called on all countries to address Myanmar’s “devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis” by stopping the flow of weapons to the junta, stepping up humanitarian aid to millions in need, and supporting efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for human rights violations. Myanmar is racked by violence that began when the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests. That triggered armed resistance and combat across the country, with the military increasingly using airstrikes to counter the opposition and secure territory. The army is on the defensive against ethnic militias in much of Myanmar as well as hundreds of armed guerrilla groups collectively called the People’s Defense Forces, formed to fight to restore democracy. The military has said in the past that it only attacks legitimate targets of war and has accused the resistance forces of being terrorists. Andrews called the military junta’s plan to hold an election in late 2025 “a farcical parody” and “thinly veiled attempt to create an impression of legitimacy and relieve international pressure.” He warned, “Not only is this fraudulent attempt outrageous, it is dangerous, as it could lead to even greater levels of instability and violence.” He ticked off grim statistics: Over 3.1 million people are displaced by conflict and the junta’s human rights violations, and 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 13.3 million facing emergency levels of food insecurity. He said the junta’s military forces have killed more than 5,800 civilians, destroyed over 100,000 homes and other civilian structures, and have kept more than 21,000 political prisoners languishing behind bars. “Junta troops have killed civilians in ground assaults, including the mass killing of individuals already in the custody of junta forces,” Andrews said. “Victims have been tortured, raped and beheaded, and their bodies burned.” Andrews, a human rights fellow at Yale Law School who was appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, said the situation was most “desperate and dangerous” in Rakhine state in western Myanmar. Last November, the Arakan Army, which is seeking autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, began an offensive against the military in Rakhine and has gained control of more than half of its townships . The Arakan Army, which is the well-armed wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, is also a member of the armed ethnic group alliance trying to topple the military. In the report, Andrews said: “The Arakan Army has been implicated in grave human rights abuses, including indiscriminate attacks, killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrests.” He also said the military has responded to the Arakan Army’s steady losses in Rakhine by attacking civilians and raising tensions between the ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has long considered the Rohingya Muslim minority to be “Bengalis” from Bangladesh even though their families have lived in the country for generations. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982. In August 2017, attacks by a Rohingya insurgent group on Myanmar security personnel triggered a brutal campaign by the military, which drove at least 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh. The military is accused of mass rape, killings and burning thousands of homes. Meanwhile, the military junta has conscripted thousands of Rohingya men and deployed them to the front lines to fight the Arakan Army, he said. And Rohingya militant groups have “cynically aligned with the junta” and committed human rights abuses against the ethnic Rakhine population. “Hundreds of thousands of people in Rakhine State are completely cut off from humanitarian assistance and threatened by exposure, starvation and disease,” Andrews warned. “Failure to act immediately to provide emergency humanitarian aid will be a death sentence for untold numbers of innocent men, women and children.” A month ago, he said, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh where 1 million Rohingya refugees live, called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a conference with all key players in the Rohingya crisis. Yunus has pressed for their repatriation to Myanmar. Andrews urged Guterres to call a conference that could help “seize the attention of a distracted world and mobilize the resources and action necessary to save the many lives that hang in the balance.”
Gilbert Arenas-Melli Monaco (via: youtube.com) Gilbert Arenas , known for his NBA success and lavish lifestyle, is used to giving extravagant gifts. But this Christmas, the tables were turned when his girlfriend, Melli Monaco , surprised him with a gift he’d never forget. What started as a curious call soon became a jaw-dropping moment in Arenas ' driveway, setting the stage for an unforgettable holiday surprise. A Christmas surprise leaving Arenas speechless Gilbert Arenas Talks About His Engagement to @MelliMonaco Gilbert Arenas, the former NBA All-Star who earned over $160 million during his career, is no stranger to showering his loved ones with lavish gifts. But this Christmas, the tables turned when his girlfriend, Melli Monaco , took on the role of the gift-giver in a big way. On a bright Wednesday afternoon, Monaco called Arenas and his kids outside, sparking curiosity for what was to come. In the driveway stood a jaw-dropping surprise, a custom Wolf King GT scooter , with Arenas' name proudly emblazoned on the front. Clearly impressed, Arenas wasted no time expressing his gratitude with a playful remark. Then, with excitement