The trunk of my late-model car is filled with old coats, sweatpants and stocking caps. They're not real flashy and you'll find holes if you look real close. But those clothes have come in handy in the chilly Treasure State, where so many of us take pride in making the most of challenging weather days. I think of the Montana defense the same way I do those 30-year-old wind pants I pull out of the trunk to wear at football games. Both have been largely underappreciated the last five weeks. On Saturday in Bozeman, the Griz defense surrendered 34 points, so nobody is going to be comparing them to Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain of 1975. Certainly fans of the maroon and silver had a lot of reasons to be flustered. But take a step back and consider Montana State possessed the ball for almost two-thirds of the first half. Then the Cats had some good field position in the first 13 minutes of the third quarter and Montana's defense refused to relent, clinging to hope despite a 20-3 deficit. "They chucked it down the field a few times and made two catches — it's not a high percentage play for them and we've gotta live with that," Montana coach Bobby Hauck said coming out of the locker room after halftime. "Other than that we're tackling well. I think we're playing pretty well on defense." The most prolific scoring team in the FCS was limited to 20 points through the first 43 minutes. Kudos to the Montana defense for its hustle and heart. It's just that the Grizzly offense, held scoreless in the first half at home last Saturday against Portland State, was held to three points through three quarters in Bozeman against the best defense in the Big Sky Conference. Sure, we all expected Montana to do better in its 123rd annual rivalry game at MSU. Maybe at least score more than one touchdown with so much motivation. But give credit to Montana's defensive coaches for again coming up with a strong game plan against Montana State senior quarterback Tommy Mellott. And credit the defense for its vast improvement since giving up 55 points at home earlier this season to Weber State (3-8) and 49 at Eastern Washington (4-7). Not to beat a dead horse, but I can't help wondering how things might have been different had Clifton McDowell stayed around. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound quarterback led Montana to the FCS title game last December with a knack for picking up tough yards on the ground and doing just enough with his passing. He entered the transfer portal last winter for reasons unreported. Maybe he was looking for more NIL money. Maybe he disliked Montana's weather. You could say it's all ancient history now and doesn't matter. But it does matter. It matters a lot because Montana could have been much better. The banged-up Grizzlies need to regroup in a hurry now with a playoff game — likely at home — coming up next weekend. If the defense plays the way it did against the Bobcats, I like Montana's chances. But something needs to be done with the offense and I'm not even sure what it is at this point. Maybe go back to Keali'i Ah Yat at quarterback, assuming he's healthy, or give 6-4 sophomore Kaden Huot of Helena a few snaps. Montana has beaten only one conference team with a winning record (Northern Arizona), so maybe Griz fans should be grateful their guys are in the playoff mix with an 8-4 record. Any postseason success would feel like a bonus at this point.Southampton boss fumes at VAR and two crucial decisions that went in Liverpool's favourbetfred super league table 。

Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left legIn the weeks since Republicans decisively won the White House as well as both chambers of Congress, Democrats and pundits alike have voiced countless theories for their defeat. However, the even more critical question is, where do Democrats go from here? Do Democrats double down on the “resistance” that has defined the party for the better part of a decade? Or do Democrats try a different approach and return to the center in order to win back millions of voters who have abandoned the party? Ever since 2016, the Democratic Party’s platform can almost entirely be defined by one word: resistance. Whatever President-elect Donald Trump supported, Democrats rejected and organized in resistance to, often at the expense of formulating their own competing policies. Now, with the politics of resistance soundly rejected, if Democrats want to remain politically viable, they need to return to the center and develop policies for actual issues. They need a specific agenda to address inflation, create jobs, and better manage the economy. This should include a strong position on border security with a viable pathway to citizenship for migrants already here, instead of the open border advocacy that the resistance wing, led by the progressive “Squad” loudly called for