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Houston's Al-Shaair apologizes for hit on Jacksonville's Lawrence that led to concussion HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the field with a concussion. Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. In the long post, Al-Shaair says "To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.” Jets are sticking with struggling Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will remain the New York Jets’ starting quarterback despite speculation the team could bench him in what has been a disappointing season. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said during a video call that he still believes Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, gives the Jets their best chance to win. Rodgers was 21 of 39 for 185 yards and touchdown passes to Davante Adams and Isaiah Davis but also had an interception returned 92 yards for a touchdown by Leonard Williams in the Jets’ 26-21 loss to Seattle on Sunday. Hall of Famer Randy Moss reveals he's 'battling something' internal and asks for prayers Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss revealed he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made the announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying for any particular illness. Moss explained why he’s been wearing tinted sunglasses, saying, “I’m battling something, man, and it’s something internal, your boy is going to get through it.” College playoff bracket offers last dress rehearsal and one more chance to see where the SEC stands The next set of College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday night under heavy scrutiny before the final bracket is set on Sunday. It will be one last chance to see just how much the selection committee loves the Southeastern Conference. The best gauge will be whether Miami, which suffered its second loss over the weekend, is placed behind any or all three SEC teams with three losses — Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina, all of which are coming off wins. Whatever happens, the SEC is likely to have at least five teams in the 12-team field when the final bracket comes out. Mollie Marcoux Samaan stepping down as LPGA commissioner after 3 1/2 years of record prize money Mollie Marcoux Samaan is leaving after more than three years as LPGA commissioner. In a surprise announcement Monday, Marcoux Samaan says she will step down in January, just three weeks before the LPGA starts its 75th season. Liz Moore is the chief legal and technology officer. She'll be serving as interim commissioner until a search committee can find a permanent replacement. Marcoux Samaan was the athletic director at Princeton when she took over the LPGA in May 2021. Prize money has soared during her tenure. She also has faced criticism for the LPGA not gaining in popularity during a rise in women's sports. Kansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in AP Top 25 as SEC grabs 3 of top 4 spots; UConn slides to No. 25 Kansas continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Auburn is pushing the Jayhawks in the latest poll after winning the Maui Invitational and checked in at No. 2. Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly fell out entirely after an 0-3 week at Maui, falling from No. 2 to 25th. The Southeastern Conference had three of the top four teams with No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Kentucky behind the Tigers. The poll featured six new teams, headlined by No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Memphis and No. 18 Pittsburgh. TCU, Duke climb into top 10, Notre Dame drops in women's AP Top 25; UCLA and UConn remain 1-2 TCU has its best ranking ever in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll after a convincing win over Notre Dame. The Horned Frogs jumped eight spots to No. 9, the first time the school has ever been in the top 10. The Fighting Irish, who were third last week, fell seven spots to 10th after losses to TCU and Utah. UCLA remained No. 1, followed by UConn, South Carolina, Texas and LSU. USC, Maryland and Duke are next. USC QB Miller Moss enters transfer portal after losing starting job to Jayden Maiava LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans’ starting job last month. Moss started the Trojans’ bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. Moss signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year’s Holiday Bowl. Michael Andretti's Formula 1 dream comes to bittersweet fruition without his involvement Michael Andretti has been sidelined from his namesake motorsports organization and won’t have any role with the Formula 1 program he spent the last four years desperately trying to launch. His effort to get a program partnered with General Motors into F1 was approved last week, a month after he stepped aside from his teams. F1’s decision to expand its grid for Cadillac F1 came amidst a federal antitrust investigation into why Liberty Media refused to admit Andretti Global and after Andretti partners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter claimed controlling interest of the fledgling effort. Ryan Poles to remain Bears general manager and lead search for new head coach LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren said Ryan Poles will remain the general manager and serve as the point person in the search for a head coach to replace the fired Matt Eberflus. He says Poles will have the “final say” if the two have differing opinions on who should get the job. Chicago had never fired a coach during a season. But a six-game losing streak marked by questionable coaching decisions spurred the founding NFL franchise to change course. The Bears let Eberflus go Friday and replaced him on an interim basis with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.Conor Coady turned away in frustration and Ruud van Nistelrooy wore a look of disappointment as Erling Haaland put Manchester City 2-0 up at the King Power Stadium. Another promising Leicester City display would bring no points. They created enough chances to equalise, but failed to take them as they fell to an 11th league defeat and fourth in succession. Advertisement Van Nistelrooy’s side have shown progress since his arrival as Steve Cooper’s replacement earlier this month and there were plenty of positives to take from their offensive performance on Sunday. But that progress — and Leicester’s status as a Premier League side — are at risk of being undermined by a defence that just cannot stop conceding. Defensive fragility is not new to this Leicester team, who have kept just two clean sheets