ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Gratifying as it was for Sean McDermott to catch up with his family and get some rest during Buffalo’s bye week, the Bills coach on Wednesday found comfort returning to his weekly routine and familiar wardrobe — a gray T-shirt and sweatpants. “When I’m not wearing those, I go to my closet and I don’t know what to wear. I’m kind of like not myself,” he said before pulling up his hoodie for emphasis to reveal the gray shirt he had on underneath. “So I was telling some of the guys this morning, ‘It’s good to be back.’” Though there remain challenges ahead, these are upbeat times in Buffalo . The Bills (9-2) are off to their best start since 1992. They remain in contention for the AFC’s top seed by entering their break following a 30-21 win over Kansas City (10-1). And Buffalo is in position to clinch its fifth straight AFC East title as early as Sunday. To do so, the Bills would need Miami to lose to Green Bay on Thursday night, and Buffalo to win its game over San Francisco (5-6) on Sunday night. Buffalo has won six straight since back-to-back losses at Baltimore and Houston, and scored 30 or more points in each of its past five outings. Refreshed as McDermott sounded and appeared, it didn’t take long for him to revert to his game-at-a-time script when assessing what’s on the line this weekend. “We’re mostly focused on our level of play this week against a good football team,” he said. McDermott shed little light on the status of Buffalo’s lengthy list of injured players. There’s no timetable yet on Matt Milano being activated off injured reserve, even though the starting linebacker practiced fully for the first time since tearing his left biceps during a training camp practice in mid-August. Milano has actually missed nearly 14 months since sustaining a season-ending injury to his right leg in Week 5 last season. Milano revealed little during a brief interview following practice. “I feel all right. Getting back into it with the team,” said Milano, who no longer wore a red non-contact jersey in practice. Meantime, rookie receiver Keon Coleman, who has missed two games with a right wrist injury, and starting right tackle Spencer Brown, who missed one game with an ankle injury, were limited in practice. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) was Buffalo's only player not practicing. The Bills also opened the three-week window for backup rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) and backup offensive lineman Tylan Grable (groin) to return. McDermott has another positive going for him revolving around the bye week. The Bills are 8-0 coming out of their break since McDermott took over as coach in 2017. “I don’t really have the, hey, this is exactly what we do formula,” McDermott said on whether he’s changed his bye week approach. “It’s more of us really just getting back to what we do, getting back to basics.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflWho are the Border Patrol chaplains? And why does the agency need more of them now?
Friday's Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion, one of the game's top jackpotsPenns Woods Banco stock hits 52-week high at $31.59
Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meetingDenver (9-6) at Cincinnati (7-8) Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST, NFL Network BetMGM NFL Odds: Bengals by 3. Against the spread: Broncos 11-4, Bengals 9-6. Series record: Broncos lead 22-11. Last meeting: Bengals beat Broncos 15-10 on Dec. 19, 2021, at Denver. Last week: Chargers beat Broncos 34-27; Bengals beat Browns 24-6. Broncos offense: overall (22), rush (19), pass (22), scoring (10). Broncos defense: overall (9), rush (5), pass (18), scoring (4). Bengals offense: overall (10), rush (29), pass (1), scoring (6). Bengals defense: overall (28), rush (21), pass (26), scoring (28). Turnover differential: Broncos plus-6, Bengals: plus-4. Broncos player to watch CB Riley Moss. The second-year pro is returning from a sprained MCL that sidelined him for a month. Denver’s defense wasn’t the same without Moss, who has 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in his first season as a starter opposite Patrick Surtain. With him back, the Broncos could return to their favored man coverage after their zone coverage was exploited by the Browns, Colts and Chargers. Bengals player to watch QB Joe Burrow is having perhaps the best season of his career. He passed for 252 yards and three TDs last week against the Browns and is among the NFL leaders in most passing categories. Burrow has thrown at least three TD passes in each of his past seven games. RELATED COVERAGE Dolphins are on the outside of AFC playoffs and need help and a win over Browns to have any chance Bills seek to shore up playoff positioning in hosting Jets team looking ahead to uncertain offseason Surging Rams host the eliminated Cardinals in the rematch of a rare blowout loss for Sean McVay Key matchup Bengals passing game against the Broncos secondary. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for 14 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns last Sunday. After Week 16, Chase led the NFL leaders in receptions, yards and touchdowns. The Broncos passing defense is ranked eighth in the NFL. Surtain has allowed 234 receiving yards this season, the fewest allowed by a cornerback in a season through 16 games since at least 2018. Key injuries The Broncos are as healthy as they’ve been all season. The only player who was limited at practice this week was RB Jaleel McLaughlin (thigh), but he was a full participant by Wednesday. Bengals: DE Sam Hubbard (knee) and DT Sheldon Rankins (illness) are out for Saturday. WR Tee Higgins (ankle/knee), DT Amarius Mims (ankle) and S Geno Stone (illness) are questionable. TE Tanner Hudson (knee) is doubtful. Series notes The teams have traded wins in their past four meetings since 2016. ... The Broncos’ longest win streak was eight from 1983 to 1998. ... The Bengals have managed to win two in a row in the series just twice in 1971 and ’72; and 1975 and ’76. The largest margin of victory was a 45-14 win by Denver in 1991. Stats and stuff Denver QB Bo Nix is three touchdown throws shy of becoming the fifth rookie in NFL history to throw for 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns his rookie season. The others: Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert. ... WR Courtland Sutton needs 72 yards to reach 1,000 for just the second time in his career (2019). ... The Broncos have scored 166 points in their past five games, their most in a five-game span since 2014. ... Zach Allen’s 26 quarterback hits are the most by an interior defensive lineman in the NFL this season. His 67 QB pressures are the second most by an interior DL, behind only the Chiefs’ Chris Jones (74). ... Nik Bonitto has sacks in 10 games so far, two shy of the Broncos record held by Von Miller. ... Brandon Jones is the first Broncos safety since Hall of Famer Steve Atwater in 1995 to have 100 or more tackles and three or more interceptions in a season. ... Cincinnati’s defense forced three turnovers and had five sacks in the win over Cleveland last week. ... Burrow was sacked four times by the Browns, but also passed for three touchdowns. ... Cincinnati has won its past three games to improve to 7-8 on the season and can get to .500 in the final home game of the season. ... All of the Bengals’ seven wins have come against teams with losing records. ... Seven of Cincinnati’s eight losses have been by one score. ... Bengals K Cade York is 4 of 5 on field goals since being promoted from the practice squad to replace the injured Evan McPherson. York was drafted by the Browns in 2022 ... Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has 13 1/2 sacks. Fantasy tip Bengals RB Chase Brown is poised for a breakout. Brown has 91 rushing yards in the win over Cleveland last week and 97 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee the previous week. The second-year player is averaging 4.4 yards per carry. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Electoral Commission Faces Backlash as Nana Yaa Jantuah Drops Bold Message About 2024 PollsCancer (♋︎) is the fourth astrological sign in the Zodiac and one of the three water signs. Represented by a constellation that forms the shape of a crab, Cancers are known for being in touch with their emotions. Cancers are said to be intuitive and nurturing but can at times be stubborn and moody. Like their animal counterpart, they tend to be guarded and have a harsh exterior at first. But once you earn their trust, they are fiercely loyal, genuine at heart and gentle-natured. Celebrities like Selena Gomez , Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande , Khloe Kardashian , Tom Cruise, and Meryl Streep, were all born during the Cancer time period. Here's everything to know about the sign . Libra Astrology: All about the star sign’s horoscopes, dates, compatibility and more Virgo Astrology: All about the star sign’s horoscopes, dates, compatibility and more Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac and is associated with the element of water along with Scorpio and Pisces, together making the "water trigon." Water signs in general are known for being sensitive, sentimental and are often drawn to bodies of water when seeking comfort. Cancer signs are associated with the goddesses of Luna and Diana, which are both tied to the moon, which is also Cancer's ruling planet. While the term "cancer" sometimes has a negative associated due to the disease that shares the same name, this zodiac sign is also referred to as the "moon children" by some astrologers. To be considered a Cancer, one has to be born during the summer between the dates of June 22 to July 22. Generally speaking, the most compatible signs for Cancer for both friendships and romantic relationships are their fellow water signs, Pisces and Scorpio. Signs of the same element tend to get along well due to their shared emotional compatibility, but Cancers also click well with the Earth signs including Virgo, Taurus, and Capricorns. Cancers are least compatible with fire signs and their worst match astrology-wise are Aries. Because Cancers are fiercely loyal and tend to fall in love easily, they give many chances to their partners. Cancers are often known to go back to ex-partners due to their level of commitment and tendency to trust and forgive. In a relationship, Cancers are good listeners and can plan thoughtful, romantic gestures such as dates, getaways, and gifts. Cancers can define themselves by love and have difficulty being single for an extended period of time. While some joke that Cancers are cry babies, it is due to their incredible sense of empathy and intuition. Due to this, it is often easy for Cancers to make friends and