during Trump’s first term. On the economy, Democrats should reject progressives’ preference for overbearing taxes and an expansive welfare state. Instead, moderate Democrats must work with the GOP to achieve less regulations, agree to job-boosting tax cuts, and cutting inflationary yet wasteful government spending. To be clear, the 2024 election exposed the hollowness of resistance politics. Voters made it clear that they want elected officials who will address the actual issues, not those who are defined solely by what – or who – they oppose. Indeed, rather than articulating an agenda to address voters’ concerns about the economy, cost of living, immigration, or crime, Democrats – and Vice President Kamala Harris in particular – almost entirely campaigned on the need to stop Trump, lest his “fascism” destroy our democracy. Yet as we saw, this was a costly mistake. Trump won because voters felt he had actual solutions to kitchen-table issues, and Democrats’ appeals largely fell flat with moderate and swing voters. Put another way, as Brett Stephens noted in the New York Times, adherence to resistance politics “led Democrats astray...It distracted them from the task of developing superior policy responses to the valid public concerns he was addressing.” Fortunately for Democrats, they should look to the past to develop a roadmap for the party’s future. Four decades ago, also in the wake of a devastating election loss – former Vice President Walter Mondale’s in 1984 – Democrats, led by then-Governor Bill Clinton, created the Democratic Leadership Council to bring the party back to the center and push back against the growing influence of the party’s left-wing. The DLC advocated for policies that many leftwing Democrats today would shudder at – balancing the budget, welfare reform, and a tougher stance on crime – but that was what Democrats needed then, and that is what they need now. In that same vein, what made the DLC effective was its focus on commonsense values that appealed to the majority of Americans – smaller government, fiscal responsibility, safe cities, and border security. Comparatively, the resistance playbook seeks to divide Americans via progressive identity politics, promotion of an unpopular “woke” agenda, and a refusal to compromise on solutions to challenges facing all Americans. The fact that Donald Trump won the popular vote with one of – if not the – most racially diverse coalition assembled by a Republican in decades underscores the ineffectiveness of progressives’ resistance platform, as well as its toxicity to the Democratic Party as a whole. To that end, the dangers to Democrats posed by progressive-led resistance politics are backed by the data. Beginning in 2016, progressives have driven Democrats significantly further to the left than the average American voter, risking the overall party’s viability should they continue diverging. An analysis from the Financial Times shows that in the last eight years, Democrats hard left turn on supporting increased immigration has taken them nearly 60-points to the left of the average voter. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | California’s political clout will fade as long as population growth remains slow Opinion Columnists | Here’s to hoping Trump delivers on some of his Libertarian promises Opinion Columnists | Grand DOGE promises of massive cuts to the federal government are unlikely to materialize Opinion Columnists | Republican populism goes all in for the Nanny State Opinion Columnists | After botched Gaetz nomination, Trump should pivot on Cabinet picks As John Burn-Murdoch wrote, the data “suggests that Trump’s election radicalized the left, not the right.” And while this analysis was done prior to the 2024 election, there is little reason to believe Democrats have made up the lost ground. The first step for Democrats’ new approach should be to move back to where the average voter is. They can start by committing to working with centrist Republicans for commonsense solutions to the problems we face. Doing so is also smart politically. Working with – rather than against – Trump, will benefit Democrats if his second term does in fact produce a strong economy, secure borders, a more stable geopolitical environment, and overall prosperity. Ultimately, where Democrats go from here remains to be seen, but the 2024 election was a stinging rebuke of a party with little to offer aside from stubborn opposition to Donald Trump. If Democrats want to avoid being consigned to minority status for years to come, it is critical that they shun calls to double down on the politics of resistance and begin offering genuine, centrist solutions that address Americans’ concerns. Douglas Schoen is a longtime Democratic political consultant.Demand Grows for Terry Bradshaw to Retire After Sunday Performance

