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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coach Brian Callahan is sticking with Mason Rudolph at quarterback for a second straight game to see if the Tennessee Titans can build on the veteran who's played in four of their highest scoring games this season. Callahan said Tuesday that he thinks Rudolph earned another chance to play despite a 38-30 loss to Indianapolis. “Obviously the one interception was probably his only really poor moment," Callahan said. "The rest of it was pretty well executed on his part and operated in a drop-back passing game and had to fight his way back through it. And it was good to see, so we’ll let him take another crack at it.” Rudolph is 2-4 in the six games he's played in this season. That includes coming in for an injured Will Levis on Sept. 30 in a 31-12 win at Miami , and he tried to rally the Titans in a turnover-plagued 37-27 loss to Cincinnati before being selected as the starter last week. Rudolph, who is in Tennessee on a one-year deal, was 23 of 34 for 252 yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. One went off running back Tony Pollard's hands with the final pick coming on the last play of the game after Rudolph led a rally from a 38-7 deficit in the final 18 minutes. Rudolph's ability to avoid sacks is a key piece of sticking with him over Levis, the 33rd pick overall in the 2023 draft. The quarterbacks' stats are similar with Rudolph having eight TD passes and eight interceptions, completing 63.8% of his passes with a 78.8 passer rating. That’s similar to Levis completing 63.7% of his passes with 12 TD passes and 12 interceptions. But Levis has been sacked 40 times compared to just seven for Rudolph. “He’s got the ability to avoid the negative play when it comes to sacks," Callahan said of Rudolph. “He gets the ball out. He knows where to go with it quickly.” That means Rudolph gets a chance Sunday when the Titans (3-12) visit the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) to see if he can guide the offense to more than the six points Levis managed against their AFC South rival in a 10-6 loss on Dec. 8 in Nashville. Rudolph said he knows he put the Titans defense in a bad spot with some turnovers. "I’m ready to prove that I can take care of the ball better and keep scoring points,” Rudolph said. The Titans held a walk-through Tuesday with Callahan giving the team Wednesday off for Christmas. An injury report won't be released until Wednesday, and Callahan said it'll likely be lengthy. RG Dillon Radunz, who was knocked out of last week's game with an injury, will be on that report. Lineman Jaelyn Duncan, who hurt a hamstring badly enough early in his first start at right tackle Oct. 20 that he wound up on injured reserve , will be available. Callahan said he is excited to see Duncan play. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTOM UTLEY: The infuriating reason every Christmas at the Utleys begins with smiles... and ends with blood on the carpet By TOM UTLEY FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 23:22 GMT, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 23:40 GMT, 5 December 2024 e-mail View comments The numbers get bigger every year, as our ever-growing family squashes round the table in a house that comfortably seats only six. Otherwise, it’s always the same in the Utley household, as Christmas Day draws to its close. After weeks of planning and shopping for presents and food, the lunchtime banquet that has kept my wife busy since the first glimmer of dawn is over at last, having stretched well into the evening. The plates and the worst of the debris have been cleared away. Now that blissful moment arrives when the youngest, exhausted after all the excitement, are bathed and tucked up in the travel-cots and camp beds that cover every square inch of spare floor space upstairs. At long last we adults, bloated and slightly sozzled, can top up our glasses, put our feet up in front of the telly and enjoy a little peace. Except we never can. For every Christmas, without fail, this is the moment a blasted son or a daughter-in-law chooses to bang on the table and issue the order: ‘OK, let’s play a game!’ Spoilsport At this, every fibre of my being groans. But all my pleas for mercy are overruled. ‘Come on, Dad. Don’t be a spoilsport. We need you to make up our team.’ Holidays and celebration concept -multi generations family having christmas dinner at home, drinking red wine and clinking glasses. No game played by the Utleys at Christmas, when we’re all full of turkey and booze, can ever be described as civilised, writes Tom Utley (Stock photo) This week Matter said that 63 per cent of families at Christmas have taken part in an initially friendly board game that soon became much less so (Stock photo) It’s not that I have any fundamental objection to the parlour and board games beloved of our four sons and their other halves. Indeed, I quite enjoy a civilised game of Charades , Boggle, Scrabble, Articulate or even Trivial Pursuit (though only when I win). What’s more, I’m proud to say that I was president of the chess club at school. It’s just that no game played by the Utleys at Christmas, when we’re all full of turkey and booze, can ever be described as civilised. The trouble is that apart from Mrs U, every one of my immediate family is fiercely competitive. (If you’re wondering where they get it from, I’m ashamed to say that I gave up playing chess after son number two started beating me; he was only eight at the time, and I just couldn’t bear the humiliation.) This means that whichever game our young insist on playing, it is sure to spark bitter recriminations and wild allegations of cheating, with all of us accusing our opponents of making up the rules as they go along. A day that began with smiles all round, and speeches of rapturous thanks for presents of novelty socks that we will never wear, is all but guaranteed to end with blood on the carpet. This week, a survey confirms that in that respect, my lot are far from unique. Having questioned more than 2,000 Britons, researchers commissioned by Mattel , the toy and games company, find that 63 per cent of us have taken part in an initially friendly board game that soon became much less so. Even more, 73 per cent, admit that games bring out their competitive side, with 23 per cent describing themselves as ‘extremely competitive’. Meanwhile, 46 per cent complain of cheating by friends or relatives, with more than a third saying that arguments have led to games being abandoned altogether. 