Major changes on how much political donors can help finance election campaigns are off the table for the rest of the year. or signup to continue reading The federal government has been unable to reach a deal with the coalition on setting a $20,000 limit on how much an individual can donate to candidates, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says. There was hope the reforms could pass federal parliament by the end of the year, with Thursday being the last sitting day before MPs and senators leave Canberra for the summer break. Senator Gallagher said she was confident a deal could be struck in the new year before the next election, due to be held by May. "We want to have donation caps, we haven't been able to land it," she told ABC Radio on Thursday. "We will try and deal with this in February because we're really, really, very keen to get this done before the election. "We want to get big money out of politics." The laws would be due to come into effect by mid-2026, and would not be used during the upcoming election. The reforms would also see donations of more than $1000 forced to be disclosed in real time. Political parties would have a spending cap of $90 million, while special interest groups such as unions or Climate 200 would have a limit of $11 million. Concerns had also been raised about an $800,000 cap per electorate. Senator Gallagher said Special Minister of State Don Farrell would continue negotiations on the electoral reforms in coming months. "We haven't been able to land it in this week, there were some last minute amendments," she said. "Senator Farrell will ... reach out over summer and try, there's a lot of bills that will still be important." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. 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 Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. 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 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! Advertisement AdvertisementFamily first: Biden joins list of US presidents pardoning relatives
Major changes on how much political donors can help finance election campaigns are off the table for the rest of the year. Login or signup to continue reading The federal government has been unable to reach a deal with the coalition on setting a $20,000 limit on how much an individual can donate to candidates, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says. There was hope the reforms could pass federal parliament by the end of the year, with Thursday being the last sitting day before MPs and senators leave Canberra for the summer break. Senator Gallagher said she was confident a deal could be struck in the new year before the next election, due to be held by May. "We want to have donation caps, we haven't been able to land it," she told ABC Radio on Thursday. "We will try and deal with this in February because we're really, really, very keen to get this done before the election. "We want to get big money out of politics." The laws would be due to come into effect by mid-2026, and would not be used during the upcoming election. The reforms would also see donations of more than $1000 forced to be disclosed in real time. Political parties would have a spending cap of $90 million, while special interest groups such as unions or Climate 200 would have a limit of $11 million. Concerns had also been raised about an $800,000 cap per electorate. Senator Gallagher said Special Minister of State Don Farrell would continue negotiations on the electoral reforms in coming months. "We haven't been able to land it in this week, there were some last minute amendments," she said. "Senator Farrell will ... reach out over summer and try, there's a lot of bills that will still be important." Australian Associated Press 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 Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. 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 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. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. 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!Aston Villa’s disallowed goal would have counted in England – Unai Emery
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Previous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades have been much colder than tomorrow’s event is shaping up to be, but watching all the city-goers with their winter coats and hats on might still send a sympathetic chill down your spine — or, at the very least, make you add some hand warmers to your shopping list STAT. Fortunately, Amazon has a major 50% off deal on orastone portable hand warmers that’s sure to come in handy as the temperatures continue to drop. For a limited time, you can shop five different colors of the diamond-shaped heating dongle, starting from $15 and up to $18 for the more “premium” Knit and Watercolor options. If you’re a Prime member, you may even be eligible for free same-day shipping — which can’t be beaten, especially if you’ll be heading to a Turkey Trot fun run early in the morning or starting to put your holiday decorations up outside and haven’t broken out your winter wardrobe yet. These sleek and compact double-sided rechargeable hand warmers heat up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit — a toasty temperature that’s neither too hot nor too cold — in under two minutes, and feature comfortable rubber coatings that the company and customers say makes them easy to hold and carry. Plus, with built-in LED torches, you don’t have to go rooting around in your bag to find things (poopy bags, for instance, if you’re out walking your dog or keys if you’re hurrying to your car in a parking garage or parking lot). You can even use the light for reading at night. Grab some for holiday gifts, stocking stuffers or “just in case” provisions for outdoor adventures — starting from $15 at Amazon . Keep these other fall and winter warmup deals in mind while they’re hot, too. The Best Black Friday Deals in 2024 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .
EDITOR'S NOTE: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, right, jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, bottom, during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens. When Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears' first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans, the anticipation for the rookie's debut game—possibly the most ever—was on full display. Despite a tough debut for the quarterback, the Bears secured a 24-17 win, a notable feat for the rookie. The victory made Williams the first #1 overall pick with a Week 1 win in over 20 years. Going forward this season, Williams is expected to eclipse C.J. Stroud's record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign with the Houston Texans. However, Stroud's success is an anomaly. Drafting a successful quarterback, especially one who is effective right away, is difficult. When teams have a high first-round draft pick, and they're coming off an unsuccessful few seasons, it's assumed that they will use their first pick on a quarterback . That player will assume the title of "the face of the franchise" and will get the central attention, win or lose. To see which quarterbacks have faced that challenge and triumphed, ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best rookie quarterbacks since 1960 using data from StatHead . Rookies were defined as players who are in their first season of professional football and have not been on the roster of another professional team. Quarterbacks were ranked according to adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which quantifies efficient passing skill. Ties were broken using passer rating. Only rookie quarterbacks with at least 10 games played and 200 total passing attempts were considered. Since 1967, 130 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Of those drafted, only 61 have won a playoff game as a starter, according to The Athletic, which used data from NFL Research . The biggest reason this success rate is not guaranteed is because there are differences between college and pro offensive systems. In the collegiate game, the ball is snapped at different points on the field, passing windows are wider, and defenders and linemen are not as quick, making the adjustment to the pro level more difficult. NFL scouts and general managers are gambling on what skills can be transferable and how long those adjustments might take, which is why some teams prefer redshirt quarterbacks to ease the transition. However, just because a team may not want to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, doesn't mean they can't find a diamond in the rough later in the draft. Think about Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott, all of which were not first-round picks, but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.44 - Passer rating: 91.2 - Season stats: 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions Coming out of college, Gardner Minshew was not a highly sought-after quarterback for NFL teams. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft—a draft that was headlined by Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones. Nonetheless, Minshew's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars was filled with many accomplishments. He won Rookie of the Week seven times despite not winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Minshew also had the highest passer rating of any rookie quarterback that started in 2019. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.77 - Passer rating: 93.7 - Season stats: 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions Pressure was high for Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. When he joined the Cleveland Browns, there was an expectation that once the team figured out the quarterback position, it could be playoff-ready. After trading for Jarvis Landry, a young wide receiver from the Miami Dolphins, in the offseason, the Browns were on their way. Mayfield's rookie season was filled with many firsts, and the Landry-Mayfield connection filled the stat sheet. Mayfield set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in 2019 with 27 surpassing prior marks from Payton Manning and Russell Wilson. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.84 - Passer rating: 98.3 - Season stats: 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Justin Herbert was the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. As the No. 6 overall pick, expectations were high, but there was also an assumption that it would be a few years before Herbert's development would take shape. Then, Chargers starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was accidentally punctured in the lung by a team doctor administering a painkiller before the second game of the season, and it wasn't clear what Taylor's status would be moving forward. When Herbert was given the nod to start minutes before the game, fans didn't know what to expect. Herbert shocked viewers when he threw for over 300 yards and only one interception in that game. He continued his strong rookie showing throughout the season and went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.93 - Passer rating: 98.1 - Season stats: 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions Ben Roethlisberger was the third quarterback selected in his draft class behind the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers—though fans wouldn't have been able to tell. From the moment Roethlisberger was called up by the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in his first game—Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens—it was clear he had a special arm, gaining the nickname "Golden Arm." While the next several games were bumpy for Steelers fans, it was clear that Roethlisberger was the future of the franchise. The Steelers had a solid running game and its receiving core, led by Hines Ward, was one of the best in the league . Once Roethlisberger gained his footing a few games in, he was unstoppable. He led Pittsburgh to its best record ever: 15-1. He also started the season on an eight-game winning streak, becoming the first rookie to do so. Additionally, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 87.7 - Season stats: 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, there were high expectations on Matt Ryan's shoulders heading to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were coming off back-to-back losing seasons and off-the-field legal troubles with its starting quarterback Michael Vick overshadowing the team's play. Ryan was expected to pick up the pieces. He did that immediately, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record in his rookie season and becoming the clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year halfway through the season, which he went on to win. The tag team of Ryan and running back Michael Turner was one of the best offensive forces in the sport that season. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 100 - Season stats: 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft that year, it was not believed that Wilson would be a starter come Week 1, but that quickly changed. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, and the team signed NFL veteran quarterback Matt Flynn as an insurance policy on the injury-prone Jackson . It was assumed in the short term that either Jackson or Flynn would lead the franchise. Once training camp arrived, however, the Seahawks' quarterback position was uncertain. Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Flynn was underwhelming at camp, forcing Head Coach Pete Carroll to take a gamble on his rookie quarterback, Wilson, in Week 1. Carroll, nor Wilson, ever looked back. Wilson was one of the best passing quarterbacks that season. He led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.39 - Passer rating: 96 - Season stats: 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions When Dan Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, the NFL looked very different. Running the ball was the name of the game. The quarterback would either run the football himself at the line of scrimmage or hand it off to the running back, and the offensive linemen would claw and push the pile forward as the runner powered his legs. It was not a pretty sight. However, Marino took a different approach, throwing the ball with a unique quick release for that era. He led the Dolphins to a 9-1 record after replacing David Woodley midway through his rookie season, ending with a 12-4 record. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie to start a Pro Bowl. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 100.8 - Season stats: 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions When C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 by the Houston Texans last year, there were a lot of questions, not about his ability, but about the organization that he would be playing for. The Texans were coming off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022, finishing with the worst record in the league, and a lot of volatility in its front office. The team fired its head coach and a top executive before the draft. Weeks later, the team hired former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its next head coach. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, Stroud was seen as a key ingredient to the team's success since Ryans hired his coaching staff around the quarterback. Stroud led the NFL in yards and TD-to-interception ratio during his rookie season, which is an efficiency statistic considering he didn't get his first interception until his sixth regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints. While Stroud was a part of the league MVP conversation for most of the season, he didn't ultimately win the title. However, he was named 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his rookie season is seen as one of the best in NFL history. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 102.4 - Season stats: 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Leading into the 2012 draft, it wasn't a matter of whether Washington would pick a quarterback, it was a matter of who. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play and losing seasons from the likes of Jason Campbell, Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman, it was time for a new face to lead the offense. At No. 2, Washington selected Robert Griffin III making him the second quarterback selected in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck. Griffin started his rookie year campaign with one of the best performances football fans have ever seen. He completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns, beating the New Orleans Saints. That game earned him the highest passer rating by a rookie ever, 158.3. He now shares that record with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. Griffin III went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.86 - Passer rating: 104.9 - Season stats: 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Dak Prescott is statistically the best rookie quarterback ever, racking up the best passer rating as a rookie. After losing his first game, he led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak. That season, he led the team to its fourth-best season ever with a 13-3 record. Prescott was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the first NFL quarterback to be drafted in the fourth round or later to start all 16 regular season games. Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Shanna Kelly. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Seventy-one years is a long time to wait for renovations, but the El Rancho High School community only has to wait five more months to get a first look at a $200 million project, officials said this week. Superintendent Marco Villegas is getting ready to call done on a dream he said is long-held by students, families and residents. Set to be open in April are a brand-new football stadium, already wreathed in Boise State Blue and white, only waiting for the track oval be built around it; sports fields for baseball and softball; soccer and track facilities as well as an aquatics center. “The new field facilities at our high school represent more than just a space for sports; they are an investment in our students and our community,” said Kendall Goyenaga, principal at El Rancho. “These state-of-the-art fields provide our students with opportunities to develop their talents, skills, and foster school spirit.” Villegas said the new facilities will also serve as a point of pride in the community. The high school construction project is funded by Measure ER, a $200 million school construction bond approved by voters of the El Rancho Unified School District in 2016. It would be the first facilities improvement at the school since the school first opened its doors in 1952, according to Ester Mejia, president of the El Rancho Union School District board. Generations of Dons wear the Blue Pride loudly, and alumni and students alike will find plenty to love, from a new Don Memorial Stadium with its blue football field, 5,000-seat bleachers, and press box, to the synthetic track and field and a new practice field and new basketball courts. The project also includes new team rooms, locker rooms, restrooms, concessions, ticket booths, coach’s offices, storage spaces, a weight room, and a training room. There will be new scoreboards, sports lighting, outdoor sound systems, walkways, netting, fencing, and general site improvements. The 33-meter pool will meet CIF regulations and will come with bleachers and a digital scoreboard. The parking lots around the area will be reconfigured and the fencing along the perimeter of the project will be upgraded for safety. The new facilities can’t come soon enough for El Rancho’s football team. The Dons have been practicing off campus in the two years since ground-breaking. They are in the semi-finals this week and have an overall record of 8-4 and a league record of 2-2 so far. “The first eight months (of construction) people didn’t really see anything except a lot of demolition, then in the next six to seven months it might have seemed like we were just moving dirt from one spot to another,” Villegas said. “But things were happening that just weren’t easy to see. These facilities are going to be second to none and goes a long way in showing we are one city, one district. This is just the beginning.”Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ireland's general election concluded late-Monday after three days of vote-counting, with the incumbent centre-right parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael set to retain power following coalition expected to take place in coming weeks. With all 174 seats in the lower chamber of parliament decided since Friday's vote, Fianna Fail, on 48 seats, was well ahead of the main opposition, the left-wing nationalist Sinn Fein on 39, with Fine Gael in third on 38. But support for the Green Party -- the third coalition partner of the outgoing government -- collapsed. And far-right candidates failed to win a single seat. The Green Party secured just three percent of the vote, down from seven at the last election in 2020 when it joined the coalition. Its leader Roderic O'Gorman was the only one of 12 Green lawmakers to hold on to a seat, saving the party from a total wipe-out. Analysts said the Greens were often scapegoated while in power by the big two coalition partners. The party has "no regrets at all" about entering government in 2020, O'Gorman insisted to reporters Sunday. But he admitted he was "very nervous" about the future of some of the "distinctly Green" policies introduced during their time in government. While relatively successful in pushing through climate-friendly policies, the party became widely associated with higher fuel taxes. As cost-of-living became a key voter concern, its policies became seen as an electoral liability. "As a small party, the Greens were always in a precarious position," said Eoin O'Malley, a political scientist at Dublin City University. "They were responsible for many of the more unpopular government policies, while for environmentalists it was blamed for the inevitable compromises that come with government," he said. "It benefited from being flavour of the month in 2020, but that soft support left it when the party was blamed for increasing energy costs," O'Malley told AFP. The losses mirror similar defeats for green parties across Europe. "We've done the things we believe in, there's been a cost but that's politics," said O'Gorman. "Those issues that focus on climate aren't going away, and as a party, we're not going away either," he said. The Green Party was almost wiped out in 2011 after serving in government with Fianna Fail. "Small parties in Irish coalition governments have to sacrifice more of their core policies in the government programme," said political analyst Gail McElroy from Trinity College, Dublin. "This inability to fulfil their campaign promises leads to electoral penalties at the following election." - No far-right breakthrough - The election was also marked by the failure of far-right candidates to enter parliament for the first time. Ireland is one of the few European Union members without any large established far-right party. But for the first time, immigration became a prominent issue during this election campaign. Some 20 percent of Ireland's 5.4-million population is now foreign-born. Asylum applications have surged to record levels since 2002. Around 110,000 Ukrainians have also arrived in Ireland since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, one of the highest per capita influxes in the EU. Rising anti-immigration sentiment has sparked protests in working-class and rural communities that have sometimes spilled over into violence. In June five candidates campaigning on mainly anti-immigration and ultra-conservative platforms were elected to local councils, the first ever far-right representatives in Irish institutions. But the ultra-nationalist vote was fragmented among a wide range of micro-parties and independent candidates at the general election. "There were so many anti-immigrant candidates that they split the vote," O'Malley told AFP. No far-right candidate gained more than four percent of the vote in any constituency. "So many of the candidates were too extreme, it made it difficult for someone concerned about immigration to vote on that basis," he said. The issue also dropped in importance for voters in the run-up to the election as the main parties pledged to tighten up migration policy. In an exit poll Friday, housing and homelessness, cost-of-living and health were all deemed more important than immigration as influencing voter decisions. Only six percent said immigration was the biggest factor in how they voted. pmu/jkb/fg/giv Originally published as Greens, far-right among big losers in Irish vote More related stories Breaking News Lebanon says nine killed in Israeli strikes on southern villages Lebanon says nine killed in Israeli strikes on southern villages Read more Breaking News Fresh blow as another ABC star quits The radio presenter has made a ‘sad’ announcement after nearly 30 years with the ABC. Read more
By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs on foreign goods during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his tariff threats might be different . The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. “There’s going to be a lot more tariffs, I mean, he’s pretty clear,” said Michael Stumo, the CEO of Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group that has supported import taxes to help domestic manufacturing. The president-elect posted on social media Monday that on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl, Trump posted. Business groups were quick to warn about rapidly escalating inflation , while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would counter the move with tariffs on U.S. products. House Democrats put together legislation to strip a president’s ability to unilaterally apply tariffs this drastic, warning that they would likely lead to higher prices for autos, shoes, housing and groceries. Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.” “The economy department is preparing it,” Sheinbaum said. “If there are tariffs, Mexico would increase tariffs, it is a technical task about what would also benefit Mexico,” she said, suggesting her country would impose targeted import duties on U.S. goods in sensitive areas. House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for a president to impose tariffs due to claims of a national emergency, a largely symbolic action given Republicans’ coming control of both the House and Senate. “This legislation would enable Congress to limit this sweeping emergency authority and put in place the necessary Congressional oversight before any president – Democrat or Republican – could indiscriminately raise costs on the American people through tariffs,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. But for Trump, tariffs are now a tested tool that seems less politically controversial even if the mandate he received in November’s election largely involved restraining inflation. The tariffs he imposed on China in his first term were continued by President Joe Biden, a Democrat who even expanded tariffs and restrictions on the world’s second largest economy. Biden administration officials looked at removing Trump’s tariffs in order to bring down inflationary pressures, only to find they were unlikely to help significantly. Tariffs were “so new and unique that it freaked everybody out in 2017,” said Stumo, but they were ultimately somewhat modest. Trump imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines at the start of 2018, moves that might have pushed up prices in those sectors even though they also overlapped with plans to open washing machine plants in Tennessee and South Carolina. His administration also levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, including against allies. He then increased tariffs on China, leading to a trade conflict and a limited 2020 agreement that failed to produce the promised Chinese purchases of U.S. goods. Still, the dispute changed relations with China as more U.S. companies looked for alternative suppliers in other countries. Economic research also found the United States may have sacrificed some of its “soft power” as the Chinese population began to watch fewer American movies. The Federal Reserve kept inflation roughly on target, but factory construction spending never jumped in a way that suggested a lasting gain in manufacturing jobs. Separate economic research found the tariff war with China did nothing economically for the communities hurt by offshoring, but it did help Trump and Republicans in those communities politically. When Trump first became president in 2017, the federal government collected $34.6 billion in customs, duties and fees. That sum more than doubled under Trump to $70.8 billion in 2019, according to Office of Management and Budget records. While that sum might seem meaningful, it was relatively small compared to the overall economy. America’s gross domestic product is now $29.3 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total tariffs collected in the United States would equal less than 0.3% of GDP. The new tariffs being floated by Trump now are dramatically larger and there could be far more significant impacts. If Mexico, Canada, and China faced the additional tariffs proposed by Trump on all goods imported to the United States, that could be roughly equal to $266 billion in tax collections, a number that does not assume any disruptions in trade or retaliatory moves by other countries. The cost of those taxes would likely be borne by U.S. families, importers and domestic and foreign companies in the form of higher prices or lower profits. Former Biden administration officials said they worried that companies could piggyback on Trump’s tariffs — if they’re imposed — as a rationale to raise their prices, just as many companies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 boosted food and energy costs and gave several major companies the space to raise prices, according to their own earnings calls with investors. But what Trump didn’t really spell out is what might cause him to back down on tariffs and declare a victory. What he is creating instead with his tariff threats is a sense of uncertainty as companies and countries await the details to figure out what all of this could mean. “We know the key economic policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration, but we don’t know how or when they will be addressed,” said Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at EY-Parthenon. AP writer Mark Stevenson contributed to this report from Mexico City.Human innovation has shaped the world as we know it. From the invention of the wheel 5,500 years ago, to the internet's conception in the 1970s, here are twenty inventions that created modern society. The printing press revolutionised how humans communicate information to each other. Invented sometime between 1440 and 1450 by German inventor Johannes Gutenberg, the press mechanised the process that transferred ink from moveable type to paper. Rapid printing speeds increased how many book and newspaper copies could be made, leading to the widespread dissemination of knowledge for the first time in human history. Forget smartphone maps - imagine sailing on the open ocean with no way of knowing your whereabouts or direction. The first compass was invented in China between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D., using a naturally-magnetised ore called lodestone, before spreading to the West. It meant sailors could travel safely between continents, allowing global trade, exploration, and Western imperialism to spread. This exchange of peoples, goods, and ideas shaped the modern world. Before the compass, sailors relied on the stars for navigation - but during the daytime, or when cloud cover obscured the sky, this proved near impossible. Pills and other forms of contraception have shifted the culture around heterosexual sex in the modern world. Not only can men and women engage in intercourse for pleasure rather than reproductive purposes, but women with access to contraceptives can better control pregnancies, reducing the birthrate in certain parts of the world and increasing the quality of life. Though inconspicuous, these tiny bits of metal date back 2,000 years to Ancient Roman times, when humans discovered how to shape metal. Prior to the invention of nails, wood structures had to be built by interlocking adjacent boards geometrically - a much more arduous construction process. Equally revered and feared, nuclear power was first discovered by Italian scientist Enrico Fermi in the 1930s, leading to the development of several nuclear power plants in the 1950s in Idaho. Nuclear remains widely used around the world today, generating approximately 10 per cent of global energy. The invention of X-rays is quite a spooky story. In 1895, German engineer Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen accidentally discovered that radiation could pass through screens of considerable thickness while leaving a shadow of solid objects, a principle he quickly applied to human tissues and bone. The 'X' in X-ray refers to the unknown rays Rontgen discovered in his experiments. Although ice and cold water have been used to preserve food since ancient times, artificial refridgeration didn't become commercially available until the late 1800s, after German engineer Carl von Linde came up with a process of liquifying gas. In 1914, American engineer Fred Woolf invented the first domestic refrigerator, which transformed the human diet by allowing for more variety, more fresh produce, and fewer trips to the grocery store. This famous accidental discovery by scientist Alexander Fleming led to the invention of the world's first antiobiotic, Penicillin, which fights a large number of bacterial infections. In 1928, Fleming noticed the lid of a bacteria-filled petri dish in his laboratory had accidentally come ajar, contaminating the sample with mold that had killed the bacteria. Penicillin