connections with others. Cancers also tend to be nurturing, family-oriented, and excellent communicators. If you build a close relationship with a cancer, whether it be friendship or romance, the connection tends to last a long time as they are very understanding people and care deeply about their loved ones. Outside of relationships, Cancers are known for their creative nature and are very artistic individuals. Many cancers are very good writers and storytellers, making many great musicians and authors. Cancers are recognized for being very fashionable with many having a knack for styling and finding unique pieces. If a Cancer doesn't pursue a creative career, some of the best fits for this zodiac sign are jobs that involve working closely with others and having a sense of empathy and connection. Some examples of popular careers for Cancers including nurses, social workers, personal chefs, positions in the hospitality industry, and nutritionists. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. All the latest news, showbiz, lifestyle and sports updates, brought to you by our dedicated American team. Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook to make sure you're not missing out. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.ELKO — A long-festering "intratribal dispute" among two factions of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada appears to finally be settled with a decision on Wednesday determining leaders at the tribal community north of downtown Elko represent the tribe and its four bands. The ruling from Bryan Newland, assistant secretary of Indian affairs with the federal Department of Interior, determined the faction at the time led by Danena Ike was the rightful leadership of the tribe. He determined elections held at the four bands — Elko, South Fork, Battle Mountain and Wells — on Oct. 12 and the election of new Chairwoman Edith Smartt on Nov. 2 were the only valid tribal elections. “The Ike Council’s October 12 and November 2, 2024, elections constituted a tribal resolution to the intratribal dispute,” he wrote in his Wednesday decision. “Therefore, all challenges ... are moot given that the tribal leadership dispute is resolved for federal purposes.” The other faction, led by Joseph Holley, no longer has standing with the federal government, according to Newland's decision. In Wednesday’s ruling, Newland concluded, “the Ike Council was the recognized government of the Tribe at the time of the competing October elections, and that the Ike Council fulfilled its constitutional duties as the interim recognized Tribal government to prepare for and conduct an election and provide a dispute resolution process for election challenges.” He also rejected competing elections by the Holley group on Oct. 8, saying he “will not consider the results of those elections to be valid.” Attempts to reach leaders of that faction, based at an office on Railroad Street in Elko, and their Las Vegas attorneys, Lawrence J. Semenza and Jarrod L. Rickard, were unsuccessful on Wednesday. “We’re not at liberty to talk about that because we’re appealing it,” according to a woman who answered the phone at the Railroad Street office. “The person in charge is not here, so it would have to be from our attorney.” She said the faction planned to appeal parts of the ruling but couldn’t comment beyond that. Edith Smartt is the chairwoman of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada and of the tribe's South Fork Band. Smartt, the new chairwoman of the tribe, was unavailable for comment on Wednesday. An emergency meeting has been scheduled for Friday to discuss Newland's decision. But at the time of her election she said process had gone "Well, like it should have gone all along." She said at the time, referring to herself and fellow council members, "We'll just try to do the best we can. That's all we can do." Newland explained in his decision the tribe “has been embroiled in an intratribal dispute regarding the leadership of the tribal government since 2021.” There have been rulings by the Bureau of Indian Affairs regional director dating to October 2023 in favor of the Ike faction. The case simmered through other decisions from the Interior Department and Bureau of Indian Affairs in favor of the Ike group, though tribal courts appointed by the faction led by Joseph Holley ruled in his favor. Newland’s decision also determined those courts were invalid. “In addition, the [director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs] ruled that neither of the various factions’ purported tribal court judges were validly seated and declined to recognize the validity of the Tribal Court, to which the Department of the Interior had previously transferred jurisdiction from the federally-operated Court of Indian Offenses for the Western Region.” Steven McDade, the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone's election board chairman, collection board chairman and chief prosecutor, stands outside the South Fork Band's office in Lee. He's not allowed in because it is controlled by a rival leadership faction. That court and the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas had upheld the decision to recognize the Ike faction, Newland wrote. Several appeals by the Holley group, plus appeals by Danena Ike, then the leader of the Te-Moak, and Steve McDade, the tribe’s in-house chief prosecutor and election administrator, were