73 per cent, admit that games bring out their competitive side, with 23 per cent describing themselves as ‘extremely competitive’ (Stock photo) 46 per cent complain of cheating by friends or relatives, with more than a third saying that arguments have led to games being abandoned altogether (Stock photo) The only surprise to me is that those figures are quite so low. To pick the obvious example, I can’t remember a single game of Monopoly that my family has played through to the end. Ever since our boys first learned to play it, our games have had to be abandoned half-way through, when one or other of them has left the room in a huff or hurled the board and all its pieces onto the floor. For months afterwards, miniature silver irons, green houses and red hotels would turn up behind the radiator or under the sofa. Unfamiliar As for the guessing games loved by my children and their partners, I fear I’m often the first to stir up acrimony by complaining furiously of foul play. Take the game that involves working out the name of a celebrity, living or dead, chosen by an opponent and stuck unseen to one’s forehead. How the devil is an old buffer like me expected to have heard of obscure American rappers, Second Division football managers or contestants on Love Island? I reckon it affronts the spirit of Christmas to choose a name unfamiliar to some of the players – and I’m never afraid to say so, at the top of my voice. Read More Playing family board games can lead to arguments and full-on relationship breakdowns So what if my opponents haven’t heard of the celebrity I’ve chosen – a junior minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government, say, or a former editor of the Financial Times? I say they jolly well ought to have done. And if they haven’t, well, don’t they deserve a taste of their own medicine? Before you know it, we’re all at each other’s throats. Then there’s the infuriating moment in the middle of a board game, when a daughter-in-law suddenly announces a house rule, known only to her. ‘Sorry. The way we’ve always played it in my family is that you lose a turn when you throw a double two.’ It’s no good pointing out that it says nothing about that in the official rule-book. A full-blown barney invariably ensues. But it’s worst of all when someone insists on playing a brand-new board game, unwrapped earlier in the day, which none of us has played before. In even my most sober moments, I find it increasingly hard these days to remember the rules of any game we may have played at our last family gathering, only a few weeks earlier. Maddening As for trying to master a completely new game, in my befuddled state after Christmas lunch, I find it all but impossible. Is it just me, or do rules become ever more complicated as the years go by? The truly maddening thing is that our sons and the mothers of our grandchildren seem to grasp those rules as soon as someone reads them aloud. Meanwhile, I’m still floundering after reading them again and again. ‘Don’t be an idiot, Dad. How many times do I have to tell you that you can only move three squares forward if the matrix card is in the ascendant and the arrow on the buzzle is pointing to the spy-circle?’ But you must forgive me if I sound a little jaded. My excuse is that to mark my birthday last week, my darling wife took it into her head to prepare a sit-down lunch for 24 people – 19 of them called Utley – though some of the young had to stand. So it was that, while Mrs U shopped and cooked, I spent much of the week shifting furniture and erecting fold-away tables and camp beds, before dismantling them all when the last of our guests left on Sunday. But since it’s our turn to do Christmas again this year, they’ll be back in force before the month is out, and we’ll have to go through the whole exhausting business again. Just one observation. My birthday lunch seemed to pass in perfect domestic harmony, from beginning to end, with a good time had by all. Could this have had something to do with the miracle that, on this occasion, we were spared any organised games? In the name of peace and goodwill to all men, is it too much to hope that the young will show similar mercy on December 25? Share or comment on this article: TOM UTLEY: The infuriating reason every Christmas at the Utleys begins with smiles... and ends with blood on the carpet e-mail Add comment More top stories

There are already suggestions from the country’s premiers that Canada express its willingness to divide the existing United States-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement into one bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada and another between the U.S. and Mexico. Donald Trump has made it clear he will not tolerate the Mexican practice of enticing American factories to just within the Mexican border, having disemployed their American employees, and then giving the American firms a tax holiday in Mexico, cheap Mexican labour to fatten their profits, and the ability to exploit existing free trade arrangements by exporting back into the U.S. both goods the Americans previously manufactured for themselves and the unemployment created in the U.S. by the relocation of the factories. It is clearly not Canada’s place to comment directly on these matters, but Canada is informally in considerable sympathy with the American position, and does not wish to run any risk of being confused with Mexico by the United States in terms of its trade methods and objectives. The U.S.-Mexico relationship is complicated by the open southern border that has been maintained over the past few years, and the effective partnership between the Mexican government and perhaps the nastiest criminal gangs in the world who effectively govern some of the northern Mexican provinces and conduct a massive slave-and-drug-importing business into the United States. The returning President Trump has made it clear that he will not tolerate any of this, that he will close the border, and that he will not hesitate to use the U.S. armed forces to protect the integrity of the country. To the extent that this is a justified concern, our first priority should be—for our sake as well as that of the United States—as careful as reasonably possible about newcomers to this country from overseas. At this point, there’s no reason to be concerned that the United States is trying to keep law-abiding Canadians, who as a group spend billions of dollars in the United States every year, out of that country. Anti-terrorist screening is something Canada should be doing without being prompted by a change of government in Washington. All of this constitutes the transition in the economic ambience of this continent north of the Rio Grande River from night to day. Economics is essentially Grade 3 arithmetic and psychology, and the economic psychology that will be generated by the pro-growth Trump administration will roll over into Canada with greater demand for Canadian goods and resources. If we combine this, following our next election, with policies to encourage responsible development and export of resources and encourage a reversal in our present capital outflows and welcome foreign capital and retention of domestically generated income, we will be entering into the greatest period of economic growth in our modern history. Neither Donald Trump nor any other American president since the War of 1812 has had any reason to consider Canada anything but a friendly and compatible neighbour. We have our differences with the United States from time to time, but when that country prospers, as it is about to, we benefit also. There has also been some discussion about raising Canada’s contribution to military expenses to 2 percent of GDP as we have pledged to do. Defence is the most stimulative of all spending categories as it is heavily concentrated in high-technology areas, and an increase in military personnel exposes that section of the workforce to the most effective place for adult education. It is also entirely complementary to the long-forsaken task of building Canada’s influence in the world. The world respects military and economic power, not the appeasement of underdeveloped despotisms or attempts to be loved by the denizens of the sinkhole of pretension and national failure that is now the United Nations. A Trump administration will be a good thing for Canada, not least because we will once again have determined leadership of the Western Alliance.

