Patrick Mahomes was pumped up when the NFL schedule was released and he saw his Kansas City Chiefs were playing on Christmas Day for the second straight season. His excitement lasted for only a short time. "Until I realized it was on Wednesday," Mahomes said Monday. Plenty of sore bodies will take the field Wednesday when the Chiefs (14-1) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) in what will be the third game in 11 days for both teams. Both squads just played on Saturday. The Chiefs posted a 27-19 home win over the Houston Texans and the Steelers fell 34-17 to the host Baltimore Ravens. "You're not going to feel great," Mahomes said of the short week. "That's kind of just what it is. You don't make excuses in this league. You go out and play football, and you fight until the very end, and you try to get a win at the end of the day. "You're motivated to play a great football team, to play in Pittsburgh in a great environment, a great stadium. It'll be rocking playing on Christmas, so everybody's going to be watching." If Kansas City wins Wednesday, it clinches the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Chiefs have 14 victories for the third time in the past five seasons. The franchise has never won 15 games in a season. Kansas City hasn't committed a single turnover during its five-game winning streak. Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson isn't fond of hearing "turnover" after he made two big mistakes in Saturday's loss to the Ravens. Wilson lost a fumble after a 19-yard gain to the Baltimore 4-yard line in the second quarter and later was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Wilson called it "unacceptable" and now has his focus on making amends against Kansas City. "I don't think there's enough time to really sulk or worry or fear," Wilson said. " ... The one thing I'm not going to do is keep my head down, though. I know for us we got so much great confidence in who we are and what we can do and how we're going to respond. "We can't let a tough game like this take us into a negative state of mind because there's a lot more to play for and a lot more we're searching for, and we can still win the (AFC) North." Wilson is correct. If the Steelers win their final two regular-season games, they will win their division. They would have clinched it last weekend if they had won in Baltimore. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is hardly concerned about Wilson's miscues. It was the veteran signal-caller's first time committing multiple turnovers in nine games with the team. "He's tough on himself because he's got a desire to be great," Tomlin said. "He wants to lead us to victory. He owns that. I don't expect that to be an issue in terms of his readiness or trajectory of this week." Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) missed Pittsburgh's walkthrough on Monday. Standout receiver George Pickens (hamstring) was a full participant and may return after missing the past three games. Safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) also could return to action. Jackson's return would be big if Porter can't play. Kansas City also held a walkthrough on Monday. Left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring), safety Chamarri Conner (concussion) and star defensive end Chris Jones (calf) missed the session. Jones was injured against Houston. Meanwhile, Mahomes said his sore ankle is feeling better than it did last week. The Chiefs lost 20-14 to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day last season. Kansas City has won the past three meetings with the Steelers, including a 42-21 rout in an AFC wild-card game on Jan. 16, 2022. --Field Level MediaThe Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing . But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin , gold and other investments also drove higher. Here’s a look at some of the numbers that defined the year. All are as of Dec. 20. Remember when President Bill Clinton got impeached or when baseball’s Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run against the Montreal Expos? That was the last time the U.S. stock market closed out a second straight year with a leap of at least 20%, something the S&P 500 is on track to do again this year. The index has climbed 24.3% so far this year, not including dividends, following last year’s spurt of 24.2%. The number of all-time highs the S&P 500 has set so far this year. The first came early, on Jan. 19, when the index capped a two-year comeback from the swoon caused by high inflation and worries that high interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve to combat it would create a recession. But the index was methodical through the rest of the year, setting a record in every month outside of April and August, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The latest came on Dec. 6. The number of times the Federal Reserve has cut its main interest rate this year from a two-decade high, offering some relief to the economy. Expectations for those cuts, along with hopes for more in 2025, were a big reason the U.S. stock market has been so successful this year. The 1 percentage point of cuts, though, is still short of the 1.5 percentage points that many traders were forecasting for 2024 at the start of the year. The Fed disappointed investors in December when it said it may cut rates just two more times in 2025, fewer than it had earlier expected. That’s how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by the day after Election Day, as investors made bets on what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for the economy and the world . The more widely followed S&P 500 soared 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. Aside from bitcoin, stocks of banks and smaller winners were also perceived to be big winners. The bump has since diminished amid worries that Trump’s policies could also send inflation higher. The level that bitcoin topped to set a record above $108,000 this past month. It’s been climbing as interest rates come down, and it got a particularly big boost following Trump’s election. He’s turned around and become a fan of crypto, and he’s named a former regulator who’s