was being mass-produced by 1944. Flight has inspired the imaginations of inventors for centuries, but the first to successfully launch and land an aircraft without crashing were the Wright brothers in 1903. Orville and Wilbur Wright's plane, which they based on a bird in flight, opened the doors to human air travel, which became widely commercially available in the 1960s and 70s. Though we typically know them as the heavy bits of metal that power our TV remotes and torches, batteries are any device that stores chemical energy and converts it into electric energy. The first battery dates back to 1800, when Italian physicist Alessandro Volta wrapped stacked discs of copper and zinc in a cloth, submerged it in salty water and discovered that it conducted energy. Invented at the end of the 19th century, the engine in modern cars and airplanes relies on a chemical reaction (the combustion of fuel) which produces a mechanical motion (the release of high-temperature gas that pushes a piston forward). The internal combustion engine ushered in the Industrial Revolution, and no single inventor can be credited with it. English philosopher and monk Roger Bacon allegedly invented the first magnifying glass made for scientific purposes during the 13th century. However, evidence shows that ancient Egyptians used chips of special crystals to make objects appear larger. Dr Edward Jenner invented the world's first vaccine when he discovered that those previously infected with cowpox were immune to smallpox. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how vaccines are fundamental to global public health. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 2 million to 3 million lives are saved annually thanks to vaccinations against contagious diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and measles. The Pantheon and the Colosseum are just two ancient wonders that would not exist without the invention of concrete. The Romans created some of the first concrete in the world by mixing volcanic ash, lime, and seawater, allowing them to construct more ambitious architectural projects that in many cases have lasted over 2,000 years. The Egyptians also used a form of concrete in their buildings as early as 3000 B.C. However, the development of reinforced steel-concrete in 19th century France allowed it to be used more widely in building projects. Before the 1800s, humans relied wholly on natural light sources, much like early humans. This dependence limited productivity to daylight hours, and sleep was dictated by sunset and sunrise. Several scientists took part in creating the lightbulb, though Thomas Edison is most famously credited for its invention as he created the first completely functional lighting system in 1879. With bright light instantaneously available at all hours, human sleep patterns and productivity transformed in a way unprecedented in human history. The telephone in this image is practically obsolete in an age of smartphones, but once, instantaneous communication was no ordinary thing. Though several scientists pioneered in electronic voice transmission technology during the 1800s, Alexander Graham Bell is credited with officially inventing the telephone in 1876. Telephones transformed the speed of communication and redefined global business, even more so with the invention of the cordless mobile phone in 1973. Invented around 3500 B.C, the wheel allowed humans to transport goods, people, and animals over great distances than ever before. The "wheel-and-axle" concept allowed early humans to affix wheels to vehicles, but also proved challenging to make by hand. Wheels not only allowed agriculture and commerce to flourish, but allowed humans to travel great distances at greater speed. Now, wheels are used for many crucial non-transportation purposes, including analogue clocks and wind turbines. One of the newest inventions on this list, the internet is nonetheless something many of us cannot imagine life without. With its technological foundations developed during the 1960s and '70s, the internet was born in 1989 when computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. The Web merged emerging computer technology with the concept of a global information system for the first time, reshaping all facets of society. Although not technically an invention, the discovery of fire must be included here. One of the earliest human discoveries, the use of fire kickstarted the evolution of human civilisation. The campfire offered warmth and a way to cook meat, but also provided a place for humans to gather, communicate, and eventually build societies. Although Artificial Intelligence is a modern buzzword, the invention of AI dates back to over fifty years ago. In the 1950s, computer scientist Alan Turing devised the 'Turing Test' - a series of questions to discern a machine's intelligence. Another computer scientist, John McCarthy, coined the term 'artificial intelligence' in 1955. Today, AI's potential is growing exponentially, already widely employed in e-commerce, web search engines, cars, cyber security, machine translations, and programs like ChatGPT.STOCKHOLM, Dec 3 — Sales by major arms makers were boosted last year by wars in Ukraine and Gaza and tensions in Asia, with marked increases for manufacturers based in Russia and the Middle East, a report said Monday. Sales of arms and military services by the world’s 100 largest arms companies totalled US$632 billion R(2.8 trillion) in 2023, up 4.2 per cent, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Revenues had dipped in 2022 as global weapons makers struggled to meet the increase in demand, but many of them managed to increase production last year, the authors of the report noted. In a sign of this surge in demand, all 100 companies tracked achieved sales in excess of US$1 billion last year for the first time. “There was a marked rise in arms revenues in 2023, and this is likely to continue in 2024,” Lorenzo Scarazzato, a researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production, said in a statement. Sales from the world’s top 100 arms companies “still did not fully reflect the scale of demand, and many companies have launched recruitment drives, suggesting they are optimistic about future sales,” Scarazzato added. Smaller producers have been more effective in meeting the demand linked to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, growing tensions in East Asia and rearmament programmes in other regions, the institute said. “A lot of them specialise in either a component of something or build systems that require one set of supply chains,” allowing them to react more quickly, Nan Tian, Director of SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, told AFP. Among the leading producers, US companies recorded a 2.5 per cent increase in their sales last year and still account for half the world’s arms revenues, with 41 US weapons producers in the world’s top 100. Lockheed Martin and RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), the world’s two largest arms makers, on the other hand, reported a fall in revenue of 1.6 