The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported fire incident at the Ika North East Local Government Areaa (LGA) office in Owa-Oyibu town. According to a statement on Tuesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, items destroyed in the inferno included 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric power generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals and assorted items such as envelopes, posters, forms and booklets. The statement said the report indicated that the incident occurred in the afternoon Monday 2nd December 2024 as a result of a sudden power surge following the restoration of public power supply. The statement read: “The Commission held its regular meeting today, Tuesday 3rd December 2024. Among other issues, the meeting took note of a preliminary report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Delta state, Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren, on a fire incident at our Ika North East Local Government Areaa (LGA) office in Owa-Oyibu town. “The report indicates that the incident occurred in the afternoon of Monday 2nd December 2024 as a result of a sudden power surge following the restoration of public power supply. “The stores section where petrol generators and other items were kept was completely razed. “Items destroyed in the inferno include 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric power generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals and assorted items such as envelopes, posters, forms and booklets. “Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities. “The incident has been reported to the security agencies and emergency services for a thorough investigation. “The Commission appreciates the cooperation of the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service for their response. “Ika North East is one of our 25 LGA offices in Delta state with 14 Registration Areas (Wards), 238 polling units and 131,747 registered voters”.gg88bet 。

Investing in Tech: Which Chipmaker Stands Out in Today’s Market?ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Workers pushing for an end to smoking in Atlantic City casinos say the main employee union has been won over by tobacco companies seeking allies in the fight against smoking restrictions. An official of a union involved in the anti-smoking push on Monday called for the head of the Atlantic City casino workers' union, Donna DeCaprio, to resign for failing to protect her members from the dangers of secondhand smoke. DeCaprio is president of Local 54 of the Unite Here union, which opposes a smoking ban on the grounds that so much business would be lost by smokers taking their money elsewhere that it could cause one or more casinos to shut down, costing thousands of workers their jobs. “She should be ashamed of herself,” said Ray Jensen, assistant director of United Auto Workers Region 9, which represents dealers at three Atlantic City casinos and is part of a lawsuit seeking to have the courts force an end to smoking in the gambling halls. “She should hand in her union card.” DeCaprio said her union supports the health and safety of its members, adding improvements to the workplace environment need to be made. “A balance needs to be reached that will both protect worker health and preserve good jobs,” she said. “We are protecting our members against multiple casino closures and job losses. The UAW is eager to sacrifice the entire casino industry and put 25,000 good jobs with benefits at risk.” DeCaprio said between 50% and 72% of all in-person casino revenue in Atlantic City comes from smoking sections, which occupy only 25% of the casino floor. She said her union “and the vast majority of the labor movement” support that would improve ventilation in casinos and prevent any employee from being assigned to work in a smoking section against their will. Whether to ban smoking is one of the most controversial issues not only in Atlantic City casinos but in other states where workers have expressed concern about secondhand smoke. They are waging similar campaigns in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Virginia. Workers have been pushing for four years to end an exemption in New Jersey’s clean air law that allows smoking inside the nine casinos. They say they or their co-workers are becoming ill with cancer, heart disease and other conditions related to exposure to second-hand smoke. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has said he will sign a bill to end casino smoking if it reaches his desk. The casinos, joined by Local 54, oppose that effort, saying it will cost Atlantic City thousands of jobs and lead to decreased tax revenue for state programs for senior citizens and the disabled. On Monday, the workers group that calls itself CEASE (Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects) filed an appeal of a that allowed smoking to continue in the nine casinos. The Casino Association of New Jersey declined to comment Monday. Attorney Nancy Erika Smith said as far back as 1993, tobacco companies targeted labor unions in the hospitality industry as potential allies to work against smoking bans in the restaurant and hospitality industries. That effort included the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, a precursor of the Unite Here union. “HERE and the related AFL-CIO affiliates are critical allies which should be cultivated as supporters of the effort to prevent smoking bans,” a public relations firm wrote in Companies that was made public during several states' litigation against tobacco companies. The memo said having HERE “as an ally in this effort would be a very powerful voice.” As far back as 2001, HERE was part of a 12-member coalition including labor unions advocating for improved indoor ventilation instead of government-imposed smoking bans, according to cited in Monday's appeal. The anti-smoking campaigners cite a by Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming, a consulting firm, showing that casinos that went smoke-free "appear to be performing better than their counterparts that continue to allow smoking.” Follow Wayne Parry on X at

ISIS Takes Advantage of Rebel Gains in Syria, US Allies WarnOn Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here . Getting benched may have been the best thing that happened to Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson. Both second-year quarterbacks are playing well since returning to the starting lineup. Young has steadily improved after coming back in Week 8. He’s displayed the skills that earned him a Heisman Trophy at Alabama and convinced the Carolina Panthers to draft him ahead of C.J. Stroud with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023. Young had his best game on Sunday, nearly leading Carolina to an overtime win over Tampa Bay if it weren’t for Chuba Hubbard’s fumble in field-goal range. He threw for 298 yards and a go-ahead touchdown pass in the final minute of a 26-23 loss . Young almost led the Panthers to a win over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs a week earlier only to see Patrick Mahomes drive Kansas City into position for a winning field goal as time expired. Rookie coach Dave Canales benched Young for veteran Andy Dalton after just two games in which he had a 44.1 passer rating. The 23-year-old has completed 60.4% of his passes for 1,062 yards, six TDs and three interceptions — none in the past three games — while going 2-3 in the five starts since Young got another opportunity to lead the Panthers (3-9). Richardson has led Indianapolis to a pair of comeback wins late in the fourth quarter in three starts after he regained his starting job. The Colts (6-7) selected Richardson No. 4 last year and he started just 10 games before coach Shane Steichen benched him for Joe Flacco in Week 9. Richardson completed only 44.4% of his passes with four TDs and seven picks in his first six starts. He’s improved to 52.4% with three TDs and two picks since coming back. The 22-year-old tossed a 3-yard TD pass to Alec Pierce on fourth-and-goal with 12 seconds remaining and then ran in for a 2-point conversion to lift the Colts to a 25-24 win over New England on Sunday. Young and Richardson both have a long way to go to prove they can be franchise quarterbacks. But there’s far more optimism now that they’re not busts. Young is on his third head coach and second offensive coordinator in two seasons. Canales is known for getting the best out of quarterbacks, helping Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield revive their careers. He made a bold decision to bench Young after just two games but that allowed him to watch, grow and learn without the pressure of having to perform. Now it appears Young might have a future in Carolina when that seemed unlikely in September. Richardson just needs more experience. He threw only 393 passes in college and started four games as a rookie before he was injured. Steichen’s decision to bench him for Flacco didn’t work out. Flacco, who was the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year last year after leading Cleveland to the playoffs by going 4-1 in five starts, struggled in two games. Still, that gave Richardson a chance to reset after tapping out for a play in the game before he was benched. Quarterbacks need time to develop. They can’t be judged fairly after one or two seasons, especially when they were high draft picks who joined bad teams that lacked talent. Matt Eberflus lost his job as Chicago’s head coach a day after he watched the offense run out of time with a timeout in hand, missing an opportunity to push Detroit to overtime on Thanksgiving. But Antonio Pierce made an even worse decision on Black Friday that cost the Raiders a chance to beat the Chiefs. Aidan O’Donnell drove Las Vegas to the Chiefs 32 with 15 seconds left. Instead of trying for a game-winning field goal down 19-17, Pierce wanted O’Donnell to take the snap, allow more time to tick and throw the ball away. But O’Donnell wasn’t ready for the snap, the Chiefs recovered the fumble and escaped with the win. aManaging the clock shouldn’t be this difficult for NFL head coaches. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is having the worst season of his 13-year career. If he wasn’t one of the best kickers in NFL history, Baltimore would’ve made a switch already. But coach John Harbaugh has too much respect for Tucker, who began the season as the most accurate kicker in league history. Tucker has missed a career-high eight field-goal attempts, including two in a 24-19 loss to Philadelphia. Harbaugh, a former special teams coach, isn’t planning to replace Tucker. But the Ravens (8-5) have Super Bowl aspirations and Tucker needs to straighten things out. One solution would be to place him on injured reserve to work on his technique. In this case, Tucker has earned the right not to be released. Plus, he’s signed through 2027. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, right, jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, bottom, during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens. When Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears' first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans, the anticipation for the rookie's debut game—possibly the most ever—was on full display. Despite a tough debut for the quarterback, the Bears secured a 24-17 win, a notable feat for the rookie. The victory made Williams the first #1 overall pick with a Week 1 win in over 20 years. Going forward this season, Williams is expected to eclipse C.J. Stroud's record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign with the Houston Texans. However, Stroud's success is an anomaly. Drafting a successful quarterback, especially one who is effective right away, is difficult. When teams have a high first-round draft pick, and they're coming off an unsuccessful few seasons, it's assumed that they will use their first pick on a quarterback . That player will assume the title of "the face of the franchise" and will get the central attention, win or lose. To see which quarterbacks have faced that challenge and triumphed, ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best rookie quarterbacks since 1960 using data from StatHead . Rookies were defined as players who are in their first season of professional football and have not been on the roster of another professional team. Quarterbacks were ranked according to adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which quantifies efficient passing skill. Ties were broken using passer rating. Only rookie quarterbacks with at least 10 games played and 200 total passing attempts were considered. Since 1967, 130 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Of those drafted, only 61 have won a playoff game as a starter, according to The Athletic, which used data from NFL Research . The biggest reason this success rate is not guaranteed is because there are differences between college and pro offensive systems. In the collegiate game, the ball is snapped at different points on the field, passing windows are wider, and defenders and linemen are not as quick, making the adjustment to the pro level more difficult. NFL scouts and general managers are gambling on what skills can be transferable and how long those adjustments might take, which is why some teams prefer redshirt quarterbacks to ease the transition. However, just because a team may not want to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, doesn't mean they can't find a diamond in the rough later in the draft. Think about Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott, all of which were not first-round picks, but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.44 - Passer rating: 91.2 - Season stats: 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions Coming out of college, Gardner Minshew was not a highly sought-after quarterback for NFL teams. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft—a draft that was headlined by Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones. Nonetheless, Minshew's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars was filled with many accomplishments. He won Rookie of the Week seven times despite not winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Minshew also had the highest passer rating of any rookie quarterback that started in 2019. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.77 - Passer rating: 93.7 - Season stats: 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions Pressure was high for Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. When he joined the Cleveland Browns, there was an expectation that once the team figured out the quarterback position, it could be playoff-ready. After trading for Jarvis Landry, a young wide receiver from the Miami Dolphins, in the offseason, the Browns were on their way. Mayfield's rookie season was filled with many firsts, and the Landry-Mayfield connection filled the stat sheet. Mayfield set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in 2019 with 27 surpassing prior marks from Payton Manning and Russell Wilson. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.84 - Passer rating: 98.3 - Season stats: 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Justin Herbert was the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. As the No. 6 overall pick, expectations were high, but there was also an assumption that it would be a few years before Herbert's development would take shape. Then, Chargers starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was accidentally punctured in the lung by a team doctor administering a painkiller before the second game of the season, and it wasn't clear what Taylor's status would be moving forward. When Herbert was given the nod to start minutes before the game, fans didn't know what to expect. Herbert shocked viewers when he threw for over 300 yards and only one interception in that game. He continued his strong rookie showing throughout the season and went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.93 - Passer rating: 98.1 - Season stats: 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions Ben Roethlisberger was the third quarterback selected in his draft class behind the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers—though fans wouldn't have been able to tell. From the moment Roethlisberger was called up by the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in his first game—Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens—it was clear he had a special arm, gaining the nickname "Golden Arm." While the next several games were bumpy for Steelers fans, it was clear that Roethlisberger was the future of the franchise. The Steelers had a solid running game and its receiving core, led by Hines Ward, was one of the best in the league . Once Roethlisberger gained his footing a few games in, he was unstoppable. He led Pittsburgh to its best record ever: 15-1. He also started the season on an eight-game winning streak, becoming the first rookie to do so. Additionally, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 87.7 - Season stats: 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, there were high expectations on Matt Ryan's shoulders heading to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were coming off back-to-back losing seasons and off-the-field legal troubles with its starting quarterback Michael Vick overshadowing the team's play. Ryan was expected to pick up the pieces. He did that immediately, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record in his rookie season and becoming the clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year halfway through the season, which he went on to win. The tag team of Ryan and running back Michael Turner was one of the best offensive forces in the sport that season. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 100 - Season stats: 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft that year, it was not believed that Wilson would be a starter come Week 1, but that quickly changed. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, and the team signed NFL veteran quarterback Matt Flynn as an insurance policy on the injury-prone Jackson . It was assumed in the short term that either Jackson or Flynn would lead the franchise. Once training camp arrived, however, the Seahawks' quarterback position was uncertain. Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Flynn was underwhelming at camp, forcing Head Coach Pete Carroll to take a gamble on his rookie quarterback, Wilson, in Week 1. Carroll, nor Wilson, ever looked back. Wilson was one of the best passing quarterbacks that season. He led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.39 - Passer rating: 96 - Season stats: 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions When Dan Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, the NFL looked very different. Running the ball was the name of the game. The quarterback would either run the football himself at the line of scrimmage or hand it off to the running back, and the offensive linemen would claw and push the pile forward as the runner powered his legs. It was not a pretty sight. However, Marino took a different approach, throwing the ball with a unique quick release for that era. He led the Dolphins to a 9-1 record after replacing David Woodley midway through his rookie season, ending with a 12-4 record. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie to start a Pro Bowl. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 100.8 - Season stats: 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions When C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 by the Houston Texans last year, there were a lot of questions, not about his ability, but about the organization that he would be playing for. The Texans were coming off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022, finishing with the worst record in the league, and a lot of volatility in its front office. The team fired its head coach and a top executive before the draft. Weeks later, the team hired former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its next head coach. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, Stroud was seen as a key ingredient to the team's success since Ryans hired his coaching staff around the quarterback. Stroud led the NFL in yards and TD-to-interception ratio during his rookie season, which is an efficiency statistic considering he didn't get his first interception until his sixth regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints. While Stroud was a part of the league MVP conversation for most of the season, he didn't ultimately win the title. However, he was named 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his rookie season is seen as one of the best in NFL history. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 102.4 - Season stats: 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Leading into the 2012 draft, it wasn't a matter of whether Washington would pick a quarterback, it was a matter of who. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play and losing seasons from the likes of Jason Campbell, Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman, it was time for a new face to lead the offense. At No. 2, Washington selected Robert Griffin III making him the second quarterback selected in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck. Griffin started his rookie year campaign with one of the best performances football fans have ever seen. He completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns, beating the New Orleans Saints. That game earned him the highest passer rating by a rookie ever, 158.3. He now shares that record with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. Griffin III went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.86 - Passer rating: 104.9 - Season stats: 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Dak Prescott is statistically the best rookie quarterback ever, racking up the best passer rating as a rookie. After losing his first game, he led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak. That season, he led the team to its fourth-best season ever with a 13-3 record. Prescott was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the first NFL quarterback to be drafted in the fourth round or later to start all 16 regular season games. Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Shanna Kelly. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Samsung is the world's largest smartphone vendor, according to Statista , and it's likely that you have heard nothing but praise for its devices in recent years, especially the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra . However, a benefit of not being as constrained as iOS is the fact that Android comes in various flavors, from different manufacturers, and at every price point. Each manufacturer throws its own skin on top of Android and bundles in exclusive features. While Samsung itself boasts a wide catalog of devices, some people might not enjoy the One UI skin, or could find the designs of most current-gen Samsung phones uninspiring and similar. Thankfully, worthwhile competition from brands like OnePlus, Google, Asus, and others means options go far beyond a Samsung Galaxy. For this list, we've stuck with smartphones that feature premium specifications — but don't worry, there is a healthy selection of budget friendly Android phones as well. From a device that folds in half, to a smartphone geared towards gaming, here are some of the best Android phones you can buy that aren't made by Samsung. We've based our list on reviews from experts in the industry, and you can find out more about our methodology at the end of this read. Amidst countless forgotten Google products that tend to get shelved, the Pixel lineup of devices has surprisingly stuck around. Being manufactured by the same company that develops Android has its benefits, including day one software updates and an experience devoid of any bloatware. The Pixel 9 Pro rivals the likes of the iPhone and Galaxy S24 Ultra, and features a 6.3-inch 120 Hz OLED display, capable of soaring way up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. Our review of the Google Pixel 9 Pro talks about its excellent and reliable-as-ever camera setup, and how the suite of AI features hopes to add value to an already mature operating system. For big phone lovers, the 6.8-inch screen of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and its bigger battery, should bring an enjoyable media consumption experience. Both phones are powered by Google's in-house Tensor G4 chip, which, while not known for the highest of numbers in synthetic benchmarks, still offers one of the smoothest ways to enjoy Android. Google promises up to seven years of Android updates for its Pixel 9 series, which, alongside 16GB of RAM, should help with future-proofing. The smaller Pixel 9 Pro starts at $999, and you can max these devices up to a terabyte of storage. You also get access to a year's worth of Gemini Advanced for free, so at least you get to experience all the AI features before handing out a separate subscription fee to Google. Since the brand's inception in 2014, OnePlus phones have never skimped out on their internals. The OnePlus 12 is a similar story, and packs in performance that matches flagships from Samsung and Apple — all the while undercutting most premium smartphones by a decent margin. Pricing starts at $799, for which you get 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with an option to double the internal capacity and bump the RAM to 16GB. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under the hood delivers enough power to run demanding titles like "Genshin Impact" smoothly. The OnePlus 12 also sports one of the most impressive smartphone displays — a 2K 120 Hz LTPO panel with an insane peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The phone runs on top of OxygenOS, which is an interface that has garnered a name for being snappy, despite slowly straying away from the look and feel of stock Android over the years. As explored in our review of the OnePlus 12 , the 5,400 mAh battery makes this a two-day phone, and OnePlus' signature fast charging technology means you'll be able to top it back up in just minutes. Cameras have always been a sensitive topic for OnePlus smartphones, and while the OnePlus 12 isn't coming on top of other flagships, it has a commendable setup consisting of wide, ultrawide, and periscope sensors. Starting out humbly with a pair of transparent wireless earbuds, Nothing now manufactures a variety of products, including smartphones. The Nothing Phone 2 prides itself on being a looker, thanks to the glyph interface and a unique see-through back panel. The front of the smartphone houses a 6.7-inch 120 Hz OLED display. To achieve its price tag of $599 while maintaining high-end specifications, the Nothing Phone 2 opts for an older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM, which is upgradable to 12GB alongside extra storage. We tested games like "Call of Duty: Mobile" and "Asphalt 9" in our review of the Nothing Phone 2 , and the device managed to keep up without dropping any frames. An unintended advantage of being a smaller brand is the fact that Nothing hasn't spent copious resources on designing a heavy layer on top of Android. Nothing OS sticks close to how Google envisioned Android, but doesn't shy away from