in their last 42 Premier League matches when the end of their 2022-23 relegation season is included. They have conceded 42 goals in 19 games this season (the joint-worst record along with Wolverhampton Wanderers ), including 23 in 12 games under Cooper, and 15 in six under Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman was in the stands as interim manager Ben Dawson took charge of the 4-1 defeat at Brentford. In those six games, Leicester have already conceded 20 or more shots twice, including 31 in his debut against West Ham United (a 3-1 win) and 27 in a 4-0 defeat by Newcastle United . Opponents have created an average xG (expected goals, a measure of how many goals a team is expected to score based on the quality of chances created) of 2.2. Leicester’s attack, which created opportunities against both Liverpool and Manchester City, has seen them average less than 1 xG per game (5.8 across six matches). Sunday’s match indicated there is potential for the attack to improve. Jamie Vardy was trapped offside twice in promising situations and forced a save from Stefan Ortega , and Facundo Buonanotte hit the post while James Justin forced a goalline clearance and Vardy put Leicester’s best chance over the bar. But those misses and Manchester City’s goals turned the focus back towards a greater problem — individual errors. Jakub Stolarczyk — playing his second Premier League match in a row in place of Mads Hermansen , who injured his groin against Newcastle, and ahead of Danny Ward — palmed Phil Foden ’s shot straight into the path of Savinho for the first goal while Coady and Boubakary Soumare failed to see Haaland run into the space they left behind to head home. This has become a theme under Van Nistelrooy. Across his six matches in charge, they have made four errors leading to shots and three errors leading to goals after recording five and two in Cooper’s 12 league games. In the defeat at Newcastle, Alexander Isak benefited from Coady’s awkward attempt to clear while Rodrigo Gomes took advantage of Justin’s misjudgement of a routine cross in the 3-0 defeat by Wolves. These numbers do not include Leicester’s failure to mark Haaland adequately against Manchester City nor Niclas Fullkrug against West Ham, nor their slowness to react to situations such as the corner routine that led to Jacob Murphy ’s opener for Newcastle. Advertisement Van Nistelrooy addressed the errors after Sunday’s game. “After the Wolves match, I referred to structural mistakes or individual mistakes – this is something we have to separate. “I think Jakub had a fantastic (home) debut in a great game, so credit for him, but he is not happy with the first goal. (It is) something we have to accept, and it will happen, but we have to reduce these moments to stay in the game or take the lead,” he said, adding that he felt their performance merited a better result. There is a case to be made for errors emanating from Leicester adapting to Van Nistelrooy’s style, similar to Enzo Maresca’s early months in charge in their Championship-winning season. But the margin for error was far smaller to begin this season than the last given the quality of opposition in the top tier, and only reduces with every defeat, especially with the potential implications that relegation could have on the team’s finances. GO DEEPER How Leicester avoided a points deduction - and what it means for PSR Wolves, who drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, sit only two points clear of Leicester in 18th, but are unbeaten in three games under Vitor Pereira, keeping clean sheets against Leicester and Manchester United . Prior to their 2-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, 16th-placed Everton drew with Chelsea , Arsenal and Manchester City, conceding just once, in their toughest stretch of the season. For Leicester to move out of the relegation zone in 2025, which begins with a daunting visit to Aston Villa before Crystal Palace and Fulham visit the King Power Stadium, Van Nistelrooy will need to reduce his team’s errors, especially in defence. (Top photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)Batties scores 16, Harvard takes down Iona 67-61

Thanksgiving may be tense this year — Maryland’s look at legalizing mushrooms might helpJimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died at his home in Plains, Georgia today. He was 100. Carter's interest in promoting renewable energy was on display at his January 20, 1977 presidential inauguration. Solar panels were installed to warm the reviewing stand near the White House, where Carter watched the inaugural parade. "It happened to be one of the coldest days of the year that morning and very little sun," says Paul Muldawer, the Atlanta architect Carter tapped to design his inauguration facilities. "We made a statement, although it honestly didn't work as well as I would have liked it to work," Muldawer says. Wind chill that day was in the teens, according to the National Weather Service . Carter wanted a ceremony that reflected his values. That extended to the reviewing stand, which was built so it wouldn't end up in a landfill after the ceremony. Instead of wood, it was made of steel. "After the inauguration, we had it disassembled, shipped to Atlanta, and then it was recycled as a bandstand," says Muldawer, who's now 92. The structure was in a public park where free concerts were held. "Carter was just thrilled with that. He really liked the idea of repurposing that facility." The inauguration set the stage for Carter's four years as President. His environmental legacy has shaped how the country is responding to climate change today. "At the time that Jimmy Carter was president, his biggest concern was energy security," says Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University. In 1977, the U.S. was importing 8.81 million barrels of petroleum a day, mostly from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or the OPEC cartel. That made the U.S. vulnerable during the 1973 Arab oil embargo, which led to long lines at gas stations. In several ways Jaffe says Carter was ahead of his time by being an early advocate for conserving energy and boosting renewable electricity, such as solar power. But Carter also promoted domestic coal mining. The subsequent growth of that industry contributed to the warming climate the world is experiencing now. Carter boosted energy efficiency and solar Shortly after Carter took office in 1977, he delivered what has become known as the "sweater speech." Sitting by a lit fireplace, he wore a cardigan sweater and addressed the country on television. "All of us must learn