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively. Such behemoths “often depend on complex, multi-tiered supply chains, which made them vulnerable to lingering supply chain challenges in 2023,” Tian said. Russia’s Rostec surges In Europe, home to 27 of the top 100, arms makers on average saw an increase of just 0.2 per cent. But European groups manufacturing complex weapons systems were still in the process of honouring old contracts last year, so the revenues do not reflect the influx of orders since then. “At the same time, a number of other European producers saw their arms revenues grow substantially, driven by demand linked to the war in Ukraine, particularly for ammunition, artillery and air defence and land systems,” SIPRI noted. The figures for Russia, though incomplete, give a clear signal of an economy increasingly geared toward war. Sales by the two Russian groups in the ranking rose by 40 per cent, mainly thanks to a 49 per cent increase in sales for state-owned conglomerate Rostec, according to the report. Manufacturers in the Middle East were buoyed by the war in Ukraine and by the first months of the Israeli offensive in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack — and saw on average an 18 per cent lift in sales. The three Israeli manufacturers in the ranking posted record sales of US$13.6 billion, up 15 per cent from the year before, while the three groups based in Turkey, such as drone producer Baykar, saw their sales jump by 24 per cent — boosted by Ukraine and Turkey’s investments in its defence. In Asia, the trend toward rearmament was particularly evident in the growth in sales by the four South Korean manufacturers, with revenues rising 39 per cent on average, and five Japanese firms that saw an average increase of 35 per cent. The nine Chinese producers meanwhile saw revenue increase by only 0.7 per cent “amid a slowing economy,” but their sales still totalled US$103 billion. — AFP
Efforts to develop Western Canada as an exporter of low-carbon ammonia to the Asia-Pacific region could run into similar challenges faced by the region’s LNG projects, which raises concerns about potential permitting, construction, transportation and cost hurdles, market sources said. Canada is developing several projects on both coasts to export hydrogen and derivatives like ammonia, which are viewed as potential low-carbon fuel supplies to Europe and Asia. Like its efforts with LNG and other energy-rich nations, Canada is leveraging hydrogen investment tax credits to advance these projects, aiming to finalize low-carbon trade flows. While the growing global LNG market presents an opportunity to displace coal consumption, supporters of low-carbon ammonia see it as an even cleaner alternative for its ability to facilitate overseas shipments of hydrogen, which emits no carbon when burned. A US-based renewable-derived ammonia developer told S&P Global Commodity Insights that while “hydrogen lacks this flexibility, ammonia offers it by integrating into existing systems. The focus on ammonia reflects pragmatism, given uncertainty over the establishment of hydrogen pipeline networks.” Alberta-based Hydrogen Canada Corp. plans to use abundant, low-cost natural gas as a business case to build and operate a 1 million mt/year carbon capture storage-derived “blue” ammonia facility and export infrastructure to serve Asian markets, targeting South Korea and Japan, it said on its website. Global chemicals company Linde is also planning a blue hydrogen facility in Alberta, Canada, expected to be completed by 2028, which will produce gas-fed hydrogen combined with CCS. This project has a long-term agreement to supply its clean hydrogen to Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan ethylene cracker and derivatives site Path2Zero. “A significant challenge is the domestic rail transportation from the Edmonton region to Prince Rupert,” a representative with the Canadian government told Commodity Insights. “Current Transport Canada regulations prohibit long-haul ammonia trains, and both industry and provincial governments in Alberta and British Columbia are working to address this issue.” On Canada’s West Coast, rail and insurance costs are significant challenges for ammonia export projects, said a low-carbon ammonia developer. Unless this ammonia rail liability/insurance discussion gets resolved, West Coast Canadian projects cannot physically deliver ammonia to South Korea, the Canadian government representative added. LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink faced similar challenges with respect to regulatory barriers, a Canada-based low-carbon hydrogen developer added. “Prince Rupert [Trigon Terminal] can handle ammonia. Again, the key issue is delivering the ammonia to the port from the production site,” the government representative said. Challenges previously encountered with LNG are now emerging as ammonia projects have begun to request environmental approvals, bid in auctions, and attempt to secure attractive offtakers. Canadian and global investors have faced difficulties in launching LNG projects on Canada’s West Coast, with several major LNG export projects having been canceled, stopped in court, or abandoned because of climate change disputes, pipeline issues, regulatory hurdles, and environmental concerns. “Regulatory constraints and access to First Nation land were also significant hurdles. To date, we’ve only had three Western Canada projects reach final investment decisions,” said Ross Wyeno, Commodity Insights’ director of global LNG analytics. While these project challenges are offset by a lower expected feedgas price and shorter distance to the Asia-Pacific markets, Wyeno added, “The Western Canadian LNG export projects are among the more expensive projects in the world due to the high cost of the long-haul pipelines required to feed the plant and the remote locations, which are difficult to build in and have limited access to labor.” Canadian projects on the West Coast and some projects in the Midwest US view this cost as competitive because of affordable feedstock natural gas, its economical shipping route to Asian markets, and saving it from passage through the Panama Canal. Platts assessed blue ammonia premium in the US Gulf Coast at $27.75/mt Nov 21, with an outright blue ammonia price at $527.50/mt, considering the premium and the US Gulf FOB assessment of $500/mt. The FOB US Gulf low-carbon ammonia price was assessed at $500/mt, considering a maximum carbon intensity of 0.87 kg CO2eq/kg ammonia under a well-to-gate boundary. Market participants have said projects on Canada’s West Coast are competitive with those on the US Gulf Coast, as they benefit from a shorter route to Asia and avoid the Panama Canal. Blue hydrogen and ammonia pricing from western Canada are largely influenced by rail insurance costs, the government representative said, adding, “While discussions are ongoing, the current domestic political climate, particularly with the upcoming Canada’s federal election, may impact the pace of progress.” Source:
No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens.
