philwij The Dallas Cowboys are finally beginning to see the fruits of their labor in the run game after in the 27-20 win over the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. It marks the second week in a row that Rico got significant trips to the plate and rewarded the offense to the tune of 5.1 yards per clip against New York. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Patrick Fishburn leads at Sea Island as Joel Dahmen keeps alive hopes of keeping his job

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The future of ethical influencer marketing: How Clark Influence is setting new standards in Chicago

Collaboration with China key to Pakistan’s green energy future: study KARACHI: Pakistan must collaborate with Chinese authorities and businesses to formulate a renewable energy deployment plan, identifying clear technical and financial pathways to scale up renewable energy projects. Building the confidence of Chinese investors is pivotal for accelerating the integration and promotion of renewable energy in Pakistan. This collaboration would not only address Pakistan’s economic challenges in the power sector but also enable China to leave a green technological, economic, and environmental footprint in the country, a study by the Policy Research Institute of Equitable Development (PRIED) has indicated. The study highlights that Pakistan needs to upgrade its grid infrastructure and introduce smart grid technologies to enhance the transmission capacity of the national grid. This would ensure renewable energy projects have a guaranteed means of evacuating and transmitting the electricity they generate. The report also underscores the importance of developing integrated plans for energy generation, transmission and distribution. These plans should encompass broader resource management strategies to ensure efficient, affordable, and sustainable resource allocation. CPEC and renewable energy transition The report advocates for mechanisms that ensure economic growth under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive and equitable. Special focus should be placed on rural electrification through community-driven mini-grids and microgrids to make energy accessible to all segments of society. Achieving an effective energy transition under CPEC requires reducing carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants while expanding renewable energy sources. China, with its installed renewable energy capacity exceeding 510 gigawatts and the world’s largest carbon market, is well-positioned to support Pakistan’s energy transition and green economic development. Financing the transition The report recommends initiating negotiations with Chinese financial institutions, including the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM Bank) and the China Development Bank, to establish a short-term pathway for transitioning CPEC from fossil fuels to renewable energy. These institutions can help Pakistan identify mutually beneficial areas for cooperation and funding. The study also suggests exploring alternative financing mechanisms such as the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM), Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), Accelerating Coal Transition (ACT), and international climate funds like the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). These could facilitate early retirement of coal-fired power plants and transition to renewable energy. Medium- and long-term plans should include repurposing or converting coal-based power plants into renewable energy generation facilities. Mechanisms must be developed, with China’s support, to mitigate the financial risks faced by coal-fired power plants, such as delayed payments and restrictions on foreign currency transactions. “These measures could enable coal-fired power plants owned by Chinese companies to repay investors and lenders earlier than scheduled, potentially at discounted rates,” the report noted. This proactive approach would allow plant operators to recalibrate their financial portfolios in line with the broader strategic objectives of both Pakistan and China, focused on promoting renewable energy. Policy recommendations The report also calls for implementing a carbon pricing mechanism to assess and internalize the social and environmental costs of coal-based power generation. This could take the form of a carbon tax or emissions trading to remove hidden incentives that allow coal developers to pollute without accountability. Collaboration between the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the People’s Bank of China is vital. The latter’s carbon emission reduction facility (CERF), a structural monetary policy instrument, can mobilise social capital to promote carbon reduction technologies and clean energy development. Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy, Board of Investment (BOI), and Ministry of Industries and Production should work with China’s National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce to facilitate the relocation of green Chinese industries to Pakistan. This should include industries focused on manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles. Exploring financial instruments such as green bonds, venture capital funds and low-interest loans targeted at renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) projects within Special Economic Zones (SEZs) would provide much-needed capital for businesses. Investments in SEZ infrastructure should be expedited, ensuring reliable access to electricity, water, and other essential amenities. Bilateral forums for Pakistani and Chinese investors should also be established to foster collaboration and explore business opportunities within SEZs, the report concluded.