to waste less energy. Simply by keeping our thermostats, for instance, at 65 degrees in the daytime and 55 degrees at night we could save half the current shortage of natural gas," Carter said. Energy efficiency seems like a given today, but it wasn't really on Americans' minds after the 1950s and '60s, Jaffe says. Back then, it seemed like the oil would always flow. Jaffe says some even made fun of Carter's efficiency plea – an indication of how unusual the request was at the time. Still, energy experts then were thinking about the possibility that oil and gas could run out. That prompted Carter to encourage alternative sources of energy. "He even put solar panels, famously, on the White House," Jaffe says. At a press event unveiling the solar panels that would be used to heat water, Carter made clear that energy security was at the top of his mind. "Today, in directly harnessing the power of the sun, we're taking the energy that God gave us, the most renewable energy that we will ever see, and using it to replace our dwindling supplies of fossil fuels," Carter said. By the end of the 20th century, Carter wanted the U.S. to get "20% of all the energy we use from the sun." The country still hasn't reached that goal , though more than 80% of new generating capacity this year is expected to come from solar and battery storage. As if to highlight the risk of experimenting with new energy sources, Carter told reporters at the solar panel unveiling, "A generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people." The panels were removed less than a decade later during the Reagan administration. "Had the United States stayed the course, and we had not had volatility in our federal efforts in alternative energy, we would maybe still be the premier country for alternative energy," Jaffe says. Instead, she says, the U.S. is playing catch-up with countries like Denmark and Spain on wind energy, and China for solar and electric vehicles. The panels removed from the White House were stored in a government warehouse until Unity College acquired them, according to Maine Public . Sixteen panels were re-installed on a roof at the college in Central Maine and used to heat water for the dining hall. One of the panels, about the size of a picnic table, is displayed on the campus with a marker describing its historical significance. A climate change warning and promoting coal The summer after Carter took office, he received a memo with the subject "Release of Fossil CO2 and the Possibility of a Catastrophic Climate Change." It warned that increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has a "greenhouse effect" that "will induce a global climatic warming." The memo was from Frank Press, Carter's chief advisor on scientific matters and the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Press wrote, "The present state of knowledge does not justify emergency action to limit the consumption of fossil fuels in the near term." But he did write that considering the "potential CO2 hazard" should become part of the country's long-term energy strategy. The top of the memo is marked "THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN." Climate change, though, was not an issue Carter highlighted during his time in office. He actually boosted domestic coal production. Coal is the most carbon-intense fuel for generating electricity. Carter's 1980 campaign speech to miners in West Frankfort, Illinois includes a level of boosterism rarely seen outside of the coal industry these days. "America indeed is the Saudi Arabia of coal, and my goal as President of the United States is to see on the world energy markets Arab oil replaced with Illinois coal," Carter told miners and employees of the Old Ben Coal Mine No. 25. He also boasted that the country would, "produce more coal in 1980 than has ever before been produced in the United States of America." The greenhouse gas emissions from burning more coal are an issue the country still grapples with as the effects of climate change become clear. "I calculated once that we had roughly five full extra years of emissions at roughly the 2000 level of CO2 emissions due to Carter's energy coal policies," says Philip Verleger, an economist who worked on energy issues in the Treasury Department during the Carter administration. In a 1978 speech Carter did recognize the polluting nature of coal by announcing a commission on the coal industry. "Ultimately, we will learn to harness the energy of the Sun and the oceans with fusion power to meet our energy needs. But for now, we have no choice but to continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels, and coal is our most abundant fossil fuel," Carter said. But even Verleger comes back to Carter's work advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy. "Carter really started the ball rolling, created many of the ideas that are now coming to the fore. And that's good. The downside in terms of environment was the emphasis on coal," Verleger says. An enduring environmental legacy Preserving land also was a priority for Carter. Near the end of his presidency, he signed into law the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act . It provided protections for 157 million acres of land through the creation of national parks, refuges and conservation areas. The legislation doubled the size of the National Park System and was the largest expansion of protected lands in history, according to the National Park Service . Carter also signed legislation in 1977 creating the Department of Energy, which is implementing much of the climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act that Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed last year. The law dedicates money to boosting renewable energy and research on new technologies. "Over four decades ago, Carter was putting in place policies that we are now enhancing today," Jaffe says. The IRA's focus on domestic manufacturing also is helping fulfill Carter's goal of putting "the United States back to where it needs to be, and dominating supply chains for things like solar panels, manufacturing and electric cars," explains Jaffe. In his final years, Carter's environmental legacy came full circle. In 2017 he leased 10 acres of his land in Plains, Georgia for a solar power project that produces enough electricity to supply about half the demand of his hometown. At the dedication event he told the crowd, "This site will be as symbolically important as the 32 panels we put on the White House," according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . "People can come here and see what can be done."

Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meetingPresident-Elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan for undocumented immigrants could have wide-ranging impacts across the country, particularly in Florida. But— at the moment— the state’s new leaders said it’s not their problem. While on the campaign trail, the former president regularly vowed to deliver mass deportation "on day one." At rallies, he often made the case by relating it to migrant crime. "When I'm re-elected, we'll begin removing these criminals, these horrible people from our midst," President-elect Trump said at a recent MAGA rally in Wisconsin. "And we'll end up doing it immediately." RELATED STORY | Scripps News/Ipsos poll: Support for mass deportations drops when Americans consider potential consequences Jan. 20 is now fewer than two months away. If President-elect Trump delivers, the changes to the Florida workforce and economy could be wide-ranging, some have even suggested devastating. Even so, Florida House Speaker Danny Perez (R) and Senate President Ben Albritton (R) sidestepped questions about the potential impacts, earlier this week. “Any sort of immigration policy that comes from the federal government is for the federal government to decide," said the House Speaker. "That's a question that you should be asking the president.” President Albritton said something similar, telling reporters Tuesday: “The federal government is the federal government. State government is state government. That's a federal issue." When pressed further about the possible disruptions from mass deportation, Albritton doubled down. “That's up to the federal government," said the Senate President. "We'll see what they do.” RELATED STORY | Trump's mass deportation plan targets specific groups of immigrants Exactly what they will do remains unclear. Trump has confirmed he’ll use the military. Texas has offered up land along the border for “deportation facilities.” Trump’s advisors have even said he’ll seek to again eliminate DACA, an Obama-era program that protects undocumented who arrived as children. Florida Democrats, like Rep. Marie Woodson (D-Pembroke Pines) a Haitian migrant herself — have warned for months what these mass deportations could mean for Florida. Her concern is a rise in bigotry and racial profiling. “For those who are afraid, I’ll tell you this— be afraid of Trump because he has proven to you who he is," said Woodson. “Okay, mass deportation. In mass deportation, you don't know who's going to be in that ‘mass.’ But we know for sure he doesn't want the people who came from the Biden program. Our brothers and sisters in Ohio. He doesn't want them here. He doesn't want the TPS recipient. He doesn't want Haitians in general.” There’s a major economic concern too. The latest data from the American Immigration Council show Florida has one of the highest populations of undocumented in the country, about 1.1 million. They’re about seven percent of the workforce here — with jobs in ag, hospitality, and construction, contributing about $2 billion to state and local taxes alone. The Brookings Institution recently suggested mass deportation could also lead to a decrease in work for citizens. Researchers found for every half million deported, U.S.-born employment dropped by about 44,000. “Occupations common among unauthorized workers, such as construction laborers and cooks, are essential to keep businesses operating,” the report said, in part. "Deporting workers in these jobs affects U.S.-born workers too." Florida’s governor and lawmakers have multiple state immigration laws already on the books, with strict work verification rules for employers. They have said they’re more focused on making the labor market inhospitable rather than mass deportation. "We're protecting Floridians with the full extent of our powers to do that," DeSantis said in May of last year, before signing an immigration reform bill. "But it's sad. It's sad to see what's happened. It's sad to see these images of the lawlessness." A new era may be on the horizon, however. For now, Florida’s lawmaking leaders seem content with waiting to see what happens next before going further. This story was originally published by Forrest Saunders at Scripps News Tampa .Big Central Conference all-division football teams for 2024Orchard has appointed Anne Ngo to the newly created role of head of customer growth and martech. In her new role at the creative technology agency , Ngo will be responsible for driving Orchard’s martech offering across both its consumer and healthcare divisions, as well as innovating across customer experience, data, and martech. Ngo has over 15 years of global experience in customer growth, lifecycle marketing, and digital transformation and brings a a wealth of experience in both CX and martech to Orchard. She joins the agency after spending nearly four years as Akcelo’s customer strategy and martech director. Throughout her career, Ngo has held positions at some of the world’s most established brands including FlexiGroup’s head of marketing, Latitude Financial Services’ head of marketing, and as American Express’ director of strategic partnerships and global network services. During her tenure at FlexiGroup, Latitude Financial Services and American Express, she led large-scale and insights-driven campaigns, built loyalty programs, and drove martech activation and integration. Wai Kwok , CEO of Orchard, said: “Anne’s depth of experience in CX and martech is a tremendous asset for us as we continue to grow. She brings an approach that’s both strategic and pragmatic—she understands how to unlock the value of data and martech in a way that’s impactful for brands and relevant to customers. “This balance is exactly what we need to continue evolving our martech services, and I’m thrilled to have her leadership at the forefront.” Ngo said of her appointment: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Orchard, whose ‘Invent Better’ mission encapsulates what most excites me about the industry. This mantra not only powers the work and relationships with clients, but it is infused in the culture and talented individuals the agency has developed. “Integrating data and martech with marketing practices and customer experiences is my passion, and I am so glad to be joining a team where this is celebrated.” – Top image: Anne Ngo Mediaweek Morning Report: Sign up here for the most important media, marketing and agency news delivered to your inbox every day