Opthalmic Devices Market Poised for Tremendous Growth from 2024 to 2032( MENAFN - African Press Organization) Download logo More than 24.6 million people – half of Sudan's population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the IPC initiative , which tracks extreme hunger globally. IPC's Famine Review Committee (FRC) confirmed that famine (IPC phase 5) is present in at least five areas, including North Darfur's Zamzam camp and parts of the Western Nuba Mountains. The crisis is projected to expand further, with five additional areas – North Darfur localities of Um Kadadah, Melit, El Fasher, At Tawisha, and Al Lait – expected to face famine between December 2024 and May 2025. Additionally, 17 other areas are at risk of famine, particularly those with significant influxes of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Regions affected include parts of North and South Darfur, Khartoum, and Al Jazirah states. Most extreme human suffering “Famine is the most extreme manifestation of human suffering, representing a catastrophic collapse of the systems and resources essential for survival,” the IPC report stated. “It is not merely a lack of food but a profound breakdown of health, livelihoods, and social structures, leaving entire communities in a state of desperation.” Though above-average rainfall supported agriculture in areas where security conditions allowed, ongoing conflict severely disrupted farming activities. Farmers were forced to abandon fields, and crops were looted or destroyed, according to the report. Displaced families, particularly those in settlements and public buildings, remain cut off from the benefits of the harvest. As a result, 8.1 million people are classified in IPC phase 4 (emergency) and 638,000 are already in phase 5 (catastrophe), adding to 15.9 million in phase 3 (crisis). IPC phase 3 is marked by critical food gaps or reliance on crisis strategies, phase 4 involves severe malnutrition or emergency coping, and phase 5 signals famine with starvation, death and extreme malnutrition. Conflict a key driver The brutal conflict, which erupted between rival militaries vying for power and influence last April has driven over 12 million people – nearly a quarter of Sudan's population – from their homes, exacerbating food insecurity and overwhelming host communities. Fierce fighting continues to rage in densely populated areas, with widespread disregard for international humanitarian law on all sides. Civilians have been killed and injured in overwhelming numbers, sexual violence is rife, and essential infrastructure – including healthcare and education facilities – lie in ruins. Deadly diseases such as cholera are also spreading rapidly, against the backdrop of the breakdown in essential services, including healthcare, clean water and sanitation. Urgent recommendations The IPC report underscored that only an immediate cessation of hostilities can prevent the crisis from worsening. It called for the restoration of safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, particularly in conflict zones, and a significant scale-up of multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance. Alongside, it also called for scaling up treatment for acute malnutrition, providing vital agricultural inputs to help vulnerable households sustain themselves, as well as conducting food security and nutrition surveys in unassessed areas to refine response efforts. MENAFN24122024002747001784ID1109028576 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Titans QB Mason Rudolph gets another chance at starting, this time against the Jags

Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play – A turning point for internet freedom?

ABORTION PILLS: In a lawsuit announced Friday, Texas sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. It appears to be the first challenge in the U.S. to a shield law Democratic controlled states adopted. CHINA: The U.S. updated a science and technology agreement with China to reflect their growing rivalry for technological dominance. The deal was signed Friday in Beijing after months of negotiations. DETAINEE: The U.S. military transported American Travis Timmerman, 29, out of Syria, where he disappeared seven months ago into former President Bashar Assad's notorious prison system. He was among thousands released this week by rebels, a U.S. official said Friday. CLIMATE: Two weeks of historic International Court of Justice hearings on the threat of climate change wrapped up Friday. The verdict could take up to a year. FRANCE: French President Emmanuel Macron named centrist ally François Bayrou, 73, as prime minister Friday in an effort to address the country's deep political crisis after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the prior government last week. VENEZUELA: The U.N. office on human rights in Venezuela partially resumed operations in recent weeks, the agency's chief said Friday, months after the government of President Nicolás Maduro expelled its staff for allegedly helping coup plotters and terror groups. — Associated Press Get local news delivered to your inbox!Marshall withdraws from Independence Bowl matchup against ArmyJournalist at The Wakaw Recorder Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Carol Baldwin Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Wakaw Recorder In its annual year-end review released on Dec. 20, the Angus Reid Institute revealed that all three major federal political leaders struggle to connect with Canadians. Erik Mclean/pexels.com The Parliament Building in Ottawa. The Prime Minister has a net disapproval rating of 68 percent. By contrast Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh have nearly identical ratings, with Poilievre at a net disapproval rating of 55 percent and Singh at 54 percent. New data from the Angus Reid Institute confirms that Trudeau faced a challenging year in 2024, with his approval rating dropping by four points from January to December, landing at just 28 percent. This marks his lowest approval level in public opinion after more than nine years in office. While fellow major party leaders Poilievre and Singh are faring somewhat better, they are still viewed unfavourably by more than half of Canadians; both leaders have a favourable opinion rating of less than two in five. The sudden departure of Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, triggered a chaotic day on Parliament Hill that ended with Trudeau staying on – despite speculation that he was considering stepping down himself in response – and taking the holidays to decide how to proceed. The calls from within the Liberal Party for Trudeau to resign grew louder after Freeland’s resignation. The Liberals remain more than 20 points behind the Conservatives in voter intention, and views of him remain overwhelmingly negative with less than 28 percent of respondent Canadians approving of Trudeau’s performance as prime minister, tying what was the previous lowest score of his tenure. Trudeau’s approval has not reached higher than one-third since September 2023. A majority of 2021 Liberal voters still approve of Trudeau, but 40% do not, and the views of the group who helped elect him to a third term in government have declined by six points during 2024. If the election was held today, he would fare better with a 78 percent approval among those who say they would vote Liberal, however, this group of supporters is much smaller than it has been throughout his tenure. Trudeau’s low point is just one point higher than that of his father, who served as prime minister for more than 15 years in two non-consecutive stints. The senior Trudeau’s lowest approval rate came with approximately two years remaining in his second time in office. The lowest point for any Canadian leader was recorded for Brian Mulroney during his second majority government, during the year that his government implemented the GST when he was approved of by just 12 percent of Canadians. Under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party has significantly outperformed its rivals in terms of voter support. However, public perceptions of Poilievre himself are more negative than positive. Only 37 percent of those surveyed have a favourable view of the Conservative Party leader, while 55 percent do not. Support among women has remained relatively stable throughout 2024, fluctuating between 27 and 28 percent. In contrast, favourability among young male respondents has decreased by 14 percentage points over the year, while opinions among older males have remained fairly consistent. There have been signs of improvement in public opinion over the past few months for NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, but Singh still ended the year down six approval points. The main source of Singh’s drop in favourability is among young people. He lost 14 points among young men and 11 among young women in 2024. -Advertisement-