A man charged over the robbery of a delivery driver in South Albury will return to court on Monday. or signup to continue reading after he ran from a white Mercedes Benz. The vehicle was involved in a police pursuit. Casey, 22, had been wanted over Those nearby said the man was picked up and thrown to the ground and parcels stolen from his vehicle. The driver was injured and was taken to hospital. Casey faces charges of aggravated robbery and inflicting actual bodily harm, robbery in company, obstructing or hindering the carriage of articles by post, disqualified driving, and disposing of a stolen motor vehicle. He is also charged with driving a stolen car and not reversing safely. Casey was extradited from Wodonga to NSW on Friday and faced Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He did not seek bail in NSW. Casey will face a bail review in Albury court on Monday. 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 AdvertisementHealey: Proscription status of Syria’s new rulers is not a matter for nowNone

The 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on Aleppo, one of Syria's largest cities and an ancient business hub. The push is among the rebels' strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have rippled far beyond the country's borders . It was the first opposition attack on Aleppo since 2016, when a brutal air campaign by Russian warplanes helped Syrian President Bashar Assad retake the northwestern city. Intervention by Russia , Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah and other groups has allowed Assad to remain in power, within the 70% of Syria under his control. Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East, at a time when U.S.-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups. Robert Ford, the last-serving U.S. ambassador to Syria, pointed to months of Israeli strikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets in the area, and to Israel’s ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon this week, as factors providing Syria’s rebels with the opportunity to advance. Here's a look at some of the key aspects of the new fighting: Why does the fighting at Aleppo matter? Assad has been at war with opposition forces seeking his overthrow for 13 years, a conflict that's killed an estimated half-million people. Some 6.8 million Syrians have fled the country, a refugee flow that helped change the political map in Europe by fueling anti-immigrant far-right movements. The roughly 30% of the country not under Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. The U.S. has about 900 troops in northeast Syria, far from Aleppo, to guard against a resurgence by the Islamic State. Both the U.S. and Israel conduct occasional strikes in Syria against government forces and Iran-allied militias. Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo. Coming after years with few sizeable changes in territory between Syria's warring parties, the fighting “has the potential to be really quite, quite consequential and potentially game-changing,” if Syrian government forces prove unable to hold their ground, said Charles Lister, a longtime Syria analyst with the U.S.-based Middle East Institute. Risks include if Islamic State fighters see it as an opening, Lister said. Ford said the fighting in Aleppo would become more broadly destabilizing if it drew Russia and Turkey — each with its own interests to protect in Syria — into direct heavy fighting against each other. What do we know about the group leading the offensive on Aleppo? The U.S. and U.N. have long designated the opposition force leading the attack at Aleppo — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known by its initials HTS — as a terrorist organization. Abu Mohammed al-Golani emerged as the leader of al-Qaida's Syria branch in 2011, in the first months of Syria's war. It was an unwelcome intervention to many in Syria's opposition, who hoped to keep the fight against Assad's brutal rule untainted by violent extremism. Golani and his group early on claimed responsibility for deadly bombings, pledged to attack Western forces, confiscated property from religious minorities and sent religious police to enforce modest dress by women. Golani and HTS have sought to remake themselves in recent years, focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action, researcher Aaron Zelin noted. His group broke ties with al-Qaida in 2016. Golani cracked down on some extremist groups in his territory, and increasingly portrays himself as a protector of other religions. That includes last year allowing the first Christian Mass in the city of Idlib in years. By 2018, the Trump administration