written all over his face, he jumped on the scooter and zoomed down the street, eager to test out his new ride. It was a Christmas gift that gave the former NBA star an unforgettable experience and an epic ride. "You trying to get married," Arenas told Monaco. (via: Sportskeeda) Arenas and Monaco, together for just over a year, are already engaged after he proposed during a summer trip to France. Monaco, a content creator and host of The Blind Pineapple , has also built a strong social media following with 420,000 Instagram followers. This Christmas, Monaco may have just topped all gift-giving with a scooter that left Arenas speechless—proof that the best present in their house was all hers. Also Read: Spurs' emotional gesture leaves ROY favorite Stephon Castle's mom in tears Melli Monaco is key part of Gilbert Arenas' life Melli Monaco and Gilbert Arenas have formed a bond that goes far beyond romance. Over the years, Monaco has become a cornerstone in Arenas' life and a beloved figure to his four children, two boys and two girls from a previous relationship. While she may not be their biological mother, Monaco's nurturing presence is felt deeply as she encourages them to follow their own paths with love and care. This month, Monaco took to social media to celebrate Arenas' youngest child, Hamiley, who is quickly making a name for herself as a high school freshman. Despite having a basketball game on her birthday, Hamiley delivered an impressive performance on the court, making the day even more special and showcasing her growing talent. "Happy birthday @hamileyarenas0 She went crazy 40points 16rebounds" Arenas' home is clearly filled with rising basketball stars, and his oldest son, Alijah, is leading the charge. Alijah, who’s about to finish high school, made a bold decision earlier this year to reclassify from the class of 2026 to 2025. This move placed him among the top talent in his new senior class, currently ranked No. 15 in ESPN's top 100. As he nears the end of high school, fans are eagerly awaiting his next move, with no word yet on where he plans to play next season.
The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum is held in Madrid, Spain on December 12, 2024. Photo: Wang Wenwen/GT Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum held in Madrid, Spain. Xi pointed out that since its establishment 10 years ago, the forum has adhered to advocating multilateralism, conducted in-depth discussions on global governance issues, actively shared China's propositions, and played a positive role in enhancing exchanges and understanding between China and countries worldwide, Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi emphasized that in a world marked by intertwined changes and turmoil, peace and development remain the shared aspirations of all peoples. China stands ready to work with other countries in the spirit of "promoting global solidarity," upholding fairness and justice to safeguard global peace and stability, adhering to win-win cooperation to promote sustainable global development, and committing to inclusiveness and mutual learning to advance human civilization to new heights, Xi said. The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum was held in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday and Thursday under the theme "Collective Action for One Future." In his opening remarks, Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that facing the future, all parties should take practical actions to strengthen unity and cooperation, work together to respond to global challenges, defend and practice true multilateralism, stand on the right side of history, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in the spirit of "promoting global solidarity," and contribute to promoting world peace, stability and prosperity. Xue Lan, dean of the Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University who was present at the forum, noted that Xi's letter shows that the Chinese government has utmost sincerity in cooperating with the international community to cope with challenges. "China has accumulated enough experience to fully understand the problems faced by today's world. The key is consensus and the will to solve the problems. It is easier for countries to make a statement on international occasions, but actions matter the most - that's why the theme of this year's forum is significant," Xue told the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum. More than 200 participants from the political, academic, and business circles in over 50 countries from Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Oceania, including over 50 former heads of state, heads of government, and leaders of international organizations, and over 90 internationally renowned experts, scholars, and business leaders attended the forum. Inaugurated in 2014, the Imperial Springs International Forum is now jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid. This year's forum mainly focused on the following topics: global strategic stability, financing for development, enhancing global cooperation, traditional and non-traditional challenges to global security, tackling challenges facing the world economy, United Nations Summit of the Future, the Future of Global Governance, AI and green technology, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. The Imperial Springs International Forum has been held for eight consecutive sessions, and has become a new type of high-end platform for China to conduct in-depth communication with the rest of the world. This year was the first time that the forum has been held abroad. Josipovic, the