HUNTINGTON, W.V. (AP) — Marshall has withdrawn from the Independence Bowl after a coaching change resulted in much of its roster jumping into the transfer portal. The Thundering Herd were slated to play Army on Dec. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana. But the Independence Bowl and Louisiana Tech announced on Saturday that the Bulldogs will take on the 19th-ranked Black Knights instead. Marshall said it pulled out “after falling below the roster minimum that was deemed medically safe.” The Herd (10-3) beat Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 last weekend to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time. The program has won seven games in a row in the same season for the first time since 2020. “We apologize for the nature and timing of this announcement and for the turmoil it has brought to bowl season preparations for Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN,” Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said in a statement. Coach Charles Huff left Marshall for Southern Miss last Sunday, and Tony Gibson, the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State, was announced as his replacement less than an hour later. By Thursday, at least 25 Marshall players had entered the transfer portal. Gibson held a meeting shortly after arriving on campus in Huntington to introduce himself to the team. He followed that up with phone calls, text messages and more meetings Friday and Saturday. “Any time coaches leave to take other jobs, it is emotional,” Gibson said at a news conference Thursday. “And kids that are 18-to-22 years old are going to make emotional decisions instead of just breathing for a day or two.” It's the first bowl for Louisiana Tech (5-7) since 2020. The Bulldogs have won two of their last three games, but they haven't played since a 33-0 victory over Kennesaw State on Nov. 30. “We are excited to accept the opportunity to play in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl against a fantastic and storied program as Army,” Louisiana Tech athletic director Ryan Ivey said in a release. “I believe our football program is moving toward positive structure and the opportunity to play in this bowl adds to that momentum. We are looking forward to being in Shreveport for this matchup.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- Goldman Sachs Asset Management, the investment adviser for the Goldman Sachs Bloomberg Clean Energy Equity ETF, Goldman Sachs North American Pipelines & Power Equity ETF and Goldman Sachs Future Real Estate and Infrastructure Equity ETF (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), announced today that the Funds’ Board of Trustees, at the recommendation of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, has approved a plan of liquidation for each Fund (collectively, the “Plans”). Under the Plans, which are effective today, the Funds will begin the process of liquidating portfolio assets and unwinding their affairs in an orderly fashion over time. The Plans are not subject to shareholder approval. Shareholders of the Funds may sell their shares on the Fund’s listing exchange, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe”) for the Goldman Sachs Bloomberg Clean Energy Equity ETF and Goldman Sachs North American Pipelines & Power Equity ETF or NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) for the Goldman Sachs Future Real Estate and Infrastructure Equity ETF until market close on January 10, 2025, and may incur transaction fees from their broker-dealer. The Funds’ shares will no longer trade on Cboe or NYSE Arca, as applicable, after market close on January 10, 2025, and the shares will subsequently be de-listed. Shareholders who continue to hold shares of a Fund on the Funds’ liquidation date, which is expected to be on or about January 17, 2025, will receive a liquidating distribution of cash in the cash portion of their brokerage accounts equal to the amount of the net asset value of their shares. For tax purposes, shareholders will generally recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the amount received for their shares over their adjusted basis in such shares. The Funds will stop accepting creation orders from Authorized Participants on January 10, 2025. About Goldman Sachs Asset Management Goldman Sachs Asset Management is the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), delivering investment and advisory services across public and private markets for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors, and individuals. The business is driven by a focus on partnership and shared success with its clients, seeking to deliver long-term investment performance drawing on its global network and deep expertise across industries and markets. Goldman Sachs Asset Management is a leading investor across fixed income, liquidity, equity, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions. Goldman Sachs oversees approximately $3.1 trillion in assets under supervision as of September 30, 2024. Follow us on LinkedIn . The Goldman Sachs Bloomberg Clean Energy Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the Bloomberg Goldman Sachs Global Clean Energy Index (the “Index”), which delivers exposure to companies that are expected to have a significant impact on energy decarbonization through their exposure to clean energy. The Fund’s investments are subject to market risk , which means that the value of the securities in which it invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. Foreign and emerging markets investments may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in U.S. securities and are subject to the risks of currency fluctuations and adverse social, economic or political developments. Because the Fund may have significant investments in the clean energy sector , the Fund is subject to risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting industries within that sector. The securities of mid- and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. The Fund is not actively managed, and therefore the Fund will not generally dispose of a security unless the security is removed from the Index. The Index calculation methodology may rely on information based on assumptions and estimates and neither the Fund, the index provider nor the investment adviser can guarantee the accuracy of the methodology’s valuation of securities or the availability or timeliness of the production of the Index. Performance may vary substantially from the performance of the Index as a result of transaction costs, expenses and other factors. The Goldman Sachs North American Pipelines & Power Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the Solactive Energy Infrastructure Enhanced Index (the “Index”), which is designed to deliver exposure to equity securities of U.S. and Canadian listed companies including companies structured as master limited partnerships (“MLPs”), operating in the pipelines and power universe. The Fund’s investments are subject to market risk , which means that the value of the securities in which it invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. Foreign investments may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in U.S. securities