Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will contest the Dec 21 civic polls on party symbol, ‘scales’, and working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder on Monday appointed party leaders as observers for the elections to five municipal corporations. SAD senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema said, Harish Rai Dhanda had been appointed party observer for Jalandhar; Bikram Singh Majitha & Gulzar Singh Ranike for Amritsar; Baldev Singh Khaira for Phagwara; Mantar Singh Brar & S R Kler for Ludhiana; and NK Sharma & Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna for Patiala municipal corporation elections. TNN We also published the following articles recently Sikh community the real force behind Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badals submission, Takhts assertion Sukhbir Badal's admission of wrongdoing at the Akal Takht marks a significant victory for the Sikh community. Years of public pressure, fueled by electoral losses, the 2015 sacrilege incidents, and social media activism, finally forced the Akali Dal leader and the Sikh clergy to address long-standing grievances. Man opens fire at SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at Golden Temple in Amritsar A man fired shots at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal while he was performing seva at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Badal, who has a fractured leg, was unharmed. Police quickly apprehended the shooter, identified as Narayan Singh Chaura, but the motive remains unclear. Watch: Shiromani Akali Dal leaders clean toilets at Golden Temple as part of Akal Takht's religious punishment Several Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, performed symbolic penance at the Golden Temple. They cleaned toilets, washed utensils, and served as volunteers, following a religious edict from the Akal Takht. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .What a year it’s been for Miros! In May 2024, Miros turned 40—a notable milestone in the proud history of our company. But as much as we can celebrate how far we’ve come over the past four decades, it’s where we’re headed that truly excites me. This year has been transformative, not only for the offshore industry but also for Miros, with remarkable achievements and breakthroughs in technology, partnerships, sustainability efforts, and, most importantly, delivering value to our customers. Let me take you through some of the key highlights that made this milestone year notable. In 2024, the offshore industry experienced significant advancements, driven by technological innovations and the growing need for enhanced safety, efficiency, and operational precision. Among the key trends was the further integration of AI in wave measurement and prediction, which has transformed short-term wave forecasting. This technology has been instrumental in improving safety during critical offshore operations, such as vessel positioning, walk-to-work transfers, and subsea activities. Continuous, real-time wave monitoring has become indispensable for optimizing offshore operations. By providing accurate, actionable data, it supports decision-making processes in dynamic environments where conditions can change rapidly. Whether it’s ensuring safe equipment deployment, stabilizing vessels, or improving operational efficiency during challenging weather conditions, precise wave measurement has become the backbone of offshore activities. For Miros, 2024 was nothing short of trailblazing. We made incredible strides in innovation, customer impact, and global reach. Here are the key milestones that shaped our journey: One of our proudest moments was the launch of PredictifAITM, a groundbreaking solution co-developed with our offshore partners. This next-generation product offers real-time insights into wave fields and vessel motion, predicting conditions seconds to minutes ahead. It was a defining step forward, empowering operators to act with precision and confidence. Image: Miros Caption: Marius Five Aarset, CEO Miros We also introduced the new Forecast application designed to provide comprehensive offshore insights, enabling operators to make informed, data-driven decisions by integrating forecasts with real-time measured ocean data. At the same time, we focused on advancing our core technologies including the accuracy, analytics, and user-friendliness of our wave sensors and Oil Spill Detection (OSD) system. Our technologies were put to the test in real-world activities, such as lifting operations, wind turbine installation, jacking operations, cable and pipelay campaigns, diving support operations, ROV launch and recovery, gangway transfers. Here are some examples I want to highlight: Miros Wavex played a vital role aboard the CSOV Rem Power, providing real-time wave data to ensure safe gangway connections during walk-to-work operations. Similarly, in the Northern Lights CCS project, our WaveSystem was integral to the success of Norway’s pioneering CO2 storage pipeline. Miros’ WaveFusion® provided precise, real-time data that immediately improved critical decision-making for crew safety and operational efficiency when Vattenfall faced operational disruptions at Aberdeen Bay due to the limitations of weather forecasts in predicting local sea conditions. Environmental accountability also took center stage, with our OSD system supporting onboard ADNOC’s oil recovery fleet, as well as protecting Dubai’s sensitive coastlines from potential spills. Brazil is at the forefront of coastal protection. Our OSD System will support Petrobras and Brazil’s environmental agency IBAMA with tamper-proof monitoring and alarm systems. These projects not only showcase the reliability of our solutions but also demonstrated their critical role in advancing safety and environmental stewardship at sea and in coastal areas. Image: Adobe Stock Caption: Multi-purpose supply vessel for offshore operations. Expanding Our Global Reach and Building a Culture of Excellence Miros strengthened its global presence in 2024, forging strategic partnerships with leading industry players like Elcome International LLC and Belga Marine. These collaborations amplified our impact in key regions, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Brazil. Thanks to the trust and loyalty of our clients, we experienced significant growth in repeat business and doubled our as-a-service contracts again in 2024. Our people are at the core of our success. We challenge and inspire our employees to embrace a dynamic mix of perspectives and skills, which drives our results, ensuring our teams stay at the forefront of technological innovation. In 2024, we proudly attained the ISO 27001 certification, a globally recognized standard for information security management. This milestone highlights our robust, risk-based approach to managing data and infrastructure, reinforcing our commitment to excellence. Another strategic accomplishment was the acquisition of Miros Mocean AS. The full integration of Miros Mocean into Miros allows us to further consolidate and optimize our portfolio of vessel performance services. Our strengthened offering will now provide even greater value to customers and partners across the maritime industry. As we turn the page to 2025, we’re gearing up to launch our new cloud-based OSD Monitoring solution in Q1, setting a new benchmark in real-time spill detection technology. Additionally, we’re focused on expanding AI-driven capabilities and deepening our involvement in wave and vessel motion prediction technologies. Jonas Røstad, our CCO, put it best when he said, “the key to innovation is never standing still.” With this mindset, Miros is ready to scale new heights, tackle new challenges, and shape the future of ocean insights measurement and prediction technology. 2024 has been a remarkable year, filled with milestones and moments of pride. As we move forward, I’m excited about what lies ahead and confident that together, we’ll continue riding the waves of innovation and success. Here’s to a future anchored in excellence! Source: MirosThe U.S. science community is in turmoil over why so many of our American population, state and federal legislators and a growing number of government officials are science illiterate. Scientist discuss how scientists must all become better communicators. Or our ever-more-complex and technical research must be watered down into everyday terminology, etc. They are missing the critical factor: fewer basic science courses taught in K-12 for decades has produced both fewer science majors and many more science illiterate government officials and legislators. And non-science policies are put forth with little resistance in a mostly science illiterate population. U.S. science literacy declined over the last 40 years. The National Science Foundation InfoBrief lists the percentages of 20-24 years old students pursuing science and engineering degrees in each nation’s undergraduate programs. Singapore 56% China 50% South Korea 39% Taiwan 37% Finland 33% Germany 29% Sweden 27% ...and many more, before we reach: United States 16% U.S. students studying sciences and engineering in our undergraduate programs are far too few to fill the demand for advanced science students in graduate STEM programs at U.S. universities. Many U.S. universities would have to close their programs if not for the foreign students coming over to study from Asia and the E.U. In many specific fields of engineering and technology, foreign graduate students constitute over 80 percent of students in U.S. programs. What do science graduates do in countries with one-third to over half of their college undergraduates majoring in STEM? Asian countries as well as Germany and the Scandinavian countries do not have that many science research positions. Many of their science majors graduate and take jobs in government and business positions. But their science knowledge provides a well-educated background to their performance and they do not put up with non-science nonsense. Their high level of students majoring in college