former president of Croatia, said that this change is significant as it shows the will to cooperate is even more intensive. Csaba Korosi, a Hungarian diplomat who served as president of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, was also a participant of the forum. He believes that the zero-sum game mentality prevailing in the world is starting to overshadow the necessity of global cooperation on global common goods, and the Imperial Springs International Forum with this year's theme of "Collective Action for One Future" provides an inspiring platform to discuss how countries can tackle it. "The result is a lose-lose game. So it cannot be an alternative for us. It cannot be an acceptable outcome for us. Our responsibility is the collective action, where we can still have a kind of race, but where we have to find the ways of cooperation," Korosi told the Global Times. Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former minister of foreign affairs of Ecuador, told the Global Times that cooperation fits into today's world. "When you think about the security challenges that the world faces, the conflicts that we are experiencing, the environmental crisis, the crisis of poverty and inequalities, all of these challenges require more cooperation in a multilateral system, and that's what it's all about at the end." She expressed appreciation for China's efforts to gather global voices. "China has shown that the voices of the world are important, bringing a community of current and former leaders to discuss the challenges of our times to come up with innovative ideas and solutions. It's really valued," she noted.
To Purify The Air In Your Home, This Blueair Purifier Costs Only $69 During Black FridayHigh energy bills are the bane of nearly everyone's existence because we all need power (and lights ... and heat and cooling). Even if you have some number of solar panels on your roof, odds are you still get an energy bill each month. Even for consumers with whole-house solar, conserving energy can help stretch your saved-up sunlight hours even further. Energy prices have increased every year since 2019, per Statista, and while the increases were smaller in 2024 than in previous years, no one wants to spend more money on their power bill. So how can you cut down on the costs without sacrificing, say, being able to see at night or enjoying a climate-controlled house? The answer is simpler and likely more affordable than you might think. Many inexpensive smart home devices make life easier , but there's also something to be said for the energy savings. Whether you build out an entire smart home or pick and choose some energy-conserving tools for your setup, being strategic can help you save money and ease pressure off the power grid. Although there are plenty of ways to save money on your energy bills, like being more conservative with your shower duration or washing clothes with cold water, using energy-saving devices is probably more palatable. Tracking your energy bill is the best way to determine the impact of your energy conservation efforts, and there are plenty of devices that can help in the endeavor. Plus, most of them are relatively affordable. It's hard to predict exactly how much energy you'll save with a specific device, and there are no guarantees. Still, understanding your usage is the first step toward saving electricity and money. An energy monitor is one way to work toward cutting down your power bill. Once you know which appliances use or waste the most energy, you can use them less or consider replacing energy-draining models with certified energy savers. An energy monitor measures the amount of energy used by either a device or a circuit. The tool might plug into the wall, connect to your utility meter, or rely on data from your utility provider to report findings. Some utility companies offer devices and monitoring that help you keep track of energy usage. For example, PG&E offers consumers a tool called Stream My Data , which monitors real-time energy usage in your home and even shows the costs as they occur. Not every consumer can use a utility-provided tool, however, because requirements can include specific rate schedules and meter types. The alternative to your utility company's tool is an energy monitor that's separate from your electric meter. Some home energy monitors are relatively simple, like a smart plug that detects energy usage on a per-outlet basis. Those monitors start at around $20, while others range up to around $300. Our favorite home energy monitors are also compatible with your smart assistant, making it easier to track your usage and adjust your habits. [Featured image by LindaInpijn via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0 ] No one wants to be too hot or too cold at home, but paying more for energy is also not ideal. With a smart thermostat, you can make adjustments that may save you money in all seasons. A smart thermostat not only controls your home's temperature but is also programmable and functions remotely. Most smart thermostats are compatible with voice assistant tools, and smartphone or tablet apps also give you remote control. With a smart thermostat, you can set your home to a specific heating or cooling schedule, turn on the HVAC while you're away from home, and track your usage and costs. In all, a smart thermostat can save you money while upgrading the looks and functionality of your living space . Most old-school thermostats aren't much to look at, so upgrading the display is an additional perk to improving your energy usage habits. Eye-catching lighting features might even