and are subject to the risks of currency fluctuations and adverse economic, social or political developments, including sanctions, counter-sanctions and other retaliatory actions. Investments in MLPs are subject to certain additional risks, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting MLPs, potential conflicts of interest, cash flow risks, dilution risks, limited liquidity , risks related to the general partner’s right to force sales at undesirable times or prices, interest rate sensitivity and for MLPs with smaller capitalizations, lower trading volume and abrupt or erratic price movements. MLPs are also subject to risks relating to their complex tax structure , including the risk that an MLP could lose its tax status as a partnership, resulting in a reduction in the value of the Fund’s investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund. MLPs are also subject to the risk that to the extent that a distribution received from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the MLP interests may be reduced, which may increase the Fund’s tax liability upon the sale of the MLP interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Many MLPs in which the Fund invests operate facilities within the energy sector and are also subject to risks affecting that sector . Because the Index currently concentrates its investments in the energy sector , the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry or group of industries. The Fund is not actively managed , and therefore the Fund will not generally dispose of a security unless the security is removed from the Index. The Index calculation methodology may rely on information based on assumptions and estimates and neither the Fund, the index provider nor the investment adviser can guarantee the accuracy of the methodology’s valuation of securities or the availability or timeliness of the production of the Index. Performance may vary substantially from the performance of the Index as a result of transaction costs, expenses and other factors. The Fund is non-diversified and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” funds. Accordingly, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio and to greater losses resulting from these developments. The Goldman Sachs Future Real Estate and Infrastructure Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks long-term growth of capital. The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund. The Fund pursues its investment objective by primarily investing in U.S. and non-U.S. real estate and infrastructure companies that the Investment Adviser believes are aligned with key themes associated with secular growth drivers for real estate and infrastructure assets. The Fund’s investments are subject to market risk , which means that the value of the securities in which it invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. The Fund’s thematic investment strategy limits the universe of investment opportunities available to the Fund and may affect the Fund’s performance relative to similar funds that do not seek to invest in companies exposed to such themes. The Fund relies on the Investment Adviser for the identification of companies the Investment Adviser believes are aligned with key themes associated with secular growth drivers for real estate and infrastructure assets, and there is no guarantee that the Investment Adviser’s views will reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor or that real estate and infrastructure companies in which the Fund invests will benefit from their associations with secular growth drivers for real estate and infrastructure assets. Different investment styles (e.g., “growth” and “value”) tend to shift in and out of favor, and at times the Fund may underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes. Because the Fund concentrates its investments in certain specific industries, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting those industries than if its investments were more diversified across different industries . Stock prices of real estate and infrastructure companies in particular may be especially volatile. Investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs whose underlying properties are focused in a particular industry or geographic region are also subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. Foreign and emerging markets investments may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in U.S. securities and are subject to the risks of currency fluctuations and adverse economic, social or political developments, including sanctions, counter-sanctions and other retaliatory actions. Such securities are also subject to foreign custody risk. The securities of mid- and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. The Fund is “ non-diversified ” and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” funds. In addition, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers . Accordingly, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio and to greater losses resulting from these developments. Fund shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed by a Fund at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in large, specified blocks of shares called creation units. Shares otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading at market price (not NAV). Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. A summary prospectus, if available, or a Prospectus for each Fund containing more information may be obtained from your authorized dealer or from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by calling 1-800-621-2550. Please consider a Fund's objectives, risks, and charges and expenses, and read the summary prospectus, if available, and the Prospectus carefully before investing. The summary prospectus, if available, and the Prospectus contains this and other information about the Funds. The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”) imposes certain limits on investment companies purchasing or acquiring any security issued by another registered investment company. For these purposes the definition of “investment company” includes funds that are unregistered because they are excepted from the definition of investment company by sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the Act. You should consult your legal counsel for more information. Goldman Sachs does not provide accounting, tax or legal advice. © 2024 Goldman Sachs All rights reserved NOT FDIC INSURED. MAY LOSE VALUE. NO BANK GUARANTEE. NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. ALPS Control: GST: 2818 Compliance Code: 402923-OTU-2167293 Date of first use: 12/12/2024 View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212407058/en/ CONTACT: Media: Victoria Zarella Tel: 212-902-5400 KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ASSET MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Goldman Sachs Asset Management Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 05:12 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 05:10 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212407058/enRIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) (the “Company”) today announced, as required under the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) Listed Company Manual, that it received a notice (the “NYSE Notice”) from the NYSE on November 19, 2024 that the Company is not in compliance with Section 802.01E of the NYSE Listed Company Manual as a result of its failure to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) prior to November 18, 2024, the end of the extension period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The NYSE Notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE. On July 19, 2023, the Company disclosed that beginning around mid-2007, the Company incorrectly classified certain credit card accounts into its highest merchant and merchant acquirer pricing tier (the “card product misclassification”). Based on information available as of June 30, 2023, the Company recognized