science is the result of two to three times more science taught in K-12 classes. And their K-12 science teachers were trained in much deeper science in university science departments. Most U.S. science teachers trained in Education Schools where science content is minimal. When we look at the history of the medical profession, we see the increase in education required over time. A 1700s doctor simply apprenticed under another veteran doctor. In the 1850s, a U.S. doctor completed 2 years of college courses. After the 1880s saw Pasteur and Koch discover germ theory (Pasteur likewise discovered the mechanism of vaccination), U.S. medical doctors soon had to take four, then five and six years of university training. Today, a medical specialist may be age 30 when they complete their training. But that alone cannot provide a society with better health care. If the patient population still holds onto ideas that “miasmas” blowing in the widow cause sickness, or a disease is an ordained penalty for bad behavior, well-trained doctors cannot improve public health. Society at large has to also increase their understanding of human anatomy and physiology, of bacteria and viruses, and of basic modes of medication and healthy practices. The higher number of science majors in Asian and many E.U. countries are a direct consequence of their level of K-12 STEM education for the whole population. In Germany, common citizens have learned enough that when they fall ill, they can self-refer themselves to a specialist. Their science literacy provides them with a better medical system at half the cost of the U.S. system. Despite having good doctors, our higher medical costs as well as our miserable performance during the recent pandemic, is part of a science-stupidity tax. Asians and citizens of the E.U. are astounded at American state laws that prevent school masking during a pandemic, a state health official who encourages vaccine avoidance and endangers K-12 students, and widespread public support for anti-science candidates. Such situations are rare in their countries because civilians are better educated in science and do not tolerate science-illiterate officials and laws. If we could somehow increase K-12 science education immediately today, it would still take several generations (about 40 years) for new science-literate graduates to become a major factor in restoring science competency in a country that long ago developed the vaccines that eliminated smallpox, polio, measles, etc. from its borders. Ignorance has grown, and polio and measles have returned to the U.S. John Richard Schrock, is a Roe R. Cross distinguished professor and biology professor emeritus at Emporia State University, Kansas. Contct him at 785-864-4530.

What we think will get announced at the Game Awards 2024 - Polygon

FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys indicated Thursday that All-Pro wide receiver Cee Dee Lamb will be shut down for the team’s final-two regular season games, according to reporting by Adam Sheftner of ESPN. Lamb sustained a shoulder injury (AC joint sprain) in a Nov. 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons, and with the Cowboys having been eliminated from post season play, club officials decided to give Lamb a head start in the recovery process. Team officials said that Lamb is not expected to need surgery. Lamb is among the NFL’s most productive pass catchers. He has 101 catches for 1,194 yards and has hauled in six touchdowns this season. The Cowboys will end their season by visiting Philadelphia Sunday and hosting Washington next weekend (time to be announced). The Philadelphia game will get commence at 12:00 p.m.NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Carter Whitt scored 14 points as Belmont beat Middle Tennessee 82-79 on Saturday. Whitt also added eight rebounds, eight assists, and three steals for the Bruins (8-2). Isaiah Walker also scored 14 points while going 6 of 12 and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line while they also had eight rebounds. Sam Orme had 12 points and went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range). The Blue Raiders (7-3) were led by Jlynn Counter, who recorded 22 points and five assists. Middle Tennessee also got 21 points and two blocks from Jestin Porter. Essam Mostafa finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Belmont went into the half ahead of Middle Tennessee 38-30. Walker scored eight points in the half. Belmont pulled off the victory after a 19-2 run spanning both halves erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 44-30 with 19:01 remaining in the second half. Whitt scored 10 second-half points and his four free throws in the final half-minute helped the Bruins maintain their lead. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .VPS is a world-leading, innovative service provider with a proven, trusted reputation of working to the highest accredited standards. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. As the world changes, we work relentlessly to ensure your business remains on the right side of that change. Our value-added testing and advisory services actively support and protect our customers, people, their assets and the environment. To further our commitment to excellence and advance our client-oriented goals, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Laino to the role of Managing Director – Americas. In this role, Steve will apply his experience and knowledge to deliver complete value-chain solutions for fuel, lubricants and decarbonization in this important region. Steve joins us having held c-suite and leadership roles as a ship owner, broker, entrepreneur and advisor across multiple sectors and markets in the global supply chain. Most recently, Steve has applied his subject matter expertise and in-depth understanding of the emerging emissions and alternative fuels sectors in his role as Global Head of Environmental Solutions with Poten & Partners/BGC. He has a strong background in shipping, having graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, sailed as an officer in the US Merchant Marine and served as Lieutenant Commander in the US Naval Reserve. Dr. Malcolm Cooper, VPS CEO, stated: “The maritime industry is changing fast with ambitious emissions targets and decarbonisation requirements driving the introduction of new technologies and fuels into the market. In this dynamic landscape, we are very pleased to have Steve on board to lead delivery of all VPS services to customers in the Americas and help them optimise their operations by understanding which new fuels to use and how to adapt to these sustainable business drivers and meet new regulations.” Steve Laino Steve Laino stated: “Industries around the world are witnessing a paradigm shift in the energy products that power them and the environmental regulations that govern their stakeholders’ compliance. An increased need for transparency and traceability of energy sources and production methods will grow to be a primary driver of successful business strategies. Testing, verification, certification, data-supported analysis and the ability to easily access and disseminate critical information from these sources are quickly becoming required tools of the trade. For decades, VPS has reliably provided and evolved their services to the maritime, power generation and wind sectors. In response to the evolution of energy products and the impact on businesses in and adjacent to the supply chain, VPS has invested in new digital platforms, testing capabilities and advisory capacity to meet the challenges faced by its customers. I am very pleased to join VPS to lead and grow their business in the Americas. I look forward to working closely with our team to gather and provide valuable decision-making information to our clients, yielding the flexibility and foresight needed to navigate the new commercial, operational and technical challenges before us.” Source: Veritas Petroleum Services

Seaspan Corporation Signs Agreement with KVH to Equip Fleet with OneWeb Low Earth Orbit Solution

Staci Zampa Team - Stamford Real Estate Agent at Compass: The Real Estate Agent Helping Stamford Buyers and Sellers SucceedA curious moment during the Edmonton Oilers ’ recent game against the New York Rangers has fans buzzing, with Sportsnet analysts questioning what appeared to be a heated exchange between defenseman Mattias Ekholm and forward Kasperi Kapanen . It seemed clear there was an issue, but no one seemed to understand why. The incident occurred after Kapanen registered his first assist as an Oiler, contributing to a Connor McDavid goal alongside Evan Bouchard . Instead of joining in on the celebration, Ekholm seemed to pull Kapanen aside and deliver some stern words. EDM NYR G22. November 23, 2024. Connor McDavid goal. 5-1 EDM. ?: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/UtSXJQHmpq The Sportsnet panel speculated that Ekholm might have been critiquing Kapanen for a risky play leading up to the goal. Specifically, they suggested the veteran defenseman might have seen Kapanen’s pass as a high-danger move that could have backfired. While Ekholm’s body language suggested frustration, others pointed out that the moment could easily have been misinterpreted. Was Ekholm upset, or was he offering a mix of constructive criticism and encouragement? What was clear is that Ekholm didn’t look happy. At the same time, Kapanen didn’t react with a shocked look on his face or one that suggested he was returning the sternness of the exchange. What Was The Ekholm and Kapanen Talk About? Fans on social media were split. Some believed Sportsnet was reading too much into a moment that means nothing on an otherwise great play. “It’s just as likely Ekholm was congratulating Kapanen in his own intense way,” one fan noted, adding that Ekholm’s leadership style often blends tough love with genuine support. The timing of Ekholm’s actions raised eyebrows, as it seemed odd to critique a player immediately following a successful goal. The pass itself was a beauty, one that McDavid acknowledged when he