help inspire (or mock) you to turn the thermostat down a bit more. Choosing a thermostat depends on various factors, like what kind of HVAC system you have, how much you want to spend, and what smart home technology you already use. Brands like Amazon and Google's Nest make smart thermostats and other smart devices for your entire home. For example, an Amazon Smart Thermostat is about $80 on Amazon and can be voice-controlled. With the right programming, you can even tell Alexa when you're leaving the house to begin a specific heating or cooling setting. Home sensors are one way to take your home from basic to super-smart. While many smart devices can talk to one another (such as the thermostat connecting to Alexa), sensors allow your home to glean more information about what's happening and then make adjustments that save energy. Many popular home automation systems come with sensors and other tools that help reduce your energy usage and make life more convenient, or you can buy them separately. There are tons of ways to use home sensors to save energy. For example, sensors placed around your home can detect temperature, moisture, smoke, and more, and correlate with specific processes you program into your smart device. Motion sensors are one way to automate your entire home, largely because you can customize chain reactions based on variables. For example, a sensor can detect when a window is left open and delay the HVAC system from kicking on until someone closes it. Or, a sensor could tell you when the door is open, with an alert that doesn't shut off until the door is closed. These types of sensors can help reduce strain on (and energy usage of) your HVAC system, but there are other ways they can save energy, too. For example, a motion sensor can turn lights on when you enter a room and shut them off once you leave. Kasa Smart's Wi-Fi motion sensor switch costs around $30 and offers a hands-free way to manage indoor lighting. Putting blinds on your windows is a simple and effective way to save energy in cooling or heating costs, depending on the season and weather. Smart blinds could conserve energy even more because they can be programmed to adjust at various times of day. Beyond set schedules for the opening and closing of blinds, you can also use a voice assistant to adjust the blinds as needed. Smart blinds are also an affordable yet luxurious-looking way to cut your energy use and, therefore, your power bill. Window coverings can reduce heat gain by around 45% in the summer, so you might be able to cut your cooling costs in the summer. During winter, opening the blinds to allow sunlight in can help warm up a room, reducing your heating costs, too. Curtains, on the other hand, can help with insulation, but blocking sunlight can also mean you'll use more energy for lighting than heating and cooling. The energy savings from installing blinds might not drastically lower your power bill, but you'll likely notice a near-immediate difference in how well your home retains its temperature. For maximum energy savings, consider other window treatments like curtains or even exterior awnings; an exterior awning can drop your heat gain up to 77% on windows that face west. Check your compass, then try your hand at installing window treatments and see how it impacts your power bill. If your home takes a lot of energy to heat and cool, you might have more issues at play than what technology you use. However, there are some tools to help determine where the energy loss is happening so that you can start remedying the issue. One tool I've used is a heat sensor that shows the relative temperatures of whatever you point it at. A thermal camera is fun to play with and can also reveal energy secrets. With our thermal camera, we can see areas around our doors and windows that are cooler than the surrounding area. Those cold spots indicate energy loss because of air seepage, so insulating those areas with weather stripping could save both energy and money. Infrared cameras aren't cheap, so shop around before investing in this piece of technology. However, if a $200 device helps you figure out where to insulate your home or pinpoints which windows need replacing, it's well worth the price tag. Some infrared or thermal imaging cameras also show where moisture is coming into your home, which helps you identify energy leaks and reveal potential health risks like mold. The most convenient way to use a thermal imaging camera is finding one that plugs into your device. For iPhones, check out a device like the Topdon Thermal Camera for about $230. For Android, the plug-and-play Hti-Xintai Thermal Camera might be a good option at around $180. There are a few things you need to know before buying smart light bulbs – like the fact that they are more expensive upfront than standard LED light bulbs. However, smart light bulbs are often feature-packed and can do more than save energy. Smart bulbs are generally programmable, so you can set routines where the lights turn on, dim, and turn off at specific times. With smart sensors, you can also set your lights to turn on or off based on activity in certain areas. Plus, you can schedule vacation programs that make it look like someone is home when you're away. In addition to using LEDs, which use less energy than incandescent bulbs, smart light bulbs tend to last longer than standard bulbs, too. An LED bulb can last up to 25 times as long as an incandescent bulb, and for most consumers, that more than justifies the higher upfront price. Many brands sell smart light bulbs, and Amazon Basics' smart bulbs are around $10 each and come equipped with