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Beware! Now AI Can Detect Your Moves on RoadOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The biggest question facing the Baltimore Ravens right now has little to do with Lamar Jackson or even a defense that started the season poorly. It's about a kicking conundrum that has turned into a crisis. Can the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl with Justin Tucker? One of the more surprising subplots of this NFL season has been Tucker's decline from one of the greatest of all time to a week-in, week-out liability. Sunday's loss to Philadelphia might have been the nadir — he missed two field goals and an extra point in a game the Ravens ultimately lost 24-19 . “Points were at a premium in the game. They have been in a few of these games. Sometimes we haven't made the most of our opportunity to score points,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "We're racking our brains, talking to Justin, looking at what we're doing. I'm very confident that it's going to get fixed. I believe it will. It has to. “And he's the guy to get it fixed.” Harbaugh has given every indication that he's standing by Tucker, who is in his 13th season and is under contract through 2027. When he's at his best, he's the type of kicker that gives his team a clear advantage in close games, but this season he has missed eight field goals. Sunday showed that against a good defensive team, the Ravens (8-5) can't simply assume their excellent offense will pile up points. There almost certainly will be close games in the weeks to come. Tucker's ability to come through will be tested again, and it's hard for Baltimore to feel too confident at the moment. “When he was hitting, three or four years ago, hitting bombs, we were going 57, 58, 56 pretty regularly," Harbaugh said. “That's tightened up a little bit.” The Ravens continue to do a good job stopping the run. Although Saquon Barkley did eventually surpass the 100-yard mark late in the game, Baltimore held the Eagles to 140 yards on the ground, well below their usual output. Even beyond Tucker's problems, Sunday wasn't a great showing by Baltimore's special teams. Tylan Wallace was shaky returning punts, and the Ravens had to start four drives inside their own 20 and two inside their own 10. “They had great bounces, and they downed right down in there,” Wallace said. "I’m pretty sure we’ll come back and talk about those and see what we can do to avoid those.” The Ravens' defense continued to show signs of improvement, holding Philadelphia to 252 total yards. “I think we’ve just locked in on some things, and we’re playing our deep coverages better, bottom line,” Harbaugh said. "You watch the coverage, you watch the guys’ spacing, positioning, eyes, the communication, the checks that get made, and you just keep chasing doing the right things. It’s not (that we) changed the defense. We’re just playing it a lot better.” Harbaugh was vague on receiver Diontae Johnson's situation. He was active Sunday but didn't play, and he has only one catch in four games since the Ravens acquired him in a trade from Carolina. “I’m going to have to wait just to clarify it,” Harbaugh said. "There’s some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at. I know that’s not the answer you want, but that’s the best I can do in fairness to everybody right now.” The Ravens were missing pass-rushing ace Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck) on Sunday, and WR Rashod Bateman was dealing with knee soreness. Through his first 12 seasons, Tucker made field goals at a 90% clip. That's dropped to 70% this season. He had a 95% success rate from under 50 yards, and that's dipped to 83%. The Ravens have this week off before a Dec. 15 road game against the New York Giants. Then comes a home matchup with Pittsburgh that may determine whether Baltimore has any shot to win the AFC North. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Previous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades have been much colder than tomorrow’s event is shaping up to be, but watching all the city-goers with their winter coats and hats on might still send a sympathetic chill down your spine — or, at the very least, make you add some hand warmers to your shopping list STAT. Fortunately, Amazon has a major 50% off deal on orastone portable hand warmers that’s sure to come in handy as the temperatures continue to drop. For a limited time, you can shop five different colors of the diamond-shaped heating dongle, starting from $15 and up to $18 for the more “premium” Knit and Watercolor options. If you’re a Prime member, you may even be eligible for free same-day shipping — which can’t be beaten, especially if you’ll be heading to a Turkey Trot fun run early in the morning or starting to put your holiday decorations up outside and haven’t broken out your winter wardrobe yet. These sleek and compact double-sided rechargeable hand warmers heat up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit — a toasty temperature that’s neither too hot nor too cold — in under two minutes, and feature comfortable rubber coatings that the company and customers say makes them easy to hold and carry. Plus, with built-in LED torches, you don’t have to go rooting around in your bag to find things (poopy bags, for instance, if you’re out walking your dog or keys if you’re hurrying to your car in a parking garage or parking lot). You can even use the light for reading at night. Grab some for holiday gifts, stocking stuffers or “just in case” provisions for outdoor adventures — starting from $15 at Amazon . Keep these other fall and winter warmup deals in mind while they’re hot, too. Crock-Pot Electric Lunch Box for $30, instead of $45 Headlightz by Roq Innovation Light-Up Beanie for $30, instead of $38 Bedsure Heated Blanket Electric Throw for $30, instead of $37 Dreo Space Heater for $34, instead of $40 Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2 for $110, instead of $150 The Best Black Friday Deals in 2024 Walmart and Target have all the Xbox Black Friday deals up to $100 — but they won’t last long Amazon has the BLACK+DECKER bev cocktail maker on sale for its lowest price of the year Black Friday 2024 mall hours: What N.J. malls are open and closed on Friday? HOKA’s Black Friday sale has Bondi 8, Clifton 9 sneaker deals and more top styles for up to $72 off — but they’re selling fast Walmart has the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker on sale for $50 off — and it’s cheaper than Amazon’s Black Friday price Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .Ex-Maryland Governor Larry Hogan shares video of mysterious drones,