pointed to both Bouchard and Kapanen after the goal. If there was an issue, it’s logical to assume it was not on that particular offensive play. Ekholm does have a reputation as a trash-talker and a vocal leader. It’s possible he was simply ensuring that Kapanen understood that a great play doesn’t negate a questionable one from a different play or earlier in the series. If he was treating it as a coachable moment, that’s not a bad thing. Regardless of the context, the incident underscores the passion and high standards Ekholm brings to the team. We may never know what that interaction with Kapanen was really about, but the idea that these two might have a beef now feels like a stretch. Knoblauch told the media on Monday that he has been happy with Kapanen and this was a player the Oilers had an interest in before they claimed him on waivers. This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

If the developments of this past week simply amount to the loss of two players, Air Force football will recover. If this hints at a trend, the program could be in trouble from a competitive standpoint. A pair of sophomore defenders – OLB David Santiago and DB Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner – announced their plans to jump into the transfer portal when it opens Monday. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are leaving, but that’s generally the outcome. This isn’t new. In the most recent cycle there were 3,843 names in the FBS portal, including several from Air Force. More than a fifth of FBS rosters were made up of transfers. So what makes this scenario different and concerning? It’s because teams other than the service academies can replace players lost to the portal with incoming transfers, and this is Air Force losing a different kind of player to that one-way road in a way that could lead to a detrimental cycle. The players the Falcons generally lose to the portal are those leaving after seeing their path to playing time being blocked. Santiago and Tuioti-Mariner had proven themselves as key players and then left, and that rarely happens for Air Force football. Over the past 20 years, the most prominent cases of Falcons losing young, established players were linebacker Anthony Schlagel, who left for Ohio State after his sophomore year, and slot receiver Micah Davis, who has since played for Utah State and Ole Miss. Cadets can leave a service academy prior to the start of their junior year, so Air Force need only worry about losing players up to that point and, in football, has obviously been successful in guarding against that. Part of that is sophomores are generally unlikely to rise to prominence in coach Troy Calhoun’s program, but that’s not always the case. Over the past decade an impressive all-sophomore Air Force team could be constructed that would include safeties Weston Steelhammer and Trey Taylor, running backs Jacobi Owens, Timothy McVey and Brad Roberts and defensive linemen Alex Hansen and Ryan Watson. The list could go on. The Falcons get some help as many of their players possess size or skill sets unique to their system’s needs – particularly on the offensive side – that wouldn’t fetch as much demand on the open market. Maybe more than anything, the structure of the academy helps insulate it against cadets wanting to leave during the second year. If you’ve made it through basic training, recognition, survival training and at least three semesters packed with 18-plus strenuous credit hours, you’ve got skin in the game. But now, leaving is easier and has its own incentives. Starting in 2021, NCAA Division-I athletes could transfer without sitting out a year. That’s what initially led to the spike in transfers. Now, as NIL opportunities evolve, the promise of quick cash is an ever-present lure. In theory, this won’t hit hard for the academies because they’ve never routinely competed for the kind of recruits who draw significant NIL packages. But that will become a problem if teams outside the Power Conferences can offer more and more money, and if the Falcons can develop talent in their sophomore and freshmen classes. Maybe these are simply cases of Santiago and Tuioti-Mariner being undervalued as recruits and once they made their way onto the field it became apparent that needed to be corrected. So, what can be done? Air Force already goes out of its way to shield younger players, keeping many off the roster and not allowing sophomores or freshmen to speak with media. Limiting playing time for sophomores isn't on the table, as Calhoun has been adamant that he will use the players in any given week. It might seem like recruiting players who particularly desire military life and seem more loyal to the academy would be an answer, but that’s already happening. And circumstances can change. How could anyone possibly know how someone might react when they develop athletically and are suddenly presented with an attractive offer that comes without the demands of a service academy? Perhaps no Air Force program does a better job of finding all-in players than coach Mike Kazlausky’s baseball team, which routinely sends most of its players to pilot training, special forces or graduate school. And even that team has seen players leave for LSU, Vanderbilt and Xavier in the past three years, even as the Falcons have risen to winning regular-season and Mountain West Tournament titles. By the way, that LSU transfer was Paul Skenes, who has since rocketed to the top of his profession as the NL All-Star Game starter and Rookie of the Year. His example underscores the point that sometimes Air Force grabs an athlete who is able to tap into an upside that sends them on a trajectory that outshoots their station, and maybe Santiago and Tuioti-Mariner will prove they fall under a version of that. It’s not as though Air Force football doesn’t already stress loyalty by example. Only three coaches nationally have been in their position longer than Calhoun, who is an Air Force graduate, and his staff is loaded with grads. A look at the state of service academy football shows it remains healthy. Army just won the American Athletic Conference and, at 11-1, is making its case for a College Football Playoff berth. Navy is 8-3 and spent time in Top 25 this season. Air Force averaged 10 wins over the past four full seasons and, though ravaged by inexperience and injuries this year, managed to rebound with four consecutive wins and finish one victory shy of bowl eligibility. There isn’t a crisis by any means. Yet. If you want to see where this could lead, however, simply look at Air Force men’s basketball. From Tre’ Coggins to Matt Mooney through Jake Heidbreder and Rytis Petraitis, the Falcons have routinely seen key players depart over the past decade and have struggled as a result. Again, this is just two players. But the framework of college athletics is set up in such a way to turn this into something far worse for Air Force. And Calhoun is well aware of it. “Let’s be real, if there were 32 teams in the NFL and 31 of them were able to bring in free agents and one wasn’t ... if you were that one, you would like to have that field a little bit level,” Calhoun said in August. “But it’s not.” Air Force has lost players before and thrived. Injuries and academy-related issues pop up, someone else steps in and the system rolls on. As good as Santiago and Tuioti-Mariner are, this doesn’t have to be any different. But as this season showed, nothing can be assumed. Sometimes inexperience means turning to younger players and enduring growing pains. And if this begins a cycle where those who sprout quickly through that process are suddenly transplanted elsewhere, then when does the harvest arrive? Doomsday isn’t here. But if a day comes where Air Force and its service academy brethren can no longer regularly be competitive, it’s likely to stem from issues that began by looking an awful lot like this.Children of the wealthy and connected get special admissions consideration at some elite U.S. universities, according to new filings in a class-action lawsuit originally brought against 17 schools. Georgetown’s then-president, for example, listed a prospective student on his “president’s list” after meeting her and her wealthy father at an Idaho conference known as “summer camp for billionaires,” according to Tuesday court filings in the price-fixing lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court in 2022. Although it’s always been assumed that such favoritism exists, the filings offer a rare peek at the often secret deliberations of university heads and admissions officials. They show how schools admit otherwise unqualified wealthy children because their parents have connections and could possibly donate large sums down the line, raising questions about fairness. Stuart Schmill, the dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in a 2018 email that the university admitted four out of six applicants recommended by then-board chairman Robert Millard, including two who “we would really not have otherwise admitted.” The two others were not admitted because they were “not in the ball park, or the push from him was not as strong.” In the email, Schmill said Millard was careful to play down his influence on admissions decisions, but he said the chair also sent notes on all six students and later met with Schmill to share insight “into who he thought was more of a priority.” The filings are the latest salvo in a lawsuit that claims that 17 of the nation’s most prestigious colleges colluded to reduce the competition for prospective students and drive down the amount of financial aid they would offer, all while giving special preference to the children of wealthy donors. “That illegal collusion resulted in the defendants providing far less aid to students than would have been provided in a free market,” said Robert Gilbert, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Since the lawsuit was filed, 10 of the schools have reached settlements to pay out a total of $284 million, including payments of up to $2,000 to current or former students whose financial