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo was available for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Washington Wizards Saturday night after missing one game with swelling in his left knee. Antetokounmpo sat out the Bucks' 106-103 NBA Cup victory at Miami on Tuesday. The two-time MVP had been listed as probable with tendinopathy in his right patellar tendon. “He's good,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game. Antetokounmpo entered Saturday as the league's leading scorer at 32.4 points per game. He ranked fifth in rebounds (11.9) and 20th in assists (6.4). AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nbaThe transfer portal officially opens in a week on Dec. 9. However, that didn’t stop players from announcing their decision to enter their names in the portal as soon as the regular season ended on Saturday. Washington suffered its first portal defection on Monday, when junior Jack McCallister, the team’s starting punter, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in a post on his social media accounts. McCallister was not a scholarship player at Washington. He still has one year of eligibility remaining. McCallister, a 6-foot, 205-pound punter from King’s High School in Shoreline, handled every UW punt except one since the 2022 season. He had 1,585 yards on 36 punts this season, averaging a career-best 44 yards per punt in 2024. "It has been a dream come true to wear purple and gold these past four years," McCallister wrote in a post on his social media accounts. " The Edmonds native arrived at Washington in 2021 as a walk-on. He redshirted his first season on Montlake behind Race Porter, before taking over as the team’s starting punter under coach Kalen DeBoer in 2022. McCallister averaged 40.8 yards on 23 punts as a redshirt freshman in 2022. He handled every single punt during the 2023 campaign, averaging 41.7 yards on a career high 45 punts. He allowed just eight punt returns for 24 yards during the entire season with 21 of his punts resulting in fair catches. Thirteen of his punts were inside an opposing team’s 20-yard line. He continued as the team’s starting punter in 2023 after DeBoer’s departure. McCallister had a career-high eight punts go more than 50 yards in 2024, and kicked a career-long 62-yard punt on Oct. 26 during Washington’s 31-17 loss to No. 10 Indiana However, Washington’s punt coverage — like its kickoff coverage — has struggled. McCallister and the Huskies have allowed 18 punt returns this season for 269 yards, meaning opponents are averaging 14.94 yards per return. UW ranks No. 124 in punt-return defense this season, comparable with Rutgers (No. 125), Marshall (No. 126) and Kent State (No. 127). Washington gave up a 65-yard return against Indiana, a 37-yard return during its 40-16 loss to Iowa on Oct. 12 and a 33-yard return versus Washington State in the 24-19 Apple Cup defeat on Sept. 14. Washington has two other punters on its roster for a potential bowl game: junior Adam Saul and sophomore Troy Petz. Both are also walk-ons and have never seen playing time with the Huskies. However, Saul spent two seasons at Illinois State then was a second-team All-league selection at El Camino College in 2022 before joining UW in 2023. Saul had 55 punts and averaged 42.5 yards per punt in his only season of junior college football. Saul still has one season of eligibility remaining.PSV 3-2 Shakhtar Donetsk: Tillman turns tables in late comebackOne of Eddie Hearn 's biggest achievements as a promoter is the way he guided and built the career of Anthony Joshua . Hearn signed Joshua to the Matchroom banner back in 2013 after he won gold in the 2012 London Olympics and slowly turned a young, raw and talented boxer from Watford into one of the most feared heavyweights alive who would also go on to become one of the biggest draws in the history of the heavyweight division in boxing . Hearn, who has been on record saying that he loves developing young fighters, has another project on the go with a highly rated Olympic boxer which has the potential to be another incredible success. It was announced last week that British Olympic heavyweight prospect, Pat Brown had signed with Matchroom Boxing and was set to begin his professional boxing career in 2025 in the cruiserweight division. There are four medalists from the 2024 Olympic Games who could now take pro boxing by storm! Eddie Hearn Excited About Pat Brown's Future Following Signing With Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn has yet another highly-rated Olympian on his hands. Last week, it was announced that Matchroom Boxing had signed highly-rated British Olympian, Pat Brown. Brown is 25 years old and despite just having turned pro, Hearn believes the Olympian already has a following behind him which many boxers don't have. Speaking to SportsBoom.com , the Matchroom chairman had a lot of praise for Brown's ticket-selling abilