Police case lodged against woman bullying Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal PradeshThe last six years have landed Canadian Kurtis Rourke firmly in the U.S. college football limelight. The 24-year-old Oakville, Ont., native will lead the upstart Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) into South Bend, Ind., to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) on Dec. 20 to open American university football's expanded playoff bracket. Rourke transferred to Indiana last December to boost his NFL draft stock after five years at Ohio University, where he began as a backup to his older brother, Nathan, then captured the 2022 MAC offensive player of the year award despite suffering a season-ending knee injury before heading to Indiana after the 2023 season. A win over Notre Dame would extend Indiana's stellar campaign while a loss would mark the end of Rourke's collegiate career. "Having six years is something not many people can say," Rourke told Canadian reporters Wednesday. "(It has been) very much a roller-coaster but I'm just grateful. "I've had four surgeries in college and only missed a handful of games. That's the biggest thing I come back to, that I've been so lucky to still play and have an opportunity to play (maybe) four more games and hopefully at a professional level." The six-foot-five, 223-pound Rourke will be eligible for the '25 NFL draft. Rourke has played a big role in Indiana — traditionally known as a basketball school — emerging as a Big Ten contender in head coach Curt Cignetti's first season. Rourke completed 202-of-287 passes (70.4 per cent) for 2,827 yards with 27 TDs and just four interceptions in 11 games and last week was named a finalist for the Manning Award, given annually to American college football's top quarterback. The only blemish on Indiana's record was a 38-15 loss to Ohio State before 105,751 spectators in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 23. Rourke was eight-of-18 passing for 68 yards in that contest and sacked five times. It's that experience Rourke and the Hoosiers are drawing upon as they prepare to visit Notre Dame Stadium, which has a seating capacity of roughly 77,000 but held 84,000 spectators for a 2018 Garth Brooks concert. "I don't know if it will be as crazy or as hostile an environment as Ohio State ... but I do expect it to be a pretty good environment," Rourke said. "We have some plans in place with the silent count if we need at any point to go to ... but ultimately just learning from the experience of Ohio State to handle it individually as well as an offence." Former CFL player Tino Sunseri is Indiana's quarterback coach/co-offensive co-ordinator. Sunseri spent three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013-15), winning a Grey Cup as a rookie. Reaching the expanded playoff format in Cignetti's first season is a huge accomplishment for Indiana. But the school reportedly added 31 players via the transfer portal before the 2024 campaign. When asked how he appealed to incoming players, Cignetti said, "It's pretty simple, I win. Google me." Cignetti came to Indiana after posting a 52-9 record over five seasons at James Madison. Rourke said Hoosiers' players draw inspiration from their brash head coach. "Seeing your head coach on a national stage say what he said, 'Google me,' ... that just shows how confident he is in himself and the coaches," Rourke said. "And that just makes us feel like, 'Yeah, we're coming along with you coach.' "As the season went on we were like, 'Yeah, we can do this.'" Rourke suffered a right thumb injury that required surgery in Indiana's 56-7 win over Nebraska on Oct. 19. Fortunately, he missed only one start (31-17 victory over Washington) and returned to throw four TD passes in 47-10 decision over Michigan State on Nov. 2. "My thumb feels 100 per cent now," Rourke said. "It was hard missing that Washington game ... but I knew the team would have my back." It's no surprise Rourke has leaned upon his brother throughout his college tenure. The two are very close and Rourke said he began playing quarterback after watching Nathan do so growing up. Nathan Rourke rejoined the Lions in August after spending time in the NFL with Jacksonville, New England, Atlanta and the New York Giants. "We've been able to talk about ball but (also) life," the junior Rourke said. "Just having someone who's done it, who's been through the college experience, been through the NFL experiences and now the CFL to learn from and also bounce questions off him, it's been quite beneficial to have him in my corner." Rourke has hired an agent — Octagon's Casey Muir — and will work out this off-season in Fort Myers, Fla. As of Wednesday, Rourke said he's not been invited to the NFL combine, which begins Feb. 27 in Indianapolis. "I'd love to get an invite to the combine," he said. "That was one of my goals, honestly, when I got to college, which seems forever ago. "That would be awesome." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