acknowledged it was no longer directly targeting Golani, Zelin said. But HTS has allowed some wanted armed groups to continue to operate on its territory, and shot at U.S. special forces at least as recently as 2022, he said. What's the history of Aleppo in the war? At the crossroads of trade routes and empires for thousands of years, Aleppo is one of the centers of commerce and culture in the Middle East. Aleppo was home to 2.3 million people before the war. Rebels seized the east side of the city in 2012, and it became the proudest symbol of the advance of armed opposition factions. In 2016, government forces backed by Russian airstrikes laid siege to the city. Russian shells, missiles and crude barrel bombs — fuel canisters or other containers loaded with explosives and metal — methodically leveled neighborhoods. Starving and under siege, rebels surrendered Aleppo that year. The Russian military's entry was the turning point in the war, allowing Assad to stay on in the territory he held. This year, Israeli airstrikes in Aleppo have hit Hezbollah weapons depots and Syrian forces, among other targets, according to an independent monitoring group. Israel rarely acknowledges strikes at Aleppo and other government-held areas of Syria.Federal prosecutors have argued against dismissing charges against Hunter Biden following a presidential pardon granted by his father, President Joe Biden . The legal filing, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, states that no legal precedent mandates the dismissal of an indictment simply due to a pardon, even if it was granted by the president. Hunter Biden had been convicted this year of federal charges related to tax evasion and illegal possession of a firearm. The charges carry combined penalties of up to 42 years in prison. Following the pardon, Biden's legal team submitted a motion arguing that the "Full and Unconditional Pardon" necessitates dismissal of the charges with prejudice, effectively ending the case. But prosecutors, led by special counsel David Weiss, countered this assertion. "A pardon does not blot out guilt or expunge a judgment of conviction," the filing stated while citing past rulings such as United States v. Steven Bannon . They emphasized that a pardon removes the punishment but does not invalidate the legal basis for an indictment. The prosecutors' opposition draws on historical practice and judicial precedent. They highlighted cases like United States v. Urlacher , where pardoned individuals were administratively terminated from court records rather than having their charges dismissed outright. "The majority of courts, when faced with such a decision, have chosen to dismiss an indictment only with the government's consent or where single-defendant cases were involved," the memorandum reads​. Weiss also referenced the D.C. Circuit's decision from In re North , which found that a presidential pardon does not erase probable cause for guilt established in an indictment. "An indictment establishes probable cause that the accused has committed a crime. Guilt can only be established by a much higher standard, proof beyond a reasonable doubt," the filing stated​. Hunter Biden's defense team has contended that the charges were politically motivated . In a separate document, they labeled the prosecution as a "surrogate to attack and injure his father." Prosecutors dismissed this claim, arguing there was no evidence supporting allegations of selective or vindictive prosecution. Courts in California and Delaware had previously rejected similar motions from Biden's team, finding no credible basis​. "To the extent that Defendant's claim that he is being selectively prosecuted rests solely on him being the son of the sitting President, that claim is belied by the facts. The Executive Branch that charged Defendant is headed by that sitting President—Defendant's father. The Attorney General heading the DOJ was appointed by and reports to Defendant's father. And that Attorney General appointed the Special Counsel who made the challenged charging decision in this case—while Defendant's father was still the sitting President," the Delaware court ruled. President Biden's decision to pardon his son has sparked significant criticism, with opponents saying it defies the president's prior promises to maintain independence and integrity within the justice system. Biden defended the clemency: "Raw politics infected this process and led to a miscarriage of justice." He also expressed hope that the American people would understand his actions as both a father and the president​.Salesforce Inc. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitors despite daily gains