a liability of $365 million that was accounted for as the correction of an error. The Company determined that the revenue impact was not material to the consolidated financial statements of the Company for any of the impacted periods. While it was therefore determined that it was not necessary for the Company to restate any previously issued interim or annual financial statements, the cumulative misstatement was deemed material to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 condensed consolidated financial statements, and therefore the Company determined that adjustment of the full $365 million only through 2023 earnings was not appropriate. Therefore, the $365 million liability (the “Initial Liability”) was recorded as of June 30, 2023 with offsetting adjustments to merchant discount and interchange revenue and retained earnings, along with consequential impacts to deferred tax accruals. Comparable corrections were made for all prior periods presented in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 and subsequently in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. On February 19, 2024, Discover and Capital One Financial Corporation (“Capital One”) jointly announced that they entered into an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock transaction (the “Merger”). In the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Company disclosed that it had determined to increase its liability to $1.2 billion (the “Liability Increase”) through a charge to other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to reflect the total amount the Company then expected was probable to be disbursed in relation to the card product misclassification. The Company determined the Liability Increase was appropriate based on its experience through that date with remediation efforts, discussions through the first quarter of 2024 with its regulators, Board of Directors and other stakeholders, the pending Merger, which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors during the quarter, and a desire to advance resolution of the matter more quickly to mitigate further risk. As part of the review of the Company’s historical financial statements by the Staff of the SEC (the “Staff”) undertaken in connection with the Staff’s review of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Capital One in connection with the Merger (and the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus contained therein) (the “Registration Statement”), the Staff provided comments to the Company relating to the Company’s accounting approach for the card product misclassification. The Company has responded to these comments and has engaged in several verbal discussions with the Staff. The Staff has indicated that it disagrees with the Company’s application of revenue recognition guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in connection with the Company’s recording of the Initial Liability. The Staff has, however, indicated that it would not object to an approach whereby the Company determined the cumulative revenue error related to the card product misclassification to be the maximum amount agreed to be paid by the Company in restitution in respect of the card product misclassification (excluding interest and legal expenses) (the “Alternative Approach”). This amount is approximately $1,047 million. On November 25, 2024, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Audit Committee”), acting on the recommendation of management, and after discussion with Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, concluded that (i) the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and (ii) the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q previously filed with the SEC for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023, March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 (collectively, the “Prior Periods”), should no longer be relied upon and should be restated to reflect the Alternative Approach. In addition, the Audit Committee concluded that management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 and Deloitte’s report on the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 as well as Deloitte’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, should no longer be relied upon. In order to implement the Alternative Approach in the Restated Financial Statements (as defined below), approximately $600 million of the Liability Increase will be reallocated from being recorded as other expense in the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 to a revenue error correction in prior periods. In addition, $124 million of the Liability Increase representing interest that the Company committed to pay as part of its counterparty restitution plan will also be reallocated from the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 to the third and fourth quarters of 2023. Cumulative historical earnings, capital and the aggregate amount of the counterparty restitution liability will not be affected by application of the Alternative Approach. However, separate work being done to validate the remediation methodology with a third-party consultant has resulted in the identification of approximately $60 million of incremental overcharges, which will be reflected in the Restated Financial Statements. As a result, the Company expects the Restated Financial Statements to reflect the following approximate impacts: as of December 31, 2023, (i) an increase in assets of $190 million, (ii) an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $783 million, and (iii) a decrease in retained earnings of $593 million. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, pre-tax income would be reduced by approximately $190 million to $3,636 million and $77 million to $5,641 million, respectively. For the third quarter of 2024, pre-tax income would decrease by approximately $6 million to $1,282 million while pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 would increase by approximately $700 million to $4,462 million (as compared to the pre-tax income reported in the financial information with respect to the quarter ended September 30, 2024 in the exhibits furnished with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 16, 2024). Amendments to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Form 10-K/A”), and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 (the “Form 10-Q/As” and together with the Form 10-K/A, the “Restated Financial Statements”), are expected to be filed prior to or concurrently with the filing of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 in order to reflect the Alternative Approach and the other modifications described above to the Prior Periods. The Company is working expeditiously to file the Restated Financial Statements as soon as reasonably practicable. The Company currently expects to complete the filings prior to year-end, however there can be no assurance of the actual timing. The Company expects that Capital One will file a pre-effective amendment to the Registration Statement promptly following the Company’s filing of the Restated Financial Statements, and that as soon as practicable following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the mailing of the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus contained therein to each company’s stockholders, each company will hold its respective special meeting of stockholders for purposes of obtaining the requisite stockholder approvals of the Merger. About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The Company issues the Discover® card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network® comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchants and cash access locations; PULSE®, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International®, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, which speak to our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "aim," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would," "likely," "forecast," and similar expressions. Other forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the restatement of the Company’s financial statements. Such statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication and there is no undertaking to update or revise them as more information becomes available. Actual future events could also differ materially due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, among other things, risks relating to the final impact of the restatements on the Company’s financial statements; the impact of the restatements on the Company’s evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; delays in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and/or the declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement; the risk that additional information will come to light that alters the scope or magnitude of the restatement; the risks and uncertainties set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q; and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in any subsequent reports that the Company files with the SEC from time to time. Although the Company has attempted to identify those material factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from those described in such forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important Information About the Merger and Where to Find It Capital One has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC to register the shares of Capital One’s common stock that will be issued to the Company’s stockholders in connection with the Merger. The Registration Statement includes a preliminary joint proxy statement of Capital One and the Company that also constitutes a preliminary prospectus of Capital One. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the stockholders of each of the Company and Capital One in connection with the Merger. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE (AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS) BECAUSE SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company or Capital One through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting the investor relations department of the Company or Capital One at: Discover Financial Services Capital One Financial Corporation 2500 Lake Cook Road 1680 Capital One Drive Riverwoods, IL 60015 McLean, VA 22102 Attention: Investor Relations Attention: Investor Relations investorrelations@discover.com investorrelations@capitalone.com (224) 405-4555 (703) 720-1000 Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of the Company and Capital One are urged to read carefully the entire Registration Statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, including any amendments thereto, because they contain important information about the Merger. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described above. Participants in Solicitation The Company, Capital One and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of each of the Company and Capital One in connection with the Merger. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of the Company and Capital One and other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of the Company or of Capital One in connection with the Merger will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the Merger, which will be filed by Capital One with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company and their ownership of the Company common stock can also be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024, as supplemented by the Company’s proxy statement supplement, as filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by the Company with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Capital One and their ownership of Capital One common stock can also be found in Capital One’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on March 20, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by Capital One with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents regarding the Merger filed with the SEC when they become available. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125018559/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Erin Stieber, 224-405-4555 investorrelations@discover.comMedia Contact: Matthew Towson, 224-405-5649 matthewtowson@discover.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Discover Financial Services Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 06:06 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 06:06 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125018559/en

The Assad regime's fall has freed displaced Syrians stuck in a remote desert camp

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Justin Jefferson might be weary of all the safeties shadowing his every route, determined not to let the Minnesota Vikings go deep, but he's hardly angry. The double and triple coverage he continually faces, after all, is a sign of immense respect for his game-breaking ability. The strategy also simply makes sense. “I would do the same," Jefferson said. "It’s either let everybody else go off or let Justin go off. I’m going to let everybody else go off. That would be my game plan.” When the Vikings visit Chicago on Sunday, they're expecting the usual heavy dose of split-safety coverage designed to put a lid on the passing attack and force them to operate primarily underneath. “We see that every week: Teams just have different tendencies on film, and then when we go out on the field they play us totally different,” Jefferson said, later adding: “I don’t really feel like anyone else is getting played how I’m getting played.” Jefferson nonetheless is second in the NFL in receiving yards (912) behind Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase, his former college teammate at LSU. Last week, Jefferson set yet another all-time record by passing Torry Holt for the most receiving yards over the first five seasons of a career. Holt logged 80 regular-season games and accumulated 6,784 yards for St. Louis. Jefferson has 6,811 yards — in just 70 games. “I want to go up against those single coverages. I want to go have my opportunities to catch a deep pass downfield, just one-on-one coverage, like a lot of these other receivers get," Jefferson said. "It’s definitely difficult going up against an extra person or an extra two people, but it is what it is and the concepts that we’re drawing up and the ways that we’re trying to get me open, it definitely helps.” With fellow tight end Josh Oliver ruled out of the game on Sunday because of a sprained ankle, T.J. Hockenson is certain to have his heaviest workload since returning from knee surgery four weeks ago. He's also certain that Jefferson will continue to see persistent double-teams. “It puts it on us to make some plays and do some things to get them out of that,” Hockenson said. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has been forced to dig deeper into the vault of play designs and game plans to help keep quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense on track. O'Connell said after Minnesota's 12-7 win at Jacksonville, when Darnold threw three interceptions to precipitate a safer strategy down the stretch, that he superseded his play-calling role with the wisdom of a head coach to help win that game. "Not just the egomaniac of wanting to score points and constantly show everybody how smart we are. There was a mode that I think you have to go into sometimes to ensure a victory,” O'Connell said on his weekly show on KFAN radio. Taking what the defense gives is usually the shrewdest strategy. “You’ve got to really implement some new things and some things that maybe you didn’t come across during your early coaching years whether as a coordinator or position coach or even when you’re responsible for a small area of the game plan as a younger coach," O'Connell said. "You really have to kind of look outside the lens of always what you see on tape.