The former Labour PM said the death of his newborn daughter in 2002 did “not convince me of the case for assisted dying; it convinced me of the value and imperative of good end-of-life care”. In a rare intervention ahead of the Commons debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, November 29, Mr Brown shared a glimpse of the time he and his wife Sarah spent with their baby, Jennifer, who died when she was only 11 days old. Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Mr Brown said: “We could only sit with her, hold her tiny hand and be there for her as life ebbed away. She died in our arms. “But those days we spent with her remain among the most precious days of my and Sarah’s lives.” While he acknowledged that at the heart of the assisted dying debate is a “desire to prevent suffering”, the former Labour MP called for a commission on end-of-life care to be set up, instead of the law change which MPs will consider. This commission, he said, should work to create a “fully-funded, 10-year strategy for improved and comprehensive palliative care”. “When only a small fraction of the population are expected to choose assisted dying, would it not be better to focus all our energies on improving all-round hospice care to reach everyone in need of end of life support?” he said. Mr Brown added: “Medical advances that can transform end-of-life care and the horror of people dying alone, as with Covid, have taught us a great deal. “This generation have it in our power to ensure no-one should have to face death alone, uncared for, or subject to avoidable pain.” Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP sponsoring the assisted dying Bill through the Commons, said she was “deeply touched” by Mr Brown’s decision to share his story. The Spen Valley MP said she agreed completely with his calls for better end-of-life care. But Ms Leadbeater added: “He and I agree on very many things but we don’t agree on this. “Only legislation by Parliament can put right what Sir Keir Starmer calls the ‘injustice that we have trapped within our current arrangement’. “The need to address the inability of the current law to provide people with safeguards against coercion and the choice of a better death, and to protect their loved ones from possible prosecution, cannot wait. “So for me it isn’t a case of one or the other. My Bill already includes the need for the Government to report back to Parliament on the availability and quality of palliative care, and I strongly support further detailed examination of its provision. We need to do both.” Though Ms Leadbeater made reference to the Prime Minister as she set out her difference from Mr Brown’s position, Sir Keir has opted not to say whether he will support the Bill. MPs will be given a free vote on the legislation, meaning their political parties will not require them to vote for or against it, and it will be a matter for their personal consideration. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is the latest senior minister to disclose her position on assisted dying, signalling to broadcasters on Friday that she may support the Bill. “I continue to support the principle of needing change but also to ensure that we’ve got the proper safeguards and systems in place,” she told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Asked if that meant a “yes” when the Bill comes to the Commons, she replied: “I think I last voted on this about 20 years ago and so I have supported the principle in the past and continue to believe that change is needed but we do need to have that debate on the detail and I’ll continue to follow that debate next Friday.”Soprano Saira Peter on creating Sufi opera, blending cultures in first visit to Saudi Arabia
ICF Awarded Over $40 Million In Contracts to Drive Health Innovation with Advanced Technology
The AGI Race Is on... and so Is the Race for the Best AGI Plays
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 21, 2024-- In today's fast-paced society, more and more singles with entrepreneurial spirit are looking for innovation, adventure, and independence. These individuals are often self-driven, eager to push boundaries in both their careers and personal lives. Unfortunately, traditional dating platforms often fall short in helping these individuals find like-minded matches who can share the similar worldviews, values, and passions. Founded in 2001, MillionaireMatch invented millionaire dating and has becoming the leading platform for ambitious individuals with entrepreneurial spirit. Voted as “Best of the Web” by Forbes and highlighted by the WSJ, MillionaireMatch is more than just a dating platform – it has also been a business networking community. Many singles with entrepreneurial spirit have joined to look for serious relationships, share career stories, discuss industry trends, and collaborate on business ventures. To better serve the community, MillionaireMatch has already introduced some business-focused features designed to help users share their entrepreneurial spirit, business stories, startup projects, and career aspirations. Such as: To further enhance privacy and security, MillionaireMatch introduces Confidentiality Guard TM, a feature designed to provide a secure and reliable dating experience for those looking for authentic, high-quality connections. It safeguards both online and offline interactions, proving comprehensive protection for all activities. For individuals with entrepreneurial spirit, they usually discuss career goals, startup ideas, or business plans with potential partners. Under this agreement, users are prohibited from sharing other users' profile details, private conversations, or any confidential information with third-party platforms. “MillionaireMatch goes beyond matchmaking; it’s a place where members expand their networks, explore business opportunities, and form deep, meaningful connections. Whether you’re looking for love or collaboration, we will help you build relationships that matter. While our subscription fees may be higher than those of typical dating platforms, the users of entrepreneurial spirit are more likely to purchase the premium membership than others. We connect you with like-minded, high-quality individuals who share your entrepreneurial spirit – helping you save valuable time, energy, and money. All these make the cost of a subscription a worthwhile investment,” stated Dani Johnson, spokesperson for MillionaireMatch. Navigating the dating world for ambitious individuals with entrepreneurial spirit can present unique challenges. Choosing the right platform and prioritizing emotional needs lay a strong foundation. Ready to meet individuals whose entrepreneurial spirit matches yours? Join MillionaireMatch today. About MillionaireMatch Founded in 2001, MillionaireMatch has grown to serve nearly 6 million of high-quality members such as executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and investors, alongside high-net-worth individuals including celebrities, influencers, millionaires, and billionaires. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241221333594/en/ CONTACT: Dani Johnson press@MillionaireMatch.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY WOMEN MEN COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE LIFESTYLE SOCIAL MEDIA CONSUMER DATA MANAGEMENT SOURCE: MillionaireMatch Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/21/2024 09:15 AM/DISC: 12/21/2024 09:15 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241221333594/en