adding a touch of personality in the form of widgets and subtle UI tweaks. Despite being launched a while ago in 2023, there is nothing (pun intended) quite like this device, unless you're fine with the less powerful yet newer Phone 2a and 2a Plus. The rumored Nothing Phone 3 should follow the same principles and offer a unique way to experience Android. While any modern smartphone with relatively decent specifications can handle games, there exists a niche for dedicated gaming handsets — and the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is the latest in the series. It builds on top of its predecessor and brings upgrades under the hood. The phone is powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, and comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The phone will start at $1,199 and is slated for release in early 2025. Where most phones max out at 120 Hz, the ROG Phone 9 Pro takes its refresh rate all the way up to 185 Hz. With a peak brightness of 2,500 nits, the 6.78-inch AMOLED screen of the ROG Phone 9 Pro should suffice any content consumption needs as well. Asus has been trying to refine the ROG Phone ever since its inception, such that it doesn't cater to just gamers. The ROG Phone 9 Pro has a 50-megapixel primary shooter, and as highlighted in TechRadar's review the six-axis gimbal stabilizer helps capture sharp images even in poorly lit environments. Gamer-specific features of the phone include two ultrasonic buttons on the side that can replicate the R2 and L2 trigger buttons in games that support customizable controls. You also get a secondary USB-C charging port and a grid of LEDs dubbed "AniMe Vision" at the back that can be used to display text, GIFs, and even interactive games. Despite myths surrounding foldable smartphones , we've been seeing more options in the market than ever before. The OnePlus Open is the company's first foldable, and reviewers everywhere have had nothing but praise for its combination of premium hardware and thoughtful software. The device starts at $1,699 and comes with 16GB of RAM and half a terabyte of storage. Powering the OnePlus Open is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, while the circular camera housing features a triple-lens setup. The cover display is a 6.31-inch AMOLED 120Hz panel, which is just as useful as any other slab-style phone. The nearly square 7.82-inch display on the inside boasts a 2K resolution and refreshes at the same smooth 120Hz. Both displays bring 2,800 nits of peak brightness, and feature LTPO technology, allowing them to dynamically adjust the refresh rate to preserve battery. Tom's Guide praised the OnePlus Open for its overall value proposition, since folding phones don't come cheap. Moreover, OxygenOS brings features like Open Canvas that makes it easier to multitask on the OnePlus Open's display when unfolded. A major omission with this device is the lack of wireless charging, but as explored in our review of the OnePlus Open , it lasts a full day and then some on a single charge, and the 67W fast charging comes in clutch. We've seen some of the best and worst Samsung phones over the years, and while it's true that the company's lineup of devices is stronger than ever before — it would be unfair to turn a blind eye to the dozens of other great releases that happen each year. This list was crafted based on reviews from trusted sources like TechRadar and Tom's Guide. We conduct detailed testing of many smartphones here at SlashGear as well. Major points of consideration include specifications, display quality, and battery life — all of which are factors that differentiate good smartphones from the best ones. For this list, we picked Android phones that each have something unique to offer. Foldables like the OnePlus Open rival Samsung's own Galaxy Fold series, and bring a new way of interacting with your apps, while phones as pure as the Pixel 9 Pro are proof that you don't need a ton of bells and whistles to attract prospective buyers. Options like the Nothing Phone 2 and OnePlus 12 offer flagship-grade internals for less money, too. Even though the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro isn't here in the U.S. yet, it's worth waiting for its release in January 2025 since it does bring meaningful improvements over its predecessor.Fishburn leads at Sea Island as Dahmen keeps hope alive to keep job

Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, my colleague Jonathan Rose shared details of how his followers have been collecting gains as big as 49%... 84%... and even a whopping 197% from trading on all the momentum we’re seeing in the stock market right now. With more than 25 years of market experience, including as a CME floor trader and partner of a proprietary trading firm, my colleague Jonathan Rose is the real deal. Not only did he help pioneer computer-based trading, but he’s also trained more than 100 professional traders and made millions in the market by leveraging highly profitable trading strategies typically reserved for Wall Street insiders. And for the first time ever, Jonathan is going to pull back the curtain on his brand-new 5-step strategy that can: You’ll also see the results of his multi-month beta test, real-life case studies, and more... It all happens on Tuesday, November 26th at 11 a.m. Eastern. Sign up here to reserve your spot now . Now, let me turn things over to Jonathan, who will tell you a little more about himself and the trading patterns he has discovered... ************ It’s amazing what a trader can do with a straightforward fundamental market outlook, and the leverage we get from trading options. I would know, I was a professional trader for more than 16 years. I traded in the pits on some of the biggest exchanges in the world like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Over the course of my career, I’ve come to find that if you can combine these tools into a comprehensive system – just as Louis has done with his Stock Grader system – then odds are good you are lightyears ahead of most folks out there. In trading, it’s critical to have a fundamental idea of how the market is performing to help shape our positions. That’s why members of my Masters in Trading program and I have been watching the action in the Invesco QQQ Trust ( QQQ ) under a microscope. This ETF is based on the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes the 100 largest nonfinancial companies on that exchange. By looking over recent history in the charts, we begin to see patterns of behavior we can use to our advantage. What’s so important about the QQQ? Well, the biggest drivers in the market are the so-called “Magnificent Seven” stocks: Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT ), Apple Inc. ( AAPL ), Alphabet Inc. ( GOOG ), Meta Platforms ( META ), Nvidia Corp. ( NVDA ), Tesla Inc. ( TSLA ) and Amazon.com Inc. ( AMZN ). All these companies trade on the Nasdaq, so the QQQ is one highly valuable chart I like to keep a close eye on. Part of how I like to monitor the market’s performance is looking for the current critical level – what I like to call my “Line in the Sand.” This can be either a level of support or resistance depending on how markets are trending in relation to that line. This is a fantastic concept to help us simplify our fundamental view of the market... If we’re trading above the line, we’re in a bullish trend, and if we’re below that line, we consider that to be bearish. In our daily Masters in Trading: Live sessions at 11 a.m. Eastern, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the QQQ, especially around the $500 level – which I’m calling the current “line in the sand.” Take a look at the daily chart below. The $500 mark is standing out as a critical level right now. After QQQ hit a high just above $515, it pulled back, but it’s consistently found support right around that $500 area. This isn’t just a coincidence – it’s where buyers and sellers are battling it out, making it the key level to watch. Why does this matter? Because levels like this often act as a launchpad for the next big move. If QQQ holds above $500, we could see another push higher. But if it breaks below, we could be looking at some serious downside action. Either way, this is where opportunity lives, and this is why we trade short-term options like 3DTE, 2DTE, and even 0DTE – to move fast and capitalize on these shifts. We’ve seen this play out before. Earlier this year, during a similar setup, I highlighted a key level in our live class. Members positioned themselves using short-term puts ahead of a market pullback, and when the QQQ dropped 2.4%, our model portfolio saw gains as high as 179.9% overnight. This is what it’s all about – being prepared, staying disciplined, and taking advantage of these moments. Be Adaptable, Be Objective A solid fundamental understanding of the market, the strategic use of options, and disciplined risk management forms the cornerstone of successful trading. My career on the front lines of the exchanges has shown that these principles, when applied systematically, can offer major advantages, even in volatile markets. These trades came together because of the time we had spent working on our systematic approach. We understood that the markets were in a bullish trend, and we knew how to manage for a portfolio that might be out of balance relative to market support. That knowledge allowed us to protect our portfolio ahead of potential volatility from a key market catalyst. As we navigate the complexities of the financial world, remember that adaptability and objective market indicators, like our ‘Line in the Sand’, remain essential. This is just one of the tools I use to inform my trading, which is why I invite you to join me at my One-Day Winners Live Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 11 a.m. Eastern. At the summit, I will dive deeper into this money-making strategy to capitalize on volatile markets using short-term trades. It’s free to attend, and you can sign up here to reserve your spot . It’s critical for every trader to always be learning and keep an open mind to evolving strategies. This type of mindset keeps us creative and helps ensure you’re always in position to capitalize on market opportunities as they arise... And as I like to say, the creative trader always wins. Remember that the creative trader wins, Jonathan Rose Founder, Masters in Trading