aid might have been shortchanged over a period of more than two decades. They are Brown, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt and Yale. Johns Hopkins is working on a settlement and the six schools still fighting the lawsuit are the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, Georgetown, MIT, Notre Dame and the University of Pennsylvania. MIT called the lawsuit and the claims about admissions favoritism baseless. “MIT has no history of wealth favoritism in its admissions; quite the opposite,” university spokesperson Kimberly Allen said. “After years of discovery in which millions of documents were produced that provide an overwhelming record of independence in our admissions process, plaintiffs could cite just a single instance in which the recommendation of a board member helped sway the decisions for two undergraduate applicants." In a statement, Penn also said the case is meritless that the evidence shows that it doesn't favor students whose families have donated or pledged money to the Ivy League school. “Plaintiffs’ whole case is an attempt to embarrass the University about its purported admission practices on issues totally unrelated to this case," the school said. Notre Dame officials also called the case baseless. “We are confident that every student admitted to Notre Dame is fully qualified and ready to succeed,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. The South Bend, Indiana, school, though, did apparently admit wealthy students with subpar academic backgrounds. According to the new court filings, Don Bishop, who was then associate vice president for enrollment at Notre Dame, bluntly wrote about the “special interest” admits in a 2012 email, saying that year's crop had poorer academic records than the previous year's. The 2012 group included 38 applicants who were given a “very low” academic rating, Bishop wrote. He said those students represented “massive allowances to the power of the family connections and funding history,” adding that “we allowed their high gifting or potential gifting to influence our choices more this year than last year.” The final line of his email: “Sure hope the wealthy next year raise a few more smart kids!” Some of the examples pointed to in this week's court filings showed that just being able to pay full tuition would give students an advantage. During a deposition, a former Vanderbilt admissions director said that in some cases, a student would get an edge on the waitlist if they didn’t need financial aid. The 17 schools were part of a decades-old group that got permission from Congress to come up with a shared approach to awarding financial aid. Such an arrangement might otherwise violate antitrust laws, but Congress allowed it as long as the colleges all had need-blind admissions policies, meaning they wouldn't consider a student’s financial situation when deciding who gets in. The lawsuit argues that many colleges claimed to be need-blind but routinely favored the children of alumni and donors. In doing so, the suit says, the colleges violated the Congressional exemption and tainted the entire organization. The group dissolved in recent years when the provision allowing the collaboration expired. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

Milan could drop Leao in Champions League even if Fonseca says ‘he’s fine’

From PSX highs to debt traps: Pakistan's economic reality in 2024France shares higher at close of trade; CAC 40 up 0.58%A high-altitude unmanned balloon once operated by Loon, formerly an Alphabet subsidiary and now registered to Raven Aerostar as "N254TH," traveled just north of the Baltimore-Washington, DC, airspace at 64,500 feet, moving east at 34 mph towards New Jersey. Data from FlightAware indicates that N254TH launched from Dangel Airport in South Dakota on Monday and has since traversed the eastern half of the US, now making its way into Delaware and soon New Jersey Zooming in... Balloon website Stratocat provided more details about the balloon under Loon's prior ownership: Project Loon was an initiative to establish a network of high altitude unmanned balloons to provide Internet connectivity in underserved parts of the world or during disaster recovery efforts. The project started in 2011 and became public in 2013 as part of Google's research and development of new technologies carried out through X Development LLC. Loon, formerly an Alphabet subsidiary, was shuttered in 2021—the project aimed to provide high-speed internet to remote parts of the world. However, Elon Musk's Starlink has largely taken over that role with its low Earth orbit satellites. Meanwhile, on X... Oh JFC... HBAL714 is registered in the US to Raven Aerostar as N254TH. It’s not a fucking Chinese balloon. pic.twitter.com/C5xyhY61ea This is not a Chinese balloon. Do some fucking research. This is a Raven Aerostar balloon registered in the US as N254TH. They’re a DoD contractor researching the uses of balloons. In addition to drones, residents of New Jersey will now have a giant balloon to speculate about.