color-changing, dimming, and preset features. You can also sync your light bulbs with Alexa to control the settings via voice command or the app. Since smart light bulbs use LED tech, they could save you around $225 per year in energy costs. Plus, forgetting to turn the lights off will be a thing of the past if you set a program for your bulbs. Being able to turn them off remotely helps with savings, too. Dimmer switches might not be the most exciting energy-saving technology, but they are a logical and money-saving option. While some areas of your home probably benefit from super-bright lighting, other spots could use dimmer lights and still be functional. A dimmer switch means you don't have to choose between on or off settings, and it allows you to use less energy with lighting that adapts to your needs. Away modes, remote controls, and fading on/off settings are just a few features of popular dimmer switches. In combination with smart bulbs, dimmer switches can customize your home lighting even more. But even on its own, a dimmer switch gives you more control over the lighting and how much energy it consumes. A dimmer reduces the energy flowing to your light bulb, which means you can cut usage and costs by dialing down. An entire bank of dimmed lights might take the same amount of energy as a single bulb at full power, but with a better overall ambiance. A dimmer switch from Amazon Basics costs about $21, although it's only compatible with the Alexa smart home system. Kasa Smart's dimmer switches , on the other hand, work with Google Home, too, and cost around $23 each. Although most energy-saving devices are easy to use, there are some technical requirements involved in installing dimmer switches. Make sure you read up on how to install them or consider hiring a professional for the job. Back in the day, consumers would use power strips — aka surge protectors — as a method of protecting their computers and other electric devices from potential power surges. However, power strips also help cut off the power drainage from various devices and appliances when you're not using them, but they're still plugged in. Vampire appliances, as they are known due to their passive energy drain when turned off, can create a baseline energy usage that you might not even notice on your bill. Cutting that down could reduce your energy costs across the board, and it's simple enough to implement some smart tech strategies to get rid of these vampires. Using power strips for your computer, device chargers, TV, and gaming system ensures that these devices aren't drawing power while turned off. Flipping the switch cuts off power, so nothing is left in standby mode when you don't need it — like when you're heading to bed or out of town. While choosing Energy-Star-rated appliances is a smart first step, power strips and even smart plugs can help cut off those vampire devices before they have a chance to drive up your energy bill. While the Anker surge protector/power strips I bought for my household are no longer available on Amazon, a newer version is available for about $35 and includes 12 outlets, one USB-C charging port, and two USB charging ports (my apparently retired version has USB only). Similar to power strips, smart plugs can cut off your energy-sucking vampire appliances and devices, but without the need to flip a switch. With smart plugs, you can tell your voice assistant to turn off power or set a schedule so certain outlets shut off when you're normally finished using those devices. Stopping idle devices from drawing power when you don't need them can go a long way toward reducing your power bill. There are also many creative uses for smart plugs , from monitoring your non-smart appliances remotely to enforcing screen time limits for kids to ensuring all your household's devices are charged when needed. Smart plugs can also replace a power strip and are handy for spots where it's hard to manually unplug or flip a switch. Make sure to read your smart plugs' ratings, however, because you may not be able to plug a high-power appliance, like a refrigerator, into a smart plug and run it because of the power load limits. I like Kasa Smart's plugs . They work with Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT — plus, each is only around $5 on Amazon. These plugs are rated for 15 AMPs, which might be enough to handle a refrigerator at peak usage, but Kasa Smart specifies they are only for appliances up to 12 AMPs. Either way, read the fine print before buying smart plugs for your bigger appliances to avoid any unfortunate surprises when you plug them in. Home solar panels may not always be the best choice due to costs, space constraints, and the amount of sun your roof gets. Even if you have solar panels on your home, it's still possible to receive high energy bills . However, portable solar chargers can help you avoid running up the electric bill at home while keeping all your essential devices charged. Even a handheld solar-powered phone charger can keep you from needing to plug your phone into the wall, especially if you have a long commute during daylight hours. With larger solar panels, you may be able to power other devices at home or charge smaller appliances like hair trimmers, milk frothers, and even blenders. I find battery backup invaluable when we get inclement weather, since our power often goes out during heavy rain or snow. Adding solar panels provides an off-grid way to add more usage hours without relying on your local electrical authority. Although I wound up with an off-brand portable power station thanks to a sale I couldn't pass up, Jackery's solar generator bundle had been on my wish list for a long time. Jackery's 200W solar panel and 1,070Wh capacity portable power station seemed more than sufficient for my household's electronic usage (I get around seven hours of PC run time — with two monitors — on a 518-watt system), but results will vary based on how much sun your panels can collect.