seen as friendly to digital currencies as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing someone who critics said was overly aggressive in his oversight. Bitcoin was below $17,000 just two years ago following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. Gold’s rise for the year, as it also hit records and had as strong a run as U.S. stocks. Wars around the world have helped drive demand for investments seen as safe, such as gold. It’s also benefited from the Fed’s cut to interest rates. When bonds are paying less in interest, they pull away fewer potential buyers from gold, which pays investors nothing. It’s a favorite number of Elon Musk, and it’s also a threshold that Tesla’s stock price passed in December as it set a record. The number has a long history among marijuana devotees, and Musk famously said in 2018 that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Tesla soared this year, up from less than $250 at the start, in part because of expectations that Musk’s close relationship with Trump could benefit the company. That’s how much revenue Nvidia made in the nine months through Oct. 27, showing how the artificial-intelligence frenzy is creating mountains of cash. Nvidia’s chips are driving much of the move into AI, and its revenue through the last nine months catapulted from less than $39 billion the year before. Such growth has boosted Nvidia’s worth to more than $3 trillion in total. GameStop’s gain on May 13 after Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” appeared online for the first time in three years to support the video game retailer’s stock, which he helped rocket to unimaginable heights during the “ meme stock craze ” in 2021. Several other meme stocks also jumped following his post in May on the social platform X, including AMC Entertainment. Gill later disclosed a sizeable stake in the online pet products retailer Chewy, but he sold all of his holdings by late October . That’s how much the U.S. economy grew, at annualized seasonally adjusted rates, in each of the three first quarters of this year. Such growth blew past what many pessimists were expecting when inflation was topping 9% in the summer of 2022. The fear was that the medicine prescribed by the Fed to beat high inflation — high interest rates — would create a recession. Households at the lower end of the income spectrum in particular are feeling pain now, as they contend with still-high prices. But the overall economy has remained remarkably resilient. This is the vacancy rate for U.S. office buildings — an all-time high — through the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Moody’s. The fact the rate held steady for most of the year was something of a win for office building owners, given that it had marched up steadily from 16.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Demand for office space weakened as the pandemic led to the popularization of remote work. That’s the total number of previously occupied homes sold nationally through the first 11 months of 2024. Sales would have to surge 20% year-over-year in December for 2024’s home sales to match the 4.09 million existing homes sold in 2023, a nearly 30-year low. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale and elevated mortgage rates have discouraged many would-be homebuyers.
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:33 p.m. EST( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Best Small Business/Marketing Agency Telesales 2.0® method of sales development for enterprise tech The Vanella Group, Inc. Earns Top Honors at BASA 2024, Solidifying Leadership in B2B Outbound Lead Generation for Enterprise Tech M Hurst The Vanella Group, Inc. +1 888-335-0430 email us here Visit us on social media: X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "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 author above. MENAFN29122024003118003196ID1109039963 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.
While the intention behind the new rule is understandable, the backlash from users highlights the importance of balancing security measures with user convenience and satisfaction. As online streaming platforms continue to evolve and compete for subscribers, it is crucial for companies to consider the impact of their policies on user experience and address concerns raised by their customers.In light of this heartbreaking tragedy, it is imperative for both massage therapists and clients to prioritize safety and well-being above all else. Proper training, communication, and awareness of the potential risks associated with massages are key in preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Fans of the Bleach series are eagerly awaiting the release of "Soul Awakening" to see how Aizen's story will unfold and what challenges lie ahead for both the Soul Society and the world of the living. With Aizen at the center of the narrative, the stakes are higher than ever, promising epic battles, heartbreaking betrayals, and unexpected alliances that will keep viewers hooked until the very end.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed and wounded in Russia's Kursk region and warned that Pyongyang could send more personnel and equipment for Moscow's army. "There are risks of North Korea sending additional troops and military equipment to the Russian army," Zelenskyy said on X after receiving a report from his top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. "We will have tangible responses to this," he added. The estimate of North Korean losses is higher than that provided by Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which said on Monday at least 1,100 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded. The assessment was in line with a briefing last week by South Korea's spy agency, which reported some 100 deaths with another 1,000 wounded in the region. Zelenskyy said he cited preliminary data. Reuters could not independently verify reports on combat losses. Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Koreans on its side. Pyongyang initially dismissed reports about the troop deployment as "fake news", but a North Korean official has said any such deployment would be lawful. According to Ukrainian and allied assessments, North Korea has sent around 12,000 troops to Russia. Some of them have been deployed for combat in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine still holds a chunk of land after a major cross-border incursion in August. JCS added that it has detected signs of Pyongyang planning to produce suicide drones to be shipped to Russia, in addition to the already supplied 240mm multiple rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers. Kyiv continues to press allies for a tougher response as it says Moscow's and Pyongyang's transfer of warfare experience and military technologies constitute a global threat. "For the world, the cost of restoring stability is always much higher than the cost of effectively pressuring those who destabilize the situation and destroy lives," Zelenskyy said.The transition was not easy for Wang Lei. Leaving behind the familiarity and security of his job in Shenyang, he faced uncertainties and challenges in starting a new venture in a new city. However, fueled by his love for Li Na and his determination to make their relationship work, Wang Lei pushed through the difficulties and embraced his new role as an ice cream seller with enthusiasm and determination.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Jalen Haynes scored 18 points as George Mason beat Mount St. Mary's 64-56 on Saturday. Haynes also added 16 rebounds for the Patriots (9-4). Darius Maddox shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line to add 13 points. Brayden O'Connor shot 2 for 5 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with nine points. The Mountaineers (8-5, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) were led by Dola Adebayo, who recorded 13 points and seven rebounds. Mount St. Mary's also got 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks from Terrell Ard Jr.. Arlandus Keyes also had seven points. Haynes scored 11 points in the first half and George Mason went into halftime trailing 30-28. George Mason used a 10-3 second-half run to come back from a three-point deficit and take the lead at 34-30 with 17:54 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Maddox scored nine second-half points. George Mason plays Tuesday against Davidson at home, and Mount St. Mary's hosts Niagara on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
( MENAFN - Caribbean News Global) By Madalaine Elhabbal The Little Sisters of the Poor welcomed a Christmas blessing earlier this week that could help them end their near-14-year religious liberty battle with the US government. On Monday afternoon, the Department of health and Human Services (HHS) issued a notice in the federal Register stating that it has opted to withdraw rule changes to the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) contraception mandate. Proposed by the Biden administration last year, the rule changes would have barred the nuns and other religious organizations from claiming exemptions to the ACA requirement that employers provide abortion and contraception coverage in their employee health plans. HHS stated that it decided to withdraw the Biden administration's proposed rules so the government could“focus their time and resources on matters other than finalizing these rules.” The health agency further cited extensive comments it received on the proposed changes as reasons to pump the brakes on imposing the alterations. The notice adds that“should the departments decide in the future that it is a priority to move forward with a rulemaking in this area,” it wants“to ensure that they will have the benefit of the most up-to-date facts and information on these important issues” while respecting religious objections to contraception. The religious liberty law group Becket celebrated the win this week.“Christmas came a little early this year,” the organization, which has represented the nuns in court, declared in a social media post on Monday. #BREAKING : Christmas came a little early this year. This afternoon, shortly after @WJMcGurn 's @WSJ column wishing religious organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor would have their ministries and their religious liberty rights protected, one threat to the Sisters... - BECKET (@BECKETlaw) December 24, 2024 Becket pointed to a Wall Street Journal column by Catholic writer William McGurn, who wrote on Dec. 23 that the nuns were hoping for“an end to the lawfare against them.” McGurn described religious liberty as both a historical“pillar of American liberalism” and“the heart of any liberal order and the key to civic peace.” The sisters' more than decade-long court battle dates back to 2011, when the Barack Obama administration required employers to provide cost-free coverage for contraceptives, sterilizations, and“emergency birth control” in employee health plans under the ACA. Although the sisters have celebrated two Supreme Court successes, in 2016 and 2020 , they are still fighting for their religious liberty in district courts in California and Pennsylvania, which have continued to pursue legal action to rescind the religious exemptions granted to the sisters by the US Supreme Court. “With the help of Becket, [the sisters] defeated the federal government at [the US Supreme Court] not once but twice and are still in court defending their ministry against a group of states led by California and Pennsylvania,” Becket continued on X. “Those court battles have been on ice for years due to the new contraceptive mandate rule that the Biden administration kept promising to issue.” In light of the latest development, Becket further called attention to the possibility that the sisters could potentially see a“final victory.” “California and Pennsylvania have no business suing the Little Sisters when presidential administrations of both parties have given religious exemptions to the sisters,” the religious liberty firm added. “One final thought: Suing nuns is never a good idea,” the group concluded. The post White House backs off contraceptive mandate, potential win for Little Sisters of the Poor appeared first on Caribbean News Global . MENAFN28122024000232011072ID1109038203 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.