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Panic has gripped school heads across the country following the creation of a monitoring unit by the Ministry of Education and Sports to unearth the rot in government schools including those that inflate pupils’ numbers to swindle capitation grants from the government. The unit has hit the road running and so far has uncovered 43,045 ‘ghost’ pupils – who are counted in official records but do not exist in Ntungamo district, western Uganda. This revelation was made by Janet Kataha Museveni, the minister of Education and Sports also the first lady during her year-end address to ministry staff and affiliated agencies. The revelation sheds light on the persistent issue of inflated enrollment numbers that have cost taxpayers billions of shillings over the years. Ms Museveni said that the discovery was part of broader efforts to enhance accountability and governance within Uganda’s education sector. To address these challenges, Ms Museveni noted that a Special Infrastructure Monitoring Unit has been established within the ministry to oversee and streamline operations. This unit aims to curb fraudulent practices, ensure transparency, and safeguard public funds invested in education. The unit, led by Dr Kenneth Ssemwogerere, is tasked with closely monitoring infrastructure projects among other assignments. “These people have been my feet, ears, and eyes for all the projects we undertake because I don’t want to sit here and report on projects that are non-existent or done poorly,” Ms Museveni started. She added that one of the achievements made by the unit this year was their recent findings in Ntungamo district where they conducted surprise checks and headcounts across 236 primary schools, they identified 43,045 ghost pupils. Given that the government allocates Shs 20,000 for each primary school pupil, this discrepancy could have led to an overpayment of approximately Shs 860 million in capitation grants to the district over the years yet similar funds if placed into use could make a difference. For instance, districts like Kabarole receive Shs 500 million for schools in the 17 sub-counties as School Facilitation Grant (SFG) to help with the construction of more classrooms, latrines and purchase of desks for primary schools under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program. Despite the gravity of this discovery, Ms Museveni did not reveal the fate of the implicated head teachers or other officials in charge. However, in her address, she urged ministry staff and school officials to act with integrity, stressing that corruption and dishonesty must have no place in Uganda’s education system. “We must serve with integrity in handling the funds allocated for education. This money is meant to support our children’s learning, not to be misused,” she concluded. According to estimates from the ministry of Finance, ‘ghost’ pupils alone cost taxpayers about $11 million (Shs 41 billion) annually. In 2022, the ministry of Education introduced an improved Education Management Information System (EMIS) to among other things combat the issue of ghost pupils by assuring accurate learner enrollment data in individual schools, enhancing planning and management. Though EMIS is still in its roll-out phase, preliminary results have already shown significant discrepancies. Ministry sources revealed that some schools reported inflated numbers of pupils, only for those students to be missing when the data was cross-checked in the system. Nearly half a million over-reported learners have been identified nationwide through this process, and the ministry plans to carry out a full analysis of the data shortly. When asked about the matter, Vincent Ssozi, assistant commissioner for statistics, monitoring, and evaluation at the ministry of Education, explained that once the ministry completes the harmonization of data collected from schools, a clearer picture of the ghost learners will emerge. “This process will allow us to eliminate discrepancies. We will completely handle those so-called ghost pupils and ensure that future capitation grants are allocated based only on verified data from the Education Management Information System (EMIS).” Still addressing the issue of integrity spoke on the recent disciplinary action taken at the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), following reports supported by evidence of misappropriation, misuse of government resources, and abuse of office. She emphasized that whenever such issues are detected, she will not hesitate to take swift and decisive action to address the matter. “This year, we had to crack the whip on the team at DIT, and this was not done haphazardly, it followed a report by the IGG, with evidence of misappropriation, misuse of government resources, and total abuse of office,” she noted. She added that, while recognizing the importance of DIT and the significant benefits it brings to the people, the work must be done properly. “Next year, we must come together to streamline the mandate, management, and work methods of DIT,” she stated. Meanwhile, during the same session, the ministry also took stock of its achievements over the past year, including securing the AFCON co-hosting bid and streamlining the TVET sector, among other successes. It is not new for public servants to include ‘ghosts’ and non-existent figures in the payrolls so as to siphon public funds. For example, in 2021, it was discovered that over 1,039 ‘ghost’ workers were on the nurses’ payroll whereby each nurse was receiving Shs 15,000 per day. editorMemorial planned on Dec. 11 for homeless man who died in Windsor, N.S.