filed over various rulings from leaders in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, prompting Newland to take over the case. Then, on Sept. 4, “Joseph Holley, the leader of the tribal government faction opposing the Ike Council, who had previously filed an appeal of the [director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs] decision with the [Interior Board of Indian Appeals] prior to [Newland’s] assumption of jurisdiction, filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. Mr. Holley asked the court to find the decision was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act; and reverse, stay, and enjoin the enforcement of the decision pending adjudication on the merits.” The federal court rejected the Holley group’s request on Oct. 7, handing a partial victory to the Ike group. Newland also determined on Wednesday: • “The [director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs] recognized the Ike Council on an interim basis as the Tribal government to conduct the 2024 Tribal election, and the Ike Council validly held a Band election on October 12, 2024, followed by a Chairperson Election on November 2, 2024, which elected Edith Smartt as Chairwoman. • “The Ike Council’s October 12 and November 2, 2024, elections constituted a tribal resolution to the intratribal dispute. Therefore, all challenges to the [director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs] decision are moot given that the tribal leadership dispute is resolved for federal purposes.” • “The [regional director] did not err in withdrawing jurisdiction from the Tribal Court and empowering the C.F.R. Court to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction on behalf of the Tribe.” Newland wrote challenges to decision “recognizing the Ike Council on an interim basis are rendered moot.” On Wednesday, McDade, the Ike group’s chief prosecutor, said members of the Holley faction were taking records from the South Fork Band’s offices in Lee, west of Spring Creek. He said he alerted Bureau of Indian Affairs police to the incident, but officers "never showed up to address the theft of South Fork's records." This could not be independently confirmed by the Elko Daily Free Press. A call to the South Fork Band’s office did not go through. Keith Kohn is editor of the Elko Daily Free Press. Reach him at kkohn@elkodaily.com . Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Managing Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
'Answers are needed': Concerns continue over drone sightings in Pa., NJ
Cade Lucas This story was one of the top stories from 2024 and was originally published in February. Visiting the graves of loved ones is usually an emotional experience, something Hoppers Crossing’s Margherita Loviscotto knows better than most. Since her son Gabriele’s death in 1985, Ms Loviscotto has visited his burial site at Werribee Cemetery on countless occasions, often attending two to three times a week. But after nearly 40 years, the 86 year old has had to scale back her cemetery visits, with a recent illness forcing her to go three weeks without tending to Gabriele’s grave, her longest absence since his passing. Her eventual return on Tuesday January 30 left Ms Loviscotto more emotional than ever. “Werribee Cemetery is a disgrace,” she said of the condition she found it in. “The grass was my height, there was grass everywhere. The weeds were everywhere. “I felt like crying.” Ms Loviscotto is far from alone in being upset with the condition of the cemetery. A subsequent social media inquiry by the Star Weekly attracted a stream of angry responses from Wyndham residents, with the cemetery variously described as ‘a disgrace’, ‘disgraceful,’ ‘crap,’ ‘grim and very unkept,’ and ‘not good enough.’ Like Ms Loviscotto, many remarked on the amount of grass and weeds that have been allowed to grow on the cemetery grounds. Vegetation overgrowth has been an issue across many public green spaces throughout Wyndham following unseasonably heavy summer rains. Wyndham council recently advised that it was struggling to deal with the amount of vegetation growth over the Christmas and New Year period and that mowing and lawn maintenance would take longer than usual. However, Werribee Cemetery is no longer the responsibility of Wyndham council, with The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT), that also operates cemeteries in Altona and Fawkner, taking over management in 2010. Margherita Loviscotto said she’d noticed a decline in the condition of the cemetery ever since. “Since the trustee took it over, the cemetery is neglected,” she said. “Before when the it was the council in charge, they cut the grass every two weeks and it was nice and clean.” Chief operations and people officer at GMCT, Dimi Patsisas, said the cemetery was mowed only days before Ms Loviscotto’s January 30 visit. “We are committed to maintaining Werribee Cemetery with care and respect,” he said. “We deployed additional staff there last Thursday (25 January) for maintenance, as a result of grass and weeds growing faster due to the unusually wet summer.” While GMCT is responsible for public spaces at the cemetery, care and maintenance of individual grave sites is up to family members, with many using their own equipment to cut grass around them. Despite criticism, few complaints about the condition of Werribee Cemetery are believed to have been lodged with GMCT.