Internally, the Assad regime had been facing mounting challenges for years. Widespread corruption, economic mismanagement, and systemic human rights abuses had alienated large segments of the population. The brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011 further fueled discontent and galvanized opposition forces. The lack of political reform, coupled with a failing economy and growing social inequality, created a powder keg of frustration that was bound to explode at any moment.Maschmeyer's 34 saves carry Ottawa Charge past New York Sirens, 3-1
Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, who began his major league career in Cleveland in 2010 and returned for a second stint in 2019, signed a one-year contract with the Guardians on Monday. A 15-year major league veteran, Santana previously spent 10 seasons with the organization (2010-17, 2019-20) and hit .251 with 273 doubles, 216 home runs and 710 RBIs in 1,334 games. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in the Savannah metro area using data from Zillow. Click for more. Cities with the most expensive homes in the Savannah metro area
In the world of e-commerce, where trends come and go in the blink of an eye, it is not uncommon to witness the inexplicable rise of seemingly ordinary items to extraordinary prices. One such recent phenomenon that has caught the attention of many is the stirring of a simple slab of whiff, which was auctioned off for over $70,000. Behind this seemingly absurd valuation lies a fascinating exploration of the driving force of emotive value.This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary individuals. It also underscores the importance of vigilance and security in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. As the story unfolds, the true motives and intentions of the suspect are sure to come to light, shedding new light on a dark and disturbing chapter in the annals of crime and justice.Syria's Interim Authorities Deploy Helicopters Against 'Former Regime Remnants' In Coastal Regions
Incumbent president Zoran Milanovic, the opposition Socialist Democrats' candidate, was on track to win a second term of office in the first round of Croatia's presidential election, the State Electoral Commission said. or signup to continue reading Preliminary results on Sunday showed that based on results from nearly 52 per cent of polling stations Milanovic had won 50.1 per cent support, far ahead of his main challenger Dragan Primorac - the candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) - on 22.3 per cent. Around 3.8 million Croats were eligible to vote, choosing from eight candidates ranging from across the political spectrum. The post of president is mostly ceremonial. The election will go to a second round on January 12 if none of the candidates wins a majority. During his five-year term which expires on February 18, Milanovic, a former prime minister, has clashed with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over foreign and public policy and has fiercely criticised the European Union and NATO over their support for Ukraine. The president cannot veto laws, but has a say in foreign policy, defence and security matters. Despite his populist rhetoric, Milanovic is seen by many as the only counterbalance to the HDZ-dominated government, which has seen 30 ministers forced to leave in recent years amid allegations of corrupt practices. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement
St George Illawarra Dragons have officially got their man just in time for Christmas. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading The signing of Australian Rugby Sevens star Nathan Lawson has been mooted for some time, with the club having to wait for the 25-year-old to finish his playing commitments before officially signing him on Monday for the 2025 season. Lawson has featured in 25 tournaments for the Australian Sevens team, including the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, scoring 69 tries. "Nathan is a terrific athlete," Dragons head coach Shane Flanagan said. "He is coming to us at the end of an outstanding season, which he finished off with the Australian Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award and a spot in the World Rugby Sevens Team of the Year. "He's a big, fast, powerful winger with good instincts. He'll adjust to rugby league in no time, and once he does, he'll be a real asset to us." The Sutherland Shire native scored 25 tries in the 2023/24 season and joins the Dragons' supplementary list in 2025. "I'm excited about coaching him as well. He's a big, aggressive athlete. He'll probably play on the wing and could play in the centres once he starts learning the game a little bit more, but we'll start him off on the wing as he can run fast and is big and aggressive," Flanagan said earlier this month about Lawson. St George Illawarra still have a spot left on their roster, and Flanagan stated he was in the hunt for another middle forward. The Dragons head coach is in no rush to sign, indicating he was happy with some of the younger forwards coming through the club's system. "Some of our young boys, they're doing a really good job, and I'm excited to see Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan in the forwards; they could all step up; they'll all get an opportunity in the trials," Flanagan told the Mercury earlier this month. "So we've got some really good young kids coming through, whether they're ready to play first grade yet, but I'd like to think those three could step up." Big things are expected of Loko Pasifiki Tonga, with many predicting the 196cm, 121kg monster can follow a similar trajectory as Brisbane prop Payne Haas. Tonga led St George to a breakthrough SG Ball title last year before stepping up to the Under 21 Jersey Flegg competition and later playing two games in reserve grade. Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure. Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure. More from Dragons Den Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Find out what's happening in local business. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!So, as Sora takes his place among the legendary fighters of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, let us all take a moment to breathe a sigh of relief. The wait is over, the dream has become a reality, and Sora's presence in the game is a testament to the enduring power of video games to inspire, uplift, and bring joy to players of all ages. Welcome, Sora, and thank you for reminding us that, no matter how dark the night may seem, the light of our dreams will always guide us home.
Dave Grohl to spend Christmas with wife and kids amid cheating scandal
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