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, right, jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, bottom, during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens. When Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears' first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans, the anticipation for the rookie's debut game—possibly the most ever—was on full display. Despite a tough debut for the quarterback, the Bears secured a 24-17 win, a notable feat for the rookie. The victory made Williams the first #1 overall pick with a Week 1 win in over 20 years. Going forward this season, Williams is expected to eclipse C.J. Stroud's record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign with the Houston Texans. However, Stroud's success is an anomaly. Drafting a successful quarterback, especially one who is effective right away, is difficult. When teams have a high first-round draft pick, and they're coming off an unsuccessful few seasons, it's assumed that they will use their first pick on a quarterback . That player will assume the title of "the face of the franchise" and will get the central attention, win or lose. To see which quarterbacks have faced that challenge and triumphed, ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best rookie quarterbacks since 1960 using data from StatHead . Rookies were defined as players who are in their first season of professional football and have not been on the roster of another professional team. Quarterbacks were ranked according to adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which quantifies efficient passing skill. Ties were broken using passer rating. Only rookie quarterbacks with at least 10 games played and 200 total passing attempts were considered. Since 1967, 130 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Of those drafted, only 61 have won a playoff game as a starter, according to The Athletic, which used data from NFL Research . The biggest reason this success rate is not guaranteed is because there are differences between college and pro offensive systems. In the collegiate game, the ball is snapped at different points on the field, passing windows are wider, and defenders and linemen are not as quick, making the adjustment to the pro level more difficult. NFL scouts and general managers are gambling on what skills can be transferable and how long those adjustments might take, which is why some teams prefer redshirt quarterbacks to ease the transition. However, just because a team may not want to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, doesn't mean they can't find a diamond in the rough later in the draft. Think about Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott, all of which were not first-round picks, but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.44 - Passer rating: 91.2 - Season stats: 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions Coming out of college, Gardner Minshew was not a highly sought-after quarterback for NFL teams. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft—a draft that was headlined by Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones. Nonetheless, Minshew's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars was filled with many accomplishments. He won Rookie of the Week seven times despite not winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Minshew also had the highest passer rating of any rookie quarterback that started in 2019. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.77 - Passer rating: 93.7 - Season stats: 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions Pressure was high for Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. When he joined the Cleveland Browns, there was an expectation that once the team figured out the quarterback position, it could be playoff-ready. After trading for Jarvis Landry, a young wide receiver from the Miami Dolphins, in the offseason, the Browns were on their way. Mayfield's rookie season was filled with many firsts, and the Landry-Mayfield connection filled the stat sheet. Mayfield set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in 2019 with 27 surpassing prior marks from Payton Manning and Russell Wilson. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.84 - Passer rating: 98.3 - Season stats: 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Justin Herbert was the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. As the No. 6 overall pick, expectations were high, but there was also an assumption that it would be a few years before Herbert's development would take shape. Then, Chargers starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was accidentally punctured in the lung by a team doctor administering a painkiller before the second game of the season, and it wasn't clear what Taylor's status would be moving forward. When Herbert was given the nod to start minutes before the game, fans didn't know what to expect. Herbert shocked viewers when he threw for over 300 yards and only one interception in that game. He continued his strong rookie showing throughout the season and went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.93 - Passer rating: 98.1 - Season stats: 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions Ben Roethlisberger was the third quarterback selected in his draft class behind the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers—though fans wouldn't have been able to tell. From the moment Roethlisberger was called up by the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in his first game—Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens—it was clear he had a special arm, gaining the nickname "Golden Arm." While the next several games were bumpy for Steelers fans, it was clear that Roethlisberger was the future of the franchise. The Steelers had a solid running game and its receiving core, led by Hines Ward, was one of the best in the league . Once Roethlisberger gained his footing a few games in, he was unstoppable. He led Pittsburgh to its best record ever: 15-1. He also started the season on an eight-game winning streak, becoming the first rookie to do so. Additionally, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 87.7 - Season stats: 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, there were high expectations on Matt Ryan's shoulders heading to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were coming off back-to-back losing seasons and off-the-field legal troubles with its starting quarterback Michael Vick overshadowing the team's play. Ryan was expected to pick up the pieces. He did that immediately, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record in his rookie season and becoming the clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year halfway through the season, which he went on to win. The tag team of Ryan and running back Michael Turner was one of the best offensive forces in the sport that season. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 100 - Season stats: 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft that year, it was not believed that Wilson would be a starter come Week 1, but that quickly changed. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, and the team signed NFL veteran quarterback Matt Flynn as an insurance policy on the injury-prone Jackson . It was assumed in the short term that either Jackson or Flynn would lead the franchise. Once training camp arrived, however, the Seahawks' quarterback position was uncertain. Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Flynn was underwhelming at camp, forcing Head Coach Pete Carroll to take a gamble on his rookie quarterback, Wilson, in Week 1. Carroll, nor Wilson, ever looked back. Wilson was one of the best passing quarterbacks that season. He led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.39 - Passer rating: 96 - Season stats: 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions When Dan Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, the NFL looked very different. Running the ball was the name of the game. The quarterback would either run the football himself at the line of scrimmage or hand it off to the running back, and the offensive linemen would claw and push the pile forward as the runner powered his legs. It was not a pretty sight. However, Marino took a different approach, throwing the ball with a unique quick release for that era. He led the Dolphins to a 9-1 record after replacing David Woodley midway through his rookie season, ending with a 12-4 record. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie to start a Pro Bowl. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 100.8 - Season stats: 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions When C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 by the Houston Texans last year, there were a lot of questions, not about his ability, but about the organization that he would be playing for. The Texans were coming off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022, finishing with the worst record in the league, and a lot of volatility in its front office. The team fired its head coach and a top executive before the draft. Weeks later, the team hired former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its next head coach. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, Stroud was seen as a key ingredient to the team's success since Ryans hired his coaching staff around the quarterback. Stroud led the NFL in yards and TD-to-interception ratio during his rookie season, which is an efficiency statistic considering he didn't get his first interception until his sixth regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints. While Stroud was a part of the league MVP conversation for most of the season, he didn't ultimately win the title. However, he was named 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his rookie season is seen as one of the best in NFL history. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 102.4 - Season stats: 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Leading into the 2012 draft, it wasn't a matter of whether Washington would pick a quarterback, it was a matter of who. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play and losing seasons from the likes of Jason Campbell, Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman, it was time for a new face to lead the offense. At No. 2, Washington selected Robert Griffin III making him the second quarterback selected in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck. Griffin started his rookie year campaign with one of the best performances football fans have ever seen. He completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns, beating the New Orleans Saints. That game earned him the highest passer rating by a rookie ever, 158.3. He now shares that record with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. Griffin III went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.86 - Passer rating: 104.9 - Season stats: 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Dak Prescott is statistically the best rookie quarterback ever, racking up the best passer rating as a rookie. After losing his first game, he led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak. That season, he led the team to its fourth-best season ever with a 13-3 record. Prescott was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the first NFL quarterback to be drafted in the fourth round or later to start all 16 regular season games. Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Shanna Kelly. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easyTHE HAGUE (AP) — The world’s top war-crimes court issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. The action by the International Criminal Court came as the death toll from Israel’s campaign in Gaza passed 44,000 people, according to local health authorities, who say more than half of those killed were women and children. Their count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Experts say hunger has become widespread across Gaza and may have reached famine levels in the north of the territory, which is under siege by Israeli troops. Israel says it has been working hard to improve entry of aid, though the trickle of supplies into Gaza remains near the lowest levels of the war. Netanyahu condemned the warrant against him, saying Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions” by the court. In a statement released by his office, he said: “There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza.” Gallant, in a statement, said the decision "sets a dangerous precedent against the right to self-defense and moral warfare and encourages murderous terrorism.” The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects, putting them at risk of arrest when they travel abroad and potentially further isolating them . Israel and its top ally, the United States, are not members of the court. But others of Israel's allies, including some of its close European friends, are put in an awkward position. Several, including France, welcomed the court's decision and signaled they might arrest Netanyahu if he visited. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden's administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” The warrants represent "the most dramatic step yet in the court’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Hamas," said Anthony Dworkin, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Israeli leaders, politicians and officials across the spectrum denounced the warrants and the ICC. The new defense minister, Israel Katz, who replaced Gallant earlier this month, said Thursday’s decision is “a moral disgrace, entirely tainted by antisemitism, and drags the international judicial system to an unprecedented low.” Human rights groups applauded the move. The warrants against both sides “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. The decision came six months after ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the warrants. The court issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ armed wing, over the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in Gaza. It said it found reasonable grounds to believe Deif was involved in murder, rape, torture and the taking of hostages amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the Hamas-led attack, militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking some 250 others hostage. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, around a third of them believed to be dead. Khan withdrew requests for warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh , who have both since been killed. Israel says it also killed Deif in an airstrike, but Hamas has never confirmed his death. The warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were issued by a three-judge panel in a unanimous decision. The panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both men bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. The judges said the lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and specific medical supplies created conditions “calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza,” including the deaths of children due to malnutrition and dehydration. They also found that by preventing hospital supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, doctors were forced to operate, including performing amputations, without anesthesia or with unsafe means of sedation that led to “great suffering.” Israeli diplomatic officials said the government is lobbying the international community to speak out against the warrants and is considering an appeal to the court. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal decision on how the government will proceed. Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague anytime soon. Member countries are required to detain suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil, but the court has no way to enforce that. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, recently visited Mongolia, a member state in the court but also a Russian ally. He was not arrested. Still, the threat of arrest now complicates any travel abroad by Netanyahu and Gallant. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the warrants are binding on all 27 members countries of the European Union. France signaled it could arrest Netanyahu if he came to its territory. Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine called it a “complex legal issue” but said France supports the court’s actions. “Combating impunity is our priority,” he said. “Our response will align with these principles.” Hamas in a statement welcomed the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant but made no mention of the one against Deif. Israel’s opposition leaders fiercely criticized the ICC’s move. Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, said it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.” Israel’s campaign has caused heavy destruction across Gaza and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Two days after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, Gallant announced a total seal on Gaza, vowing not to let in food, fuel or other supplies. Under U.S. pressure, Israel began allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid to enter a few weeks later. Israel now says it puts no limit on the supplies permitted into Gaza, and it blames the U.N. distribution system. But Israel's official figures show the amount of aid it has let in has plunged since the beginning of October. The U.N has blamed Israeli military restrictions, along with widespread lawlessness that has led to theft of aid shipments. The case at the ICC is separate from another legal battle Israel is waging at the top U.N. court, the International Court of Justice, in which South Africa accuses Israel of genocide , an allegation Israeli leaders staunchly deny. Lawyers for Israel argued in court that the war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. Associated Press journalists Raf Casert in Brussels, Mike Corder in The Hague and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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Shannon and Mike Farrell started what would later become their local farm from one pumpkin. “We started with a small garden and a friend of ours laughed at a pumpkin we grew. So I kinda went... Well, I’ll show you!” Mike said. “Poor Shannon,” Mike chuckled. “We started growing pumpkins en masse.” “To show that friend,” Shannon added. The two are the married team behind Comox Valley’s Shamrock Farm. They agreed to meet up with The Discourse during the farm’s winter market — which took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 — to share some of what they’ve learned over the last 30 years of running a local farm. The farm has been in operation since 1993. Mike said things began slowly, with the two introducing things little by little over the years to their 20-acre property in Little River, Comox. Since the pumpkin, the family farm has grown into a diversified local business with year-round crops and some goats, pigs and chickens. They are always experimenting, but some crops include pumpkins, garlic, lavender, squash, carrots, radicchio, tomatoes, greens, and one of Shannon’s favourites — kalettes, a cross between brussels sprouts and kale. From 1999 to 2019, the farm also offered field trips to school children. Shannon said this was a good way to spread the word about the farm before social media took off in the 2010s. The two were also busy raising their three boys at this time. One of their biggest focuses over the years has been the importance of not using pesticide or herbicide sprays even while opting not to undergo the cumbersome organic certification process. “Our philosophy was to be able to pull it out of the ground, wipe the dirt off and eat it,” Mike said. The farm scales up a bit every year and they focus on trial and error to grow and diversify their crops. “We have to be able to rotate into different areas all the time,” Mike said. This helps the farm maintain soil health, control pests and weeds, and enable diverse crop production on limited acreage. “It’s kind of a jigsaw puzzle, actually.” Mike said the hardest part about having a farm that doesn’t use pesticides is the weeding, which increases the cost of labour. “We weed everything by hand so that puts our costs up,” Shannon said. “We have a great crew though.” And sometimes the farm does lose crops to bugs. “A few bitten bok choy leaves people will buy but when it gets really bad people won’t buy that vegetable.” Shannon said. Then there is the balance of pricing the vegetables. The Farrells said you can’t have them too expensive because then people won’t buy the vegetables. But if you price them too low, it’s not enough to keep the farm going. When COVID-19 hit, the team started thinking a lot about food scarcity and the supply chain issues that were hitting the Island at the time. “We were like, let’s plant as much as our fields can handle,” Shannon said. The farm did well. Shannon said she noticed a shift in how many people began to value local food. “People were worried about where their food was coming from, and I finally felt like the farm was supporting the family.” A family endeavour Autumn Farrell, Shannon and Mike’s daughter-in-law, has been helping out on the farm since she was in high school. Back then, her now husband Jesse Farrell asked her to help out because his parents needed some help on the farm. Now, a decade later, Autumn is still a lead farmhand weeding and harvesting vegetables, ordering seeds, operating the website and social media and sending out newsletters. “Over the years, I’ve just continued to work here. I also work in a hospital, and this is just a completely different environment for me. I really value being able to work outside and getting your hands dirty,” she said. “It’s so good to be... in nature and connecting with the soil and the earth.” “We focus a lot on diversity too,” Autumn said. Shannon added that their focus on diversity ensures there is something else to fall back on if a crop fails. It’s important for the long-term resilience of the farm. A diverse range of crops is also fun and gives them room to grow and experiment, she added. “I find it really cool, you’ve got these seeds and some of the varieties are really old heirloom varieties that have been passed down from all those generations,” she said. You save that seed, and then you grow it again, and it keeps going. I love that,” Shannon said. Shannon chuckled and added that sometimes this diversity doesn’t succeed because the farm is always experimenting. But that ends up helping them grow in the long-term. “Every year we usually try to find a few new weird varieties that people haven’t heard of before,” Autumn said. This year, it was forced radicchio. Radicchio — a type of chicory from Italy, is known for its white and purple to dark red leaves. They planted different varieties of radicchio for the farm this year, and Shannon experimented with “forcing” the plant. “So in Italy, historically, they would take their radicchio, which is field grown, inside and cover it, shade it from light, and change the water everyday... but because it doesn’t have light, you get these beautiful tender leaves that are dark red and pure white.” The lack of light reduces chlorophyll production, which also softens the bitterness that is often associated with radicchio. Radicchio is a winter vegetable, and Shannon added that she likes being able to grow during all four seasons. “Outside right now, we’ve got all of the brussels sprouts and kale and radicchio and all the winter cabbages and kalettes. Carrots are outside right now, radishes are outside right now. We are lucky that we can grow right through the season.” There are also lots of vegetables in the high tunnel right now, which is like a greenhouse but there is no heat. “We don’t like to waste anything, because obviously that’s money thrown away. So if something doesn’t sell, we pickle it right away, preserve it right away, or put it in the freezer for now in the winter.” Trial and error The goats, they said, are part of the diversity gamble. The goat’s milk is used for the soap made on the farm, but the goats are a bit of a luxury, and the soap barely covers their cost. But the six pigs were a success. The farm had a forested area that needed some clearing, so they put the pigs in the area to clear it. Having animals for meat was a new experience for them, but the farmers said they see a need for serving people concerned about where their meat comes from. They even had one of the workers on the farm break a mainly vegetarian diet after seeing how well they were raising the pigs. “She could see where they were, they were outside 24/7, getting fed, they had their big wallow. They were getting all our vegetables.” Shannon said it was amazing to see how the pigs were helpful in clearing the land and is looking forward to seeing how things grow there now. They sold most of the pig meat but still have some cuts left. Straight from the farm Shamrock Farms can often be found at the Comox Valley Farmer’s Market, and their products are also in many local restaurants. But most of their products are sold straight from the farm at their markets. Now that the winter farm market is complete, locals can look forward to the spring plant sale in May. Come July, the farm will host a lavender and garlic market then In late September and early October a fall harvest market. Shamrock Farm offered some advice for those who may want to get into farming: “Start small and pay as you go. Don’t reach for the moon and borrow a ton of money,” Mike said. Farming is tough, and the farmers said it’s important for the farm to be sustainable for not only the food they grow. “With sustainable farming, it has to be sustainable for the people who work on the farm too,” said Shannon. She said that the job can be exhausting and that breaks are important too. They also added that it’s important to have another form of income before going all-out in farming. In other words, don’t put all your eggs into one basket (pun intended). To learn more about Shamrock Farm, go to https://www.shamrockfarm.ca/ or email info@shamrockfarm.ca .