After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon
Brendan Rodgers praises Celtic and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ mentalityAdani Gangavaram Port, the deepest and one of the most modern ports in India today set a new record for urea discharge, successfully offloading 19,199 MTs of urea from MV ALTUS within its first 24 hours of berthing. This achievement underscores the port’s commitment to operational excellence and efficient cargo handling. The record-breaking discharge was made possible through the strategic utilization of Mobile Harbour Cranes, Hoppers, and Warehouses. The port’s continuous investments in infrastructure and technology, coupled with a strong focus on safe and efficient operations, have been instrumental in achieving this milestone. Adani Gangavaram Port’s integrated approach, which includes seamless connectivity with railway facilities, ensures the swift and reliable transportation of fertilizer cargo to farmers across the region. Speaking on the occasion Adani Gangavaram Port Limited management sad, “This record-breaking achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team,” “We are committed to continuously enhancing our operational capabilities to provide efficient and reliable services to our customers and contribute to the growth of the Indian economy.” Source: Adani Gangavaram Port
LIVE Boxing Day Test: Smith’s chance to push for century after Konstas heroicsBy Joey Carr on November 27, 2024 at 2:28PM PST GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links. Path of Exile 2 is the highly anticipated sequel in the iconic ARPG series, and it's finally arriving on December 6. The initial release of Path of Exile 2 will be in early access, and players can only enter the early version if they purchase a specific pack of content on the developer's website. There will be a subsequent full release sometime in 2025, and the developers at Grinding Gear Games will unveil additional content as time goes on. During the early access period of Path of Exile 2, players will only have access to some of the game's content. This includes a handful of the classes, half of the campaign, and presumably only a portion of the loot table. For now, you can check out the sections below to see everything we currently know about Path of Exile 2. The initial release date for Path of Exile 2 is slated for December 6, 2024. This date is only for players who have purchased early access to the game, which is currently the sole way to play Path of Exile 2. Throughout the entire early access period, which will go on for an undisclosed amount of time, you'll have to pay in order to play. At this time, we don't know how long Path of Exile 2 will remain in early access. The timeframe likely depends on the stability of the build and how many issues the developers need to solve throughout the early access period. Path of Exile 2 has already been delayed a couple of times, so there's no telling when the full release date will arrive in the future. With Path of Exile 2 only being in early access, there is currently no way to pre-order the game. All you can do is purchase the early access build through a variety of Supporter Packs. These Supporter Packs start at $30 and give you a key for the early access build, other in-game content, and coins to spend in the shop. The more expensive packs offer even more in-game content and coins as well as some real-life items, such as apparel. You can see the contents of every available Supporter Pack in our recent guide. Since the announcement of Path of Exile 2 and its early access build, several trailers and livestreams have gone up showing off different elements of the game. The most recent trailer showcases the entirety of early access , including some of the classes and content you can expect at launch. There are additional trailers that detail some individual classes in Path of Exile 2, such as the Witch and Ranger . The Path of Exile YouTube channel has dozens of different videos that go over in-depth elements of different parts of the game. Unlike its predecessor, Path of Exile 2 will exclusively be available on the current-generation platforms as well as PC and Mac. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users will finally get to experience the Path of Exile series in all of its glory with a version built for current-gen consoles, which follows a period in which the original was stuck on the last-gen consoles for several years. At the time of writing, there are no plans to bring Path of Exile 2 to any additional platforms, such as the Nintendo Switch. One improvement Path of Exile 2 is making from the original is introducing cross-platform play and cross-progression . No matter what system you're on, you'll be able to play through Path of Exile 2 with up to five other players in your party (for a total of six). Even if you're on PC and your friends are on PS5, you can easily party up with them using the in-game friends list. There's also full cross-progression support, allowing you to access your account regardless of what system you're on. You could be playing on PC one day and then swap over to Xbox Series X another day and still save all of your progress. The story in Path of Exile 2 picks up 20 years after the events of the original. In the original, the story centers around you and others being exiled from the island nation of Oriath to the ravaged land of Wraeclast. There are dark forces trying to control Oriath and it's your job to escape Wraeclast and stop the forces from completely overruning your former home. In Path of Exile 2, the plot will largely be independent from the original, but there will likely be some returning characters. In the 20-year gap from the original to the sequel, the lands of Wraeclast and Oriath have changed quite significantly. The game begins with your character being sentenced to death by the "Iron Count." You, of course, escape this execution and stumble into a nearby town, called Clearfell Encampment, with surrounding areas being overcome by something called the "Seed of Corruption." At the end of Act 1, you fight the Iron Count in an epic battle to rid Clearfell of corruption and proceed to the Vastiri Desert, a location from the original game. The rest of the story follows a similar structure from act to act. The early access build of the game will only feature three Acts to start. At the end of every Act, a unique boss fight will occur that leads players into the next act of the campaign. Along the way, players will discover some familiar locations as well as plenty of new ones. You don't need to play the original Path of Exile to understand what's happening in the sequel, though. Overall, the early access build should feature roughly 50 hours of content throughout the three Acts and the endgame. The endgame is something the developers will continue to build on as early access rolls on. You can spend additional time for every character you make by completing side quests, discovering new areas and characters, and trying to beat bosses over and over to score specific drops. Path of Exile 2 will feature a fleshed-out endgame right from the start. However, you can only reach the endgame after beating the three-act campaign twice. The first time you beat it, you'll be roughly level 45. You're free to beat the three Acts the first time through on any difficulty level you choose. Once you're level 45 and done with the campaign, you'll need to beat it again, but this time on "Cruel" difficulty. Only after beating the campaign on this difficulty level will you be allowed to enter the endgame. Once you enter the endgame, you'll be able to explore the Atlas. This is a randomly generated map that goes on forever, giving you endless amounts of content to pursue. In the Atlas, you can discover towers that allow you to open up more of the map. You initially open up new areas by putting down Waystones, which essentially act as markers on the big Atlas map. These Waystones also allow you to select the difficulty of the enemies you'll face in the Atlas. The Waystones have several other mechanics as well, including the ability to modify them to influence what types of drop rates you'll receive from an area. In each area of the Atlas, you'll find monsters and bosses from the story, which need to be defeated to clear the different areas of corruption. Only some areas feature a major boss while all areas have plenty of monsters to kill that range in difficulty depending on the Waystone you placed. In addition to fighting enemies and bosses, you can also discover NPCs in the Atlas that offer objectives to complete for more rewards. As you find more and more NPCs, you might eventually find a location called the Hideout. Here, you can group NPCs together to join you on your exploration of the Atlas. The Hideout serves as another hub within the Atlas that players can return to throughout the endgame. Finally, a major element of the endgame in Path of Exile 2 is the systems in place. These systems act as events in the endgame that can be completed for rewards. Every system gives points for players to spend in the Atlas' skill trees and as players put more points in the different sections of the tree, the systems become more difficult and offer better rewards. There are seven systems in Path of Exile 2's endgame and each one offers different gameplay loops, pinnacle boss fights, and rewards. Here are the seven endgame systems: Breach Ritual Delirium Expedition Trial of the Sekhemas Trial of Chaos Pinnacle Boss The Pinnacle Boss is the hardest piece of endgame content in Path of Exile 2 and requires some preparation before you're able to take it on. You can only take part in the Pinnacle Boss system after finding three distinct keys that unlock a door to a fortress somewhere in the Atlas. From there, you're faced with frequent boss fights that are more challenging than anything else in Path of Exile 2. Upvote Leave Blank
NEW YORK (AP) — Angelina Jolie never expected to hit all the notes. But finding the breath of Maria Callas was enough to bring things out of Jolie that she didn’t even know were in her. “All of us, we really don’t realize where things land in our body over a lifetime of different experiences and where we hold it to protect ourselves,” Jolie said in a recent interview. “We hold it in our stomachs. We hold it in our chest. We breathe from a different place when we’re nervous or we’re sad. “The first few weeks were the hardest because my body had to open and I had to breathe again,” she adds. “And that was a discovery of how much I wasn’t.” In Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” which Netflix released in theaters Wednesday before it begins streaming on Dec. 11, Jolie gives, if not the performance of her career, then certainly of her last decade. Beginning with 2010’s “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” Jolie has spent recent years directing films while prioritizing raising her six children. “So my choices for quite a few years were whatever was smart financially and short. I worked very little the last eight years,” says Jolie. “And I was kind of drained. I couldn’t for a while.” But her youngest kids are now 16. And for the first time in years, Jolie is back in the spotlight, in full movie-star mode. Her commanding performance in “Maria” seems assured of bringing Jolie her third Oscar nomination. (She won supporting actress in 2000 for “Girl, Interrupted.”) For an actress whose filmography might lack a signature movie, “Maria” may be Jolie's defining role. Jolie's oldest children, Maddox and Pax, worked on the set of the film. There, they saw a version of their mother they hadn't seen before. “They had certainly seen me sad in my life. But