Japan – Scientists develop new tech to turn sunlight, water into hydrogen fuel Japanese scientists have developed a new means of cracking water into hydrogen fuel using sunlight. Using a special photocatalyst, this new technology could help usher in cheaper, more abundant, and sustainable hydrogen fuel for various applications. Currently, most free hydrogen is derived from natural gas feedstocks, meaning moving away from fossil fuels for this greener option is not an option. However, this easily manufactured sunlight-powered method could prove pivotal if hydrogen is to become an alternative in the future. of Shinshu University, senior author of the article in Frontiers in Science explained. “However, many challenges remain,” he added.The basic principle behind the new process is to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. While it sounds simple, this is energy-intensive and needs a catalyst, in this case, special ones called photocatalysts. Hydrogen from water using light When exposed to light, these catalysts facilitate chemical reactions that break down water into constituent parts. The concept is not new, but most existing, so-called “one-step” ones are inefficient and have a meager solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion rate. Another more sophisticated also exists, and it is more efficient. In these systems, one photocatalyst generates hydrogen from water, while another produces oxygen. of Shinshu University, another study author said,The Japanese team chose this second “two-step” water-cracking process. “But by storing the energy of sunlight as the chemical energy of fuel materials, it is possible to use [it] anytime and anywhere,” he added. Domen and Hisatomi’s team produced a successful proof of concept by operating a 1,076 ft2 (100 m2) reactor for three years. This reactor even performed better in real-world sunlight than in laboratory conditions. said, Not just theory “Simulated standard sunlight uses a spectrum from a slightly high latitude region. Solar energy conversion efficiency could be higher in areas where natural sunlight has more short-wavelength components than simulated reference sunlight. However, currently, the efficiency under simulated standard sunlight is 1% at best, and it will not reach 5% efficiency under natural sunlight,” he added. forward and break that 5% barrier, the team says that more researchers need to develop more efficient and build larger experimental reactors. explained “If it is improved to a practical level, many researchers will work seriously on developing mass production technology, gas separation processes, and large-scale plant construction. This will also change how many people, including policymakers, think about solar energy conversion and accelerate the development of infrastructure, laws, and regulations related to solar fuels,” READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Japan – Scientists develop new tech to turn sunlight, water into hydrogen fuel, Panasonic Installs an In-house Hydrogen based Renewable Energy Power Generation System in Its UK Factory Tokyo, Japan – Panasonic Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masahiro Shinada; hereinafter... Improved catalyst turns harmful greenhouse gases into cleaner fuels, chemical feedstocks – hydrogen included A chemical reaction can convert two polluting greenhouse gases into valuable building blocks for cleaner... Panasonic Inaugurates Use of Panasonic HX to Symbolize an Energy Solution That Utilizes Hydrogen Panasonic establishes a marketing name to symbolize its hydrogen business upon installing a demonstration system in its...USC QB Miller Moss enters transfer portal after losing starting job to Jayden Maiava

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Themus Fulks' 26 points helped Milwaukee defeat IU Indianapolis 88-81 on Sunday. Fulks also contributed five rebounds and five assists for the Panthers (10-4, 3-0 Horizon League). Kentrell Pullian scored 20 points while going 5 of 9 from the floor, including 4 for 7 from 3-point range, and 6 for 8 from the line. Erik Pratt shot 5 for 9, including 1 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. Sean Craig led the way for the Jaguars (5-10, 1-3) with 22 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Paul Zilinskas added 21 points and three steals for IU Indianapolis. Jarvis Walker finished with 12 points and four assists. Milwaukee's next game is Thursday against Oakland on the road. IU Indianapolis hosts Youngstown State on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

How to Prepare for a Criminal Defense Case Hearing in LouisianaThe Shrimpers played the majority of the second half with a numerical disadvantage after Cav Miley was sent off. And Doyle was frustrated Woking could not find a winner as the game ended without a goal. “We’re a little bit disappointed we’ve only taken a point ,especially after they’ve gone down to 10 men,” Doyle told the club's YouTube channel. “The first half it was difficult. “It was a middle of the season game with the weather as well and it was scrappy. “The pitch was cutting up and they threw a lot at us. “They’re a very direct team and they had a great outlet with Macauley Bonne. “He gave them a real platform to pin us in but the lads competed brilliantly.” However, Doyle would liked to have seen more from his side when in possession. “We could’ve shown more composure with the ball in the first half but we played a bit safe when we got into some good positions at times,” said Doyle. “You could see a bit of confidence lacking in the players so the message at half-time was for them to believe in themselves. “Once they went down to 10 men it changed the game. “We dominated the game possession wise but we were a bit naïve at times moving the ball too slowly.” And that led to Doyle opting to switch systems. “We changed to 3-4-3 with three forwards in the box and tried to get the ball out wide,” said Doyle. “We had some great chances with Deon Moore at the back post and he’ll be disappointed he’s not scored. “Stretts ( Jack Stretton) had a couple too but overall we’re a little bit disappointed. “I thought we could’ve been a bit more clinical and move the ball faster if I’m picky but I couldn’t have asked any more from the players.”What's New Oklahoma and New York's governors have announced that they are deploying drone detection systems amid ongoing mysterious drone sightings across the United States. Newsweek reached out to the Oklahoma Governor's Office and the New York Governor's Office through their websites for comment. Why It Matters Last month, people in New Jersey began making multiple reports about mysterious drones spotted flying at nigh t. Some drones are described to be about the size of a car, and some are seen with flashing lights. Since the New Jersey reports, drones have also been spotted in New York , Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and California, among others. The sightings have drawn the attention of state and federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). What To Know New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that her state was receiving a drone detection system from federal resources on Sunday, with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announcing that his state was seeking similar systems. The FBI and DHS previously issued a shared statement last week that there was no evidence of a national security threat related to the drone sightings. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby issued an updated statement on Monday, saying that federal agencies have determined the sightings to include "a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones." The response has prompted blowback, with some state leaders opting to seek answers for themselves. What People Are Saying In a State of Oklahoma press release, Stitt said: "Drones and unmanned aerial systems are an exciting new industry here in Oklahoma, and we want to make sure that industry has room to thrive. This technology is new, and because of that, we don't have all the measures in place to ensure Oklahomans are protected from those who would use this technology to harm others. That's why I've instructed [Commissioner of Public Safety and Homeland Security Advisor Tim] Tipton to invest in [Unmanned Aircraft Systems] detection systems. This will ensure that drones can operate safely while law enforcement can keep Oklahomans safe." In the same press release, Tipton said: "The activity happening in New Jersey and across the country is unsettling. While we've only had a few reports of drone activity in Oklahoma, we want to be ready in case the need arises. I'm glad Governor Stitt takes this threat seriously and will equip the Department of Public Safety adequately." In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Hochul said: "In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are sending a drone detection system to New York. I am grateful for the support, but we need more. Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones." What's Next New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has also requested additional resources from the federal government. However, it's unclear if New Jersey will receive drone detection systems similar to those in New York and Oklahoma. How many other states plan to follow suit by requesting drone detection systems or more information about drones from federal agencies is also unclear. Congress also has yet to take action on a law that outlines state responsibility when it comes to the recent drone sightings, as Hochul said.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records amid a mixed Tuesday of trading, tacking a touch more onto what’s already been a stellar year so far. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. It’s climbed in 10 of the last 11 days and is on track for one of its best years since the turn of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 76 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. AT&T rose 4.6% after it boosted its profit forecast for the year. It also announced a $10 billion plan to send cash to its investors by buying back its own stock, while saying it expects to authorize another $10 billion of repurchases in 2027. On the losing end of Wall Street was U.S. Steel, which fell 8%. President-elect Donald Trump reiterated on social media that he would not let Japan’s Nippon Steel take over the iconic Pennsylvania steelmaker. Nippon Steel announced plans last December to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden also came out against the acquisition. Tesla sank 1.6% after a judge in Delaware reaffirmed a previous ruling that the electric car maker must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package. The judge denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. All told, the S&P 500 rose 2.73 points to 6,049.88. The Dow fell 76.47 to 44,705.53, and the Nasdaq composite gained 76.96 to 19,480.91. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. Continued strength there would raise optimism that the economy could remain out of a recession that many investors had earlier worried was inevitable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.23% from 4.20% from late Monday. Yields have seesawed since Election Day amid worries that Trump’s preferences for lower tax rates and bigger tariffs could spur higher inflation along with economic growth. But traders are still confident the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate again at its next meeting in two weeks. They’re betting on a nearly three-in-four chance of that, according to data from CME Group. Lower rates can give the economy more juice, but they can also give inflation more fuel. The key report this week that could guide the Fed’s next move will arrive on Friday. It’s the monthly jobs report , which will show how many workers U.S. employers hired and fired during November. It could be difficult to parse given how much storms and strikes distorted figures in October. Based on trading in the options market, Friday’s jobs report appears to be the biggest potential market mover until the Fed announces its next decision on interest rates Dec. 18, according to strategists at Barclays Capital. In financial markets abroad, the value of South Korea’s currency fell 1.1% against the U.S. dollar following a frenetic night where President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and then later said he’d lift it after lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Stocks of Korean companies that trade in the United States also fell, including a 1.6% drop for SK Telecom. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9% to help lead global markets. Some analysts think Japanese stocks could end up benefiting from Trump’s threats to raise tariffs , including for goods coming from China . Trade relations between the U.S. and China took another step backward after China said it is banning exports to the U.S. of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The counterpunch came swiftly after the U.S. Commerce Department expanded the list of Chinese technology companies subject to export controls to include many that make equipment used to make computer chips, chipmaking tools and software. The 140 companies newly included in the so-called “entity list” are nearly all based in China. In China, stock indexes rose 1% in Hong Kong and 0.4% in Shanghai amid unconfirmed reports that Chinese leaders would meet next week to discuss planning for the coming year. Investors are hoping it may bring fresh stimulus to help spur growth in the world’s second-largest economy. In France, the CAC 40 rose 0.3% amid continued worries about politics in Paris , where the government is battling over the budget. AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted amid mixed trading Monday, ahead of this week’s upcoming meeting by the Federal Reserve that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first losing week in the last four . The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2% to a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a laggard and fell 110 points, or 0.3%. Broadcom leaped 11.2% to help lead the S&P 500 for a second straight day after delivering a profit report last week that beat analysts’ expectations. The