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season is nearly behind us and we are getting into the games that will really make or break teams' playoff chances and seeding order. We're starting to see who is for real and whose early-season success may have been a fluke. This week kicked off with a "Thursday Night Football" matchup between the Steelers and Browns , with Cleveland defeating Pittsburgh in our first snowy game of the year. There were a lot of wild finishes this week and many close divisional matchups. The Tennessee Titans narrowly beat the Houston Texans , the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears in overtime, the Dallas Cowboys got an upset win over the Washington Commanders and a late field goal helped the Kansas City Chiefs avoid a potential shocking loss to the Carolina Panthers . The Detroit Lions are continuing to make their case for the best team in the league, defeating the Indianapolis Colts easily, while players around the league are making their case for end-of-season awards. With so much going on this week, it can be hard to keep up with it all, so we gathered some of the biggest moments from the weekend and some plays you may have missed. Wild endings The Texans had the chance to tie the game, but couldn't put it through the uprights. "THE KICK IS NO GOOD. OH MY" Texans miss a 28-yard field goal that would've tied the game 😱 pic.twitter.com/i8vmmzkTmn Once again, Jayden Daniels found a way to get the Commanders in the end zone on a long field at the end of the day. Down seven in the NFC East matchup, it looked like they were about to tie it up at home. All they needed ... JAYDEN DANIELS TO TERRY MCLAURIN NO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! 86 YARDS! pic.twitter.com/T3ITuxRk0c ... was the extra point, but the kick sailed to the left and the Commanders were down one with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game. NO GOOD. 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/FDg7wGy8KF It took until overtime, but the Vikings won a divisional matchup against the Bears with a walk-off field goal. . @Romo_HKA gives us the walk-off win! 📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/7wIYWyUcl2 Non-offensive TDs Remember the wild ending from above? Well, that wasn't quite the end of the game . The Commanders attempted an onside kick and not only did Washington not recover the ball, the Cowboys recovered and brought it to the house. 🚨 Juanyeh onside kick return TD 🚨 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/ZB9obI6QsA The Patriots ' struggles continue, but they have a bright spot on their defense in Christian Gonzalez . He recovered a fumble and ran 62 yards to the end zone. GONE-zo went 62 yards for the TD! 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/3ipg1qHazL Fumble?! What fumble?! Knowing where the ball is is a crucial part of the game, but it's harder than it seems. The Buccaneers were about a yard out from the goal line when running back Sean Tucker dropped the ball. Luckily for him, no one noticed except his quarterback. Baker Mayfield leaped on the ball to save the possession. Baker was the only one to see the fumble 😅 📺: #TBvsNYG on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/PKbNRsDqRH Lions running backs continue to make history Once again, the Lions are putting themselves in the history books. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have each scored a rushing touchdown in the same game for the ninth time, which is tied for third-most by teammates in league history. They are also the first RB duo in NFL history to each record 10-plus touchdowns on the ground in consecutive seasons. David Montgomery & Jahmyr Gibbs have each scored a rush TD in the same game for the 9th time. That's tied for the 3rd most by teammates in NFL history. 🔥 @Lions | @FedEx pic.twitter.com/QwIxTTt0Uk Saquon's career night Giants fans look away. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is having a career year and is making a convincing case not just for Offensive Player of the Year, but for Most Valuable Player. The last time a running back took home the MVP award was Adrian Peterson in 2012, but Barkley leads the league in rushing yards and is making an impact in each game. On Sunday night, Barkley set Eagles franchise single-game records in rushing yards with 255 and scrimmage yards with 302. He has over 500 scrimmage yards in the last two games, becoming just the third player in NFL history with 500 scrimmage yards over a two-game span. Like this if you love Saquon Barkley. RT this if you love Saquon Barkley. Reply that you love Saquon Barkley. @saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/0h0Whzyn49