I don’t cry in front of my children like that,” Jolie says of the emotion Callas dredged up in her. “That was a moment in realizing they were going to be with me, side by side, in this process of really understanding the depth of some of the pain I carry.” Jolie, who met a reporter earlier this fall at the Carlyle Hotel, didn't speak in any detail of that pain. But it was hard not to sense some it had to do with her lengthy and ongoing divorce from Brad Pitt, with whom she had six children. Just prior to meeting, a judge allowed Pitt’s remaining claim against Jolie, over the French winery Château Miraval, to proceed. On Monday, a judge ruled that Pitt must disclose documents Jolie’s legal team have sought that they allege include “communications concerning abuse.” Pitt has denied ever being abusive. The result of the U.S. presidential election was also just days old, though Jolie — special envoy for the United Nations Refugee Agency from 2012 to 2022 – wasn’t inclined to talk politics. Asked about Donald Trump’s win , she responded, “Global storytelling is essential,” before adding: “That’s what I’m focusing on. Listening. Listening to the voices of people in my country and around the world.” Balancing such things — reports concerning her private life, questions that accompany someone of her fame — is a big reason why Jolie is so suited to the part of Callas. The film takes place during the American-born soprano’s final days. (She died of a heart attack at 53 in 1977.) Spending much of her time in her grand Paris apartment, Callas hasn’t sung publicly in years; she’s lost her voice. Imprisoned by the myth she’s created, Callas is redefining herself and her voice. An instructor tells her he wants to hear “Callas, not Maria." The movie, of course, is more concerned with Maria. It’s Larrain’s third portrait of 20th century female icon, following “Jackie” (with Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy) and “Spencer” (with Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana). As Callas, Jolie is wonderfully regal — a self-possessed diva who deliciously, in lines penned by screenwriter Steven Knight, spouts lines like: “I took liberties all my life and the world took liberties with me.” Asked if she identified with that line, Jolie answered, “Yeah, yeah.” Then she took a long pause. “I’m sure people will read a lot into this and there’s probably a lot I could say but don’t want to feed into,” Jolie eventually continues. “I know she was a public person because she loved her work. And I’m a public person because I love my work, not because I like being public. I think some people are more comfortable with a public life, and I’ve never been fully comfortable with it.” When Larraín first approached Jolie about the role, he screened “Spencer” for her. That film, like “Jackie” and “Maria,” eschews a biopic approach to instead intimately focus on a specific moment of crisis. Larraín was convinced Jolie was meant for the role. “I felt she could have that magnetism,” Larraín says. “The enigmatic diva that’s come to a point in her life where she has to take control of her life again. But the weight of her experience, of her music, of her singing, everything, is on her back. And she carries that. It’s someone who’s already loaded with a life that’s been intense.” “There’s a loneliness that we both share,” Jolie says. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I think people can be alone and lonely sometimes, and that can be part of who they are.” Larraín, the Chilean filmmaker, grew up in Santiago going to the opera, and he has long yearned to bring its full power and majesty to a movie. In Callas, he heard something that transfixed him. “I hear something near perfection, but at the same time, it’s something that’s about to be destroyed,” Larraín says. “So it’s as fragile and as strong as possible. It lives in both extremes. That’s why it’s so moving. I hear a voice that’s about to be broken, but it doesn’t.” In Callas’ less perfect moments singing in the film, Larraín fuses archival recordings of Callas with Jolie’s own voice. Some mix of the two runs throughout “Maria.” “Early in the process,” Jolie says, “I discovered that you can’t fake-sing opera.” Jolie has said she never sang before, not even karaoke. But the experience has left her with a newfound appreciation of opera and its healing properties. “I wonder if it’s something you lean into as you get older,” Jolie says. “Maybe your depth of pain is bigger, your depth of loss is bigger, and that sound in opera meets that, the enormity of it.” If Larraín’s approach to “Maria” is predicated on an unknowingness, he's inclined to say something similar about his star. “Because of media and social media, some people might think that they know a lot about Angelina,” he says. “Maria, I read nine biographies of her. I saw everything. I read every interview. I made this movie. But I don’t think I would be capable of telling you who she was us. So if there’s an element in common, it’s that. They carry an enormous amount of mystery. Even if you think that you know them, you don’t.” Whether “Maria” means more acting in the future for Jolie, she's not sure. “There's not a clear map,” she says. Besides, Jolie isn't quite ready to shake Callas. “When you play a real person, you feel at some point that they become your friend,” says Jolie. “Right now, it’s still a little personal. It’s funny, I’ll be at a premiere or I’ll walk into a room and someone will start blaring her music for fun, but I have this crazy internal sense memory of dropping to my knees and crying.” Jake Coyle, The Associated PressCM honours Benazir on 17th anniversaryStock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meeting