Las Vegas (3-12) at New Orleans (5-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL odds: Raiders by 1 Against the spread: Raiders 6-9; Saints 6-9 Series record: Tied 7-7-1 Last meeting: Saints beat Raiders 24-0 on Oct. 30, 2023, at New Orleans. Last week: Raiders beat Jaguars 19-14 ; Saints lost to Packers 34-0 . Raiders offense: overall (28), rush (32), pass (14), scoring (29) Raiders defense: overall (12), rush (13), pass (9), scoring (27) Saints offense: overall (19), rush (13), pass (23), scoring (22) Saints defense: overall (30), rush (30), pass (28), scoring (T17) Turnover differential: Raiders minus-17; Saints minus-1 After his 11 catches for 99 yards last week, rookie tight end Brock Bowers has a team-leading 101 catches for a team-high 1,067 yards and four TDs. As one of few healthy skill players left on New Orleans' offense, tight end Juwan Johnson has become more prominent in the game plan. The former Penn State and Oregon receiver, who was converted to a tight end during his third NFL season (2022), now ranks second on the club in catches this season with 38 and yards receiving with 402, while his three TD catches are tied for third on the team. Bowers will test New Orleans' coverage scheme. Those Saints responsible for containing Bowers could include linebackers Demario Davis and Peter Werner, as well as safeties Will Harris and Tyrann Mathieu. Raiders guard Jordan Meredith (ankle), linebacker Kana'I Mauga (calf) and guard Jackson Powers-Jordan (quadriceps/ankle) were all listed on Las Vegas' injury report this week. The Saints listed nine players on their injury report this week, including QB Derek Carr (left hand), running back Alvin Kamara (groin), center Erik McCoy (elbow) and guard Lucas Patrick (knee), who all missed practice time. Those limited at practice this week included defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (eye), defensive end Payton Turner (ankle), receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest) and Johnson ( foot). The Raiders have won two of the past three, while the Saints have won four of the past six. The teams have met eight times previously in New Orleans, with the Saints winning four and the Raiders winning three. The clubs' first ever meeting was a 21-all tie in New Orleans in 1971 at the old Tulane Stadium. Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell completed 24 of 38 passes (63.2 percent) for 257 yards without an interception last week. He has not thrown an interception in three of his past four games. ... Bowers last week became the second rookie in NFL history (joining Odell Beckham Jr.) and the third TE ever (joining Zach Ertz and Evan Engram) with 10 or more catches in four games in a season. Bowers’ 1,067 yards receiving leads all NFL tight ends this season and he needs just 10 more yards to surpass Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 in 1961) for the most by rookie TE. ... Veteran RB Ameer Abdullah had season-high 85 scrimmage yards (47 receiving, 38 rushing) and a TD rushing last week, giving him a TD in two straight games. He needs 75 scrimmage yards for his third season with 500 (along with 2015 and 2017). ... RB Alexander Mattison had 56 scrimmage yards and a TD rushing in Week 16. He caught a TD pass in his only career game in New Orleans, when he was with Minnesota in 2022. ... DT Adam Butler has a tackle for loss in five of his past six games and at least half a sack in three of his past four. ... DE K’lavon Chaisson had a sack last week, giving him a tackle for loss in four straight games. ... S Isaiah Pola-Mao had nine tackles and the first two forced fumbles of his career last week. ... Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler passed for 153 yards and rushed for 28 yards in Week 16, but also was intercepted and lost a fumble. He is 0-4 as an NFL starter. ... Versatile veteran RB Alvin Kamara, who hopes to return from a groin injury before this season ends, needs 7 scrimmage yards for his fourth 1,500-yard season and needs 50 yards rushing for his first 1,000-yard rushing season. ... WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a TD catch in three of his past four home games. TE Foster Moreau had 91 catches, 1,107 yards receiving and 12 TD catches in 61 games with the Raiders from 2019 to 2022. Moreau has 25 catches for 335 yards and four TDs this season. ... DE Cameron Jordan has a tackle for loss in each of his past two games. ... DE Carl Granderson has sack in two of his past three home games. ... DT Khalen Saunders had career-high two passes defensed and a tackle for loss last week. ... DT Bryan Bresee, a 2023 first-round draft choice out of Clemson, has a career-best 7 1/2 sacks in 2024. ... DE Chase Young has at least half a sack and a tackle for loss in three of his past four home games. ... LB Demario Davis has 114 tackles in 2024 and is one of three players (along with Eric Kendricks and Bobby Wagner) with 100 or more tackles in each of the past eight seasons. ... S Tyrann Mathieu has 99 passes defensed. He's intercepted a pass in each of his past two games against the Raiders. Bowers is a good bet to have another big game against a defense that ranks 28th in the NFL against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLIndiana aims to limit turnovers vs. Minnesota