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLPresident-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Monday, Jan. 20 — an event that’s been in the works since before voters even filled out their ballots. Trump’s swearing-in is slated to take place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. The inauguration is put on by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies , a bipartisan group tasked with planning and executing the inauguration. But the Presidential Inaugural Committee , formed after the November election, is responsible for the parade, galas and other events inauguration events not held at the Capitol. While the inauguration is open to the public, tickets are required to attend. And for that, those interested in attending the swearing-in of Trump and his vice president, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will need to turn to their U.S. senator or congressional representative. Many elected officials, including California Sen. Alex Padilla, already have forms on their official websites for those who wish to attend. Those interested must include their name, address, email, phone number and the amount of tickets requested. Padilla’s office said it “will offer a limited number of tickets when those become available.” Californians can also request tickets from their congressional representative, many who have similar forms on their respective government websites as well as other information about the tickets. Rep. Young Kim, for instance, noted on her website that tickets just provide access to the swearing-in ceremonies. Tickets to balls and the parade are handled by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, her website said. No tickets are needed to view the inaugural parade from open locations along the route. Tickets to the swearing-in are limited, it said, and those who do not receive tickets could still watch the proceedings played on monitors along the National Mall. “January is historically cold and wet. Crowds will be very large, and you will be in the cold for several hours during the inauguration ceremony,” Kim’s website advised. “Be prepared to arrive for the ceremony early to take into consideration delays due to the large crowds.” Kim represents California’s 40th congressional district, which includes western San Bernardino and Riverside counties and eastern Orange County. Local or state Republican parties do not distribute tickets to the inauguration.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coach Brian Callahan is sticking with Mason Rudolph at quarterback for a second straight game to see if the Tennessee Titans can build on the veteran who's played in four of their highest scoring games this season. Callahan said Tuesday that he thinks Rudolph earned another chance to play despite a 38-30 loss to Indianapolis. “Obviously the one interception was probably his only really poor moment," Callahan said. "The rest of it was pretty well executed on his part and operated in a drop-back passing game and had to fight his way back through it. And it was good to see, so we’ll let him take another crack at it.” Rudolph is 2-4 in the six games he's played in this season. That includes coming in for an injured Will Levis on Sept. 30 in a 31-12 win at Miami , and he tried to rally the Titans in a turnover-plagued 37-27 loss to Cincinnati before being selected as the starter last week. Rudolph, who is in Tennessee on a one-year deal, was 23 of 34 for 252 yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. One went off running back Tony Pollard's hands with the final pick coming on the last play of the game after Rudolph led a rally from a 38-7 deficit in the final 18 minutes. Rudolph's ability to avoid sacks is a key piece of sticking with him over Levis, the 33rd pick overall in the 2023 draft. The quarterbacks' stats are similar with Rudolph having eight TD passes and eight interceptions, completing 63.8% of his passes with a 78.8 passer rating. That’s similar to Levis completing 63.7% of his passes with 12 TD passes and 12 interceptions. But Levis has been sacked 40 times compared to just seven for Rudolph. “He’s got the ability to avoid the negative play when it comes to sacks," Callahan said of Rudolph. “He gets the ball out. He knows where to go with it quickly.” That means Rudolph gets a chance Sunday when the Titans (3-12) visit the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) to see if he can guide the offense to more than the six points Levis managed against their AFC South rival in a 10-6 loss on Dec. 8 in Nashville. Rudolph said he knows he put the Titans defense in a bad spot with some turnovers. "I’m ready to prove that I can take care of the ball better and keep scoring points,” Rudolph said. The Titans held a walk-through Tuesday with Callahan giving the team Wednesday off for Christmas. An injury report won't be released until Wednesday, and Callahan said it'll likely be lengthy. RG Dillon Radunz, who was knocked out of last week's game with an injury, will be on that report. Lineman Jaelyn Duncan, who hurt a hamstring badly enough early in his first start at right tackle Oct. 20 that he wound up on injured reserve , will be available. Callahan said he is excited to see Duncan play. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflIn recognition of November being National Adoption Month, Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) has announced the launch of a new program to reduce the cost of the private adoption process for Tennessee families while helping recruit more foster families. On January 1, 2025, DCS will begin a Home Study Reimbursement Grant Program utilizing state funds appropriated to help adoptive families. The initiative will reimburse families up to $1,000 for the cost of a home study completed by a licensed child-placing agency or licensed clinical social worker, which is required to adopt in Tennessee. The state currently covers the entire cost of home studies for foster families, but a home study for a private adoption can cost thousands of dollars. Through this grant program, DCS will have the opportunity to educate participating families on the need for more foster families and invite them to consider fostering while waiting for a private placement. To be eligible for the grant, individuals must have completed a home study by a licensed Tennessee child placing agency on or after July 1, 2024. Eligible individuals will need to fill out an online application and provide proof of payment for the completed home study. The online application will be available on the DCS website beginning Jan. 1. Applications will be processed in the order they are received, up to 1,000. The Home Study Reimbursement Program grew out of a collaboration between DCS, Gov. Lee’s office and The Adoption Project, a nonprofit organization focused on adoption and foster care public policy. “Every child deserves to have a safe, loving home, and we continue to make this a top priority across Tennessee,” said Gov. Lee. “As DCS and community partners continue working together to support Tennessee children in need, this new grant program will ease a financial burden on adoptive families while engaging additional prospective foster families.” “Adoption is a beautiful gift that is encouraged in all forms. At the same time, Tennessee has a great need for more foster families,” DCS Commissioner Margie Quin Said. “This program not only helps adoptive parents but gives them an opportunity to care for some of our most vulnerable children awaiting placement.” “We are always hearing, and we know from our own personal experiences, that the cost of adoption is a huge challenge for families. We are grateful to Gov. Lee for helping families who want to open their homes to children in need,” said Jeremy Harrell, President and CEO of The Adoption Project. “This is good policy on a state level, and we are also thankful to Commissioner Quin and the Governor’s team who helped make this happen. ”There are currently more than 8,000 youth in DCS care, with only about 5,000 approved foster homes across the state. In fiscal year 2023, there were 1,064 home studies completed by licensed child placing agencies in Tennessee.

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