Trump says he's a 'believer' in polio vaccine, and other news conference takeawaysManmohan Singh, India’s economist-turned-Prime Minister, was known for his grace, soft-spoken demeanor, and sharp economic vision. Throughout his career, he earned praise from both rivals and colleagues. The architect of India’s economic reforms, Singh passed away in Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92. His legacy as a transformative leader and a guiding force in India’s economic journey will be remembered fondly. Singh’s death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Delhi, where he was admitted to the Emergency ward around 8:30 PM in critical condition. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi praised former PM Manmohan Singh as an “inspiration” for lawmakers during a heartfelt farewell event for retiring members. Singh concluded his remarkable 33-year-long parliamentary career in the Rajya Sabha in April this year, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and service that continues to inspire many. His passing marks the end of an era, and his contributions to India’s economic and political landscape will be remembered fondly by many. Prime Minister Modi’s praise came after Dr. Manmohan Singh demonstrated his commitment by arriving in a wheelchair to cast his vote in the Parliament. “I remember during the voting in the House, it was known that the treasury bench would win but Dr Manmohan Singh came on his wheelchair and cast his vote. This is an example of a member being alert of his duties. He was an inspirational example,” PM Modi said, referring to the vote Manmohan Singh cast over a key legislation. #ManmohanSingh was ill, knew that his one vote can't change the outcome in NDA Majority Rajyasabha, yet he used to come for voting in a WHEELCHAIR. ~ PM Narendra Modi praised him for this stand alone dedication for Democracy 🇮🇳 Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/kKZlR5npfh — The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) December 26, 2024 In August 2023, despite his frail health, Dr. Singh made a determined appearance in a parliamentary debate on a bill granting the central government more control over Delhi’s administrative matters, arriving in a wheelchair. He also used a wheelchair to cast his vote during the Presidential elections. These moments highlighted his dedication and resilience, leaving a lasting impression on those who witnessed his steadfast devotion to his duties. In 2022, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed his deep respect for Manmohan Singh, stating that the nation would always remain indebted to the former Prime Minister. Gadkari reminisced about his time as a minister in Maharashtra during the mid-1990s, recalling how Singh’s economic reforms enabled him to secure funds for building roads in the state. This acknowledgment highlighted the lasting impact of Singh’s visionary policies on India’s infrastructure development. His contributions continue to be felt and appreciated, underscoring the profound influence he had on the country’s progress. Also Read: Former PM Manmohan Singh Passes Away: When ‘Maunmohan’ Took A Jab At Narendra Modi Against ‘Silent PM’ Written By Lakshmi Ranjith
The Lady Chargers hosted Columbus East Monday looking for their third straight win and looking to keep the Lady Olympians winless on the season. Both tasks accomplished. North Decatur jumped out to a 20-5 lead after the first quarter and then put the game away with a 12-7 fourth quarter to post the 50-38 victory. North improves to 8-4 on the season. Columbus East falls to 0-10. Both teams will be competing in the Arrow Container Holiday Classic hosted by Hauser beginning Dec. 26. North takes on Paoli (2-9) at 4 p.m. Columbus East faces Southwestern-Hanover (9-4) at 2 p.m. Columbus East scored the first two points of the game on a layup by Kimberly Carothers. Kelsey Haley got the Lady Chargers going with a 3-pointer and that bucket started a 19-0 North run. Another Haley 3-pointer pushed North’s lead to 8-2. Madi Allen scored off the Carmen Thackery assist to make it 10-2 and Allen scored off the Jo Whitaker assist to push the lead to 15-2. Haley found Thackery on the fast break as the lead grew to 15 points. Allen’s steal and layup gave North a 19-2 lead before Columbus East’s Lola Watkins hit a 3-pointer to stop the run. A Jewel Verseman free throw for North capped the first quarter with the Lady Chargers in command, leading 20-5. Clare Kinker opened the scoring in the second quarter off the Haley assist. Haley then drained a left corner 3-pointer to give the Lady Chargers a 20-point lead. The Lady Olympians put together a 12-3 run, capped by a 3-pointer each from Ella Anthis and Carothers. Allen’s layup just before the horn had the Lady Chargers leading 30-17 at the half. Thackery found Jo Whitaker for the easy bucket to start the third quarter, but Columbus answered with seven straight points to cut the deficit to 32-24. A pair of Kinker free throws for North stopped the Columbus East run and pushed North’s lead back to double figures. With just less than two minutes to play in the third quarter, Columbus East’s Krea Martin scored to cut the deficit to seven at 34-27. The teams traded scores the rest of the quarter and North held a 38-31 lead heading to the final quarter. North quickly put to bed any thought of a Lady Olympian comeback by scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter. Allen hit two free throws, followed by another bomb by Haley and two more Allen free throws as North extended the lead to 45-31. After a 3-pointer from Columbus East’s Carothers, Allen made a layup and Jo Whitaker connected on a free throw to answer those three points. With the lead at 14 points, a final layup by Columbus East’s Makenzie Cheek made the final score 50-38. Allen led the Lady Chargers with 25 points. Haley hit four 3-pointers for her 12 points. Kinker scored four points. Jo Whitaker added three points. Thackery, Verseman and Ally Whitaker all had two points.