Browns star Garrett, on the cusp of 100 sacks, is driven to be the best

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Grog again gets drink-driver with a bad history into trouble with police

Woman Living with Ultra-Rare Disease Talks 'Reclaiming' Her Identity After Spending Life Feeling Like 'a Diagnosis' (Exclusive)Elway: Remorse over passing on Allen mitigated by play of NixSchneider to acquire Cowan Systems for $390 million 11-30-2024 03:04 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Schneider National, Inc., a leading transportation and logistics services company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cowan Systems, LLC, a dedicated contract carrier based in Baltimore, Md., and its affiliated entities. The transaction, announced today, is valued at approximately $390 million in cash, with additional agreements to purchase related real estate assets for about $31 million. Cowan Systems brings to Schneider a dedicated fleet of approximately 1,800 trucks and 7,500 trailers, serving customers in the retail, consumer goods, food and beverage, industrial, and building materials sectors. This acquisition is set to enhance Schneider's Dedicated segment, which will now operate over 8,400 tractors, representing around 70% of its Truckload fleet. Mark Rourke, Schneider's President and CEO, emphasized that the purchase of Cowan Systems aligns with the company's strategic vision to focus on customer-centric Dedicated solutions. Cowan Systems, which was founded in 1924, will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Schneider, maintaining its brand and workforce. The acquisition is projected to be accretive to Schneider's earnings per share within the first year, excluding anticipated synergies. The closing of the deal, expected in the fourth quarter of 2024, is subject to customary conditions and will be financed through existing cash and borrowings under Schneider's new $400 million credit facility. The integration of Cowan Systems follows Schneider's pattern of acquiring dedicated contract carriers, including Midwest Logistics Systems and M&M Transport Services, LLC. The financial results of Cowan Systems will be reported within Schneider's Truckload and Logistics business segments after the completion of the transaction. Legal advisory for Schneider was provided by Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, while Stifel Financial Corp (NYSE:SF). and Scudder Law Firm advised Cowan Systems on financial and legal matters, respectively. This announcement is based on a press release statement and reflects the company's expectations and projections about the acquisition's future financial performance and operational integration. In other recent news, Schneider National has seen a flurry of activity from analyst firms following its recent third-quarter earnings report. The company reported steady revenues of $1.2 billion, with adjusted diluted earnings per share falling slightly from $0.20 to $0.18. Benchmark, BofA Securities, and Evercore ISI have all adjusted their outlooks on the transportation and logistics services company. Benchmark raised its stock price target for Schneider National to $32.00, maintaining a Buy rating. This followed a third-quarter earnings report that fell short of expectations, with adjusted operating income reported at $44.3 million. Despite challenges, Schneider National's Dedicated and Intermodal business segments showed resilience and improvement, respectively. BofA Securities upgraded Schneider National's rating from Underperform to Buy, raising the price target to $34.00. This positive outlook follows the recent U.S. election and anticipates benefits to the truckload industry. However, due to weaker than expected performance in the third quarter, BofA Securities reduced its earnings per share estimates for 2024 and 2025. Evercore ISI reduced Schneider National's price target from $27.00 to $26.00 while retaining an In Line rating. This follows Schneider National's third-quarter earnings report, which disclosed an adjusted earnings per share of $0.18, falling short of projections. The company's earnings were adversely affected by a weaker performance in the Truckload and Logistics segments. These are recent developments that provide insight into the current state of Schneider National. The company continues its commitment to shareholder returns, strategic growth, and operational efficiency, as evidenced by its ongoing share repurchase program. Media Contact Company Name: ABC Private Limited Contact Person: Media Relations Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=schneider-to-acquire-cowan-systems-for-390-million ] Country: India Website: https://www.se.com/in/en/ This release was published on openPR.

Broncos cornerback Riley Moss has been ruled out of Monday night’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Moss did not practice this week due to a knee injury, which he suffered in the second quarter of Week 12’s win over the Raiders. Head coach Sean Payton said the former Iowa standout injured his MCL and there were talks about getting him back in the game. However, he remained sidelined while veteran cornerback Levi Wallace filled in, playing 49 defensive snaps. Moss was the only member of the active roster not present during the viewing period of Saturday’s practice. Wallace, who spent the past two seasons in Pittsburgh, could be in line to make his second start of the season. With cornerback Pat Surtain II out with a concussion in last month’s win over the Saints, he stepped in at outside cornerback, totaling a game-high eight tackles in 66 defensive snaps. In other injury news, Denver’s defense will get reinforcements in the trenches with Zach Allen (heel/ankle) expected to play on Monday night. The starting defensive end missed his first game as a Bronco last week but has been a full participant at practice this week. Wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hand) is questionable to play. Reynolds returned to practice earlier this month after being placed on the injured reserve last month after undergoing minor finger surgery. He sustained the injury while falling to the ground following his touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 5 win over the Raiders. The veteran wide receiver was also shot in an incident that occurred around 3 a.m. Oct. 18 in Denver, The shooting happened after he and two other men were followed upon leaving Shotgun Willies, a strip club in Glendale, according to the affidavit. The Broncos have until Tuesday to decide whether to activate Reynolds from injured reserve. Payton is not concerned about the Broncos having a drop off in production after the bye week. He said good teams know how to return from the week off and maintain their high level of play. “You’ll hear all the things (like) cold weather is hard...When they play (on the road). Generally, the good teams dispel all those things and the teams that aren’t so good, gotta remove the narratives,” Payton said. “I think they’ll handle it well.” Last year, the Broncos had a bit of success coming out of the bye week. They won three straight before losing by five points on the road against Houston. As the Saints coach in 2021, Payton’s team lost five of seven games after the bye week before finishing the year at 9-8. However, in 2020, New Orleans won nine straight games, with seven of those wins coming after having a week off.Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report findsNone