Published 4:48 pm Tuesday, December 3, 2024 By Data Skrive Ranked teams will be on Wednesday’s college basketball schedule in two games, including the Oklahoma Sooners squaring off against the Louisville Cardinals. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more recordsMounties in Richmond, B.C., say a man has been arrested for allegedly uttering threats against police while livestreaming on a social media platform. RCMP say they received the complaint about the man on Friday morning as he stood outside Richmond City Hall. Police say officers flooded the area and made an arrest without any incident. Insp. Michael Cohee, with RCMP investigative services, says they commend the person who recognized the potential risk and called police. He says they take public safety and threats of violence “very seriously,” whether they are online or in person. Police haven’t said what charges are being considered but say the investigation is ongoing.

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He worked...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22020/opinions/mutara-iii-rudahigwa-the-strategist-and-transgenerational-inspirer" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/21/64559.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/21/64559.jpg" }, "articleBody": "Mutara III Rudahigwa bent to the demands of Belgian colonial masters. Unlike his father Yuhi V Musinga, Rudahigwa softened stance to buy time. He worked to save Rwanda and Rwandans behind colonial dictates. He was to pay the price but his heroic acts inspired successive generations to date. Mutara III Rudahigwa was baptized in 1943, aged 12 years. He chose the names Charles-Leon-Pierre. His spouse Gicanda was baptized Rosalie; The queen mother too was baptized under the name Radegonde. ALSO READ: Yuhi V Musinga's struggle against Belgian colonists It was realized in the previous text that there was economic and social progress. On the economic front yet a determining factor was mining. Three companies: MINETAN, SOMUKI and GEORUANDA took charge of the mining sector. Though coffee was an important source of income, the harvest was limited to one season per year. Mining companies extracted cassiterite all year round and sent it to foreign markets. Rwandans got jobs and received salaries. They got professional training for the purpose. Rwandans in the private sector began to progress. In addition to coffee as cash crop, pyrethrum cultivation and tea were introduced. Under the reign of Mutara III Rudahigwa there was intensification of Rwandans immigrating to Uganda and Tanganyika, which were then under the British rule. This was geared at economic progress in those countries. His administration behind curtains opened avenues for Rwandans to gain economically in those countries. Word has it that he told Rwandans who went to work in mines in DR Congo now to stay indefinitely. This was due to the fact that colonial machinations had balkanized Africa leading to Rwanda losing territory to neighbouring countries. People could move, not so the land. During Mutara III Rudahigwa reign, Kigali airport and Kamembe airfield were constructed. There was creation of laboratories and veterinary dispensaries. Customary corvées, uburetwa, and colonial corvées, akazi were abolished. In 1954, pastoral clientelism, ubuhake, criticized for some of its restrictive aspects, was abolished. Nyanza dairy and the Gisenyi brewery were inaugurated. On the social front, education was encouraged. The official school of Nyanza trained would-be chiefs and sub-chiefs for six years. The teaching at the beginning was done in Swahili, the official language of the European administration then. The school had preparatory schools in Cyangugu (in today’s Rusizi District). Ruhengeli (Musanze District), Gatsibo (Gatsibo District) and Rukira (Kirehe District). Three years were spent at these schools and another three years at Nyanza given their intellectual and economic capabilities. There were schools of the same level as Nyanza one in Save (Gisagara District) and Kigali (Kigali city) were entrusted to missionaries. Six years would be spent there without having to go to Nyanza. These schools gave Rwanda the first generation of chiefs and sub-chiefs. Primary and secondary schools were proliferated. Rwandan written press Kinyamateka (1933) and Echo du séminaire/L'ami (1938, 1945), were hence created. In 1957, the Mutara III Scholarship Fund intended to finance studies abroad for promising young Rwandans was created. There were mass conversions of Rwandans to Catholicism. Later King Rudahigwa consecrated Rwanda to Christ the king. In 1939 and 1943, Danish Baptist Church and the Free Methodist Church saw the day respectively. In 1952 the first Rwandan bishop, Aloys Bigirumwami, at the same time the first bishop of Belgian colonial Africa, was consecrated. There was fight against the Ruzagayura famine of 1943-1944. History has it that it killed 200,000 people out of two million population of the country. Political front: There was abolition of royalties for the benefit of the king. The king’s council of 1932 that became the council of the country in 1942 and in 1952 the high council of the country were established. Elections of councils of chiefs and sub-chiefs took place in 1952. In 1948, 1951, 1954, 1957 and 1960, visiting missions to assess Rwanda’s progress as a territory under Belgian trusteeship were received. Mutara III Rudahigwa earlier collaborated with the Belgian administration and the catholic church. However, in the second half of 1950s, there was disagreement with the two institutions due to their biased involvement in Rwandan politics especially ethnic antagonisms. Read also: Mutara III Rudahigwa became Belgian choice after Musinga’s disgrace King Mutara III Rudahigwa is known for leadership, modernization and commitment to the Welfare of Rwandans. He strongly advocated for Rwandan independence and played a crucial part in the country’s political process. In 1956, he headed a delegation to Belgium to demand for greater political autonomy for Rwanda. This finally led to the independence of Rwanda in 1962 although he had died in 1959. Mutara III Rudahigwa died under dubious circumstances. Logic points to assassination by Belgian colonialists just as it was done in other African colonies under different colonial masters. At the dawn of demanding for independence, influential figures were assassinated. He died in Bujumbura-Burundi. His death shocked Rwandans (his spouse Rosalie Gicanda died during Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994). He was interred at Nyanza (Nyanza district now). They mourned the death of their beloved king and national hero. Little wonder he is among Rwandan heroes at the Heroes Mausoleum near Amahoro Stadium.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Ruti" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }

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