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reportedly said that President-elect Donald Trump’s victory puts Americans in “a very, very dangerous world,” stressing that he plans to spend his final two years in the Senate pushing back against the growing Trump-fueled isolationism within the GOP. The 82-year-old Kentucky Republican, who last month stepped down from his role as the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, has a complicated record with the incoming president . While McConnell has worked to significantly move the country to the right — much of it under the first Trump administration — he is no fan of Trump and his isolationist worldview that’s spreading throughout the Republican Party. “We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War II,” McConnell told the Financial Times on Wednesday . “Even the slogan is the same, ‘America First.’ That was what they said in the ’30s.” He made similar comments before the election, telling Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in April that the world is “more dangerous” than before World War II due to the increase in and evolution of terrorism. The interventionist senator highlighted how Trump and the current GOP are regressing to pre-World War II isolationism — a foreign policy position that opposes American military intervention in other countries’ political affairs, including war. Trump and his allies have called for the U.S. to stop sending money to Ukraine , a country that’s been battling Russia now for more than two years. The former and incoming president has also argued that enemies within the U.S. are more dangerous than Russia and China, a claim McConnell said he vehemently disagrees with. “The cost of deterrence is considerably less than the cost of war,” the senator said to the Times. “To most American voters, I think the simple answer is, ‘Let’s stay out of it.’ That was the argument made in the ’30s and that just won’t work. Thanks to [former President Ronald] Reagan, we know what does work — not just saying peace through strength, but demonstrating it.” In one of many examples of putting the GOP first, McConnell told Welker in April that even though he does not personally like Trump, he would support him as the Republican presidential nominee. The senator told the Times that he voted for him in November but characterized the decision as supporting “the ticket” rather than the candidate. “The election’s over and we’re moving on,” he told the publication when asked if he regrets not doing more to stop Trump from taking office again. “He has an enormous audience, and he just won a national election, so there’s no question he’s the most influential Republican out there.” Trump is no fan of McConnell either, recently calling him a “disgrace” for endorsing him. McConnell, who has had multiple health scares in recent years, was replaced as the GOP’s Senate leader by South Dakota’s John Thune and said that he will not seek reelection after finishing the two remaining years in his current term. Jimmy Fallon Proposes A New Challenge For Mitch McConnell After Health Scare Outgoing Senate GOP Leader McConnell Has A Fall In Latest Health Episode John Thune Will Be Senate’s New Republican Leader, Replacing Mitch McConnell
Canadian Kurtis Rourke leads upstart Hoosiers into U.S. college football playoffsLeary doubles up with Team AZ for 2025 USAC Sprint and Silver Crown
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
SEAN JANSEN’S red card was costly as Connacht lost to the Bulls at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Both sides finished with 14 but the Westerners played most of the game with a man gone. And the Bulls were clear when Celimpilo ka Gumede saw red after 56 minutes. The South Africans took an early lead when Sebastian de Klerk touched down in the corner. Johan Gosen added the extras.Jansen was then dismissed for an elbow to the head of Marcel Coetzee in the 21st minute. And the Bulls made Connacht pay with three unanswered tries from Embrose Papier, David Kriel and Canan Moodie. Late tries from Connacht duo David Hawkshaw and Caolin Blade meant little. SCORERS — Connacht: Tries, Hawkshaw, Blade; cons, Forde 2. Bulls: Tries, De Klerk, E Papier, Kriel, Moodie; cons, Goosen 4. Elsewhere, Cian Healy became Ireland’s most-capped player with his 134th appearance against Australia in Dublin on Saturday. The Leinster prop was presented the history-making cap by IRFU President Declan Madden after the 22-19 win at Aviva Stadium. The Belvedere college man broke the long-standing recording for that was previously held by Brian O'Driscoll . Ireland's win was the third of their Autumn Nations Series 2024 in their last game of the calendar year - the win always marked the IRFU's 150th anniversary. Andy Farrell's men came back in the second half after a disjointed opening period that saw them trail by eight points at the break with Healy coming from the bench to break BOD's record.
Vikings defeat the Packers 27-25, stuff their pockets with NFL playoff seeding advantages
Sonos Arc Ultra Review