technology company is riding a wave of enthusiasm about its artificial-intelligence offerings in particular. The market’s main event, though, will arrive on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will announce its last move on interest rates for the year. The widespread expectation is that it will cut its main rate for a third straight time, as it tries to boost the slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its target of 2%. The question is how much more it will cut rates next year, and Fed officials will release projections for where they see the federal funds rate ending 2025, along with other economic indicators, once their meeting concludes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also answer questions in a press conference following the meeting. For now, the general expectation among traders is that the Fed may cut a couple more times in 2025, according to data from CME Group. But such expectations have been shrinking following reports suggesting inflation may be tougher to get all the way down to 2% from here. Besides last month’s slight acceleration in inflation, another worry is that President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation down the line. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle has dropped his earlier forecast of a cut by the Fed in January, for example. Beyond the possibility of tariffs, he said Fed officials may also want to slow their cuts because of uncertainty about exactly how low rates need to go so that they no longer press the brakes on the economy. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year and is heading for one of its best years of the millennium . The economy has held up better than many feared, continuing to grow even after the Fed hiked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of grinding down on inflation, which topped 9% two summers ago. On Wall Street, MicroStrategy jumped as much as 7% during the day as it continues to benefit from the surging price for bitcoin , which set another all-time high. But its stock ended the day down by les than 0.1% after bitcoin’s price pulled back below $106,000 after setting a record above $107,700, according to CoinDesk. The software company has been building its hoard of the cryptocurrency, and its stock price has more than sextupled this year. It will also soon join the Nasdaq 100 index. Bitcoin’s price has catapulted from roughly $44,000 at the start of the year, riding a recent wave of enthusiasm that Trump will create a system that’s more favorable to digital currencies . Honeywell rose 3.7% after saying it’s still considering a spin-off or sale of its aerospace business, as part of a review of its overall business. It said it plans to give an update with the release of its fourth-quarter results. They helped offset a drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI. Its stock fell 1.7%. Because it’s grown so massive, with a total value topping $3 trillion, it was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 22.99 points to 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 110.58 to 43,717.48, and the Nasdaq composite rose 247.17 to 20,173.89. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.39% from 4.40% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 4.24% from 4.25%. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Europe and Asia. They sank 0.9% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November despite attempts to strengthen the world’s second-largest economy. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% as law enforcement authorities pushed to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree, and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. ___ AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans' starting job last month. Moss made his announcement on social media Monday. Moss started the Trojans ' bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” Moss wrote. “Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.” Moss, who was born in Los Angeles and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed with the Trojans after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 64.4% of his passes this season for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After a spectacular 378-yard performance to beat LSU in the Trojans' season opener, Moss didn't play poorly as a starter, but he also wasn't a difference-maker while USC stumbled to a 4-5 record. Moss threw seven interceptions in his final five starts before losing the job to Maiava. The Trojans went 1-4 in that stretch under Moss, who plays as a more traditional pocket passer while Maiava has the mobility usually favored for quarterbacks in Riley's spread offense. “Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level,” Moss wrote. Moss has already graduated from USC, putting him in the portal as a graduate student. USC (6-6) is headed to a lower-tier bowl game again to finish this season, its third under Riley. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Tesla ( TSLA 6.14% ) stock has seemingly gone straight up since the U.S. election. That more than 80% rise has brought it to new all-time highs. Shares jumped another 5.6% today as of 3:25 p.m. ET. And one Wall Street analyst thinks there are good reasons for the recent parabolic move. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives just released a report in which he raised his price target on the stock by $115 per share. His new target is $515, the highest price targe t for Tesla on Wall Street. Ives sees the recent run in the stock as being logical based on new circumstances brought by the election of Donald Trump. All about self-driving tech Tesla CEO Elon Musk supported Trump monetarily and vociferously before the election. He's now become one of Trump's advisors with a place in the incoming administration. Ives wrote that Musk's new position is a "total game changer for the autonomous and AI [artificial intelligence] story for Tesla and Musk over the coming years." Many Tesla observers, including Elon Musk, believe that Tesla should be valued more on the potential future income from its self-driving technology than its existing car sales. Ives believes that a new Trump administration will open the door for that technology to quickly gain traction. Ives doesn't think Tesla stock will stop at $515 per share, either. He believes the self-driving technology -- known as full self-driving, or FSD -- can drive Tesla's valuation to over $2 trillion in the next 12 to 18 months. That would imply a stock price of about $625 per share by the middle of 2026. That's another 35% gain from recent prices. Musk has said that investors shouldn't own Tesla stock if they don't feel it will solve issues associated with autonomous driving. The company has made strides sending out new updates that still require driver supervision. The timing could be right for Tesla's technology to hit the streets with the advanced versions and a friendly administration in the White House. That has investors buying into what Ives published today.Jim Harbaugh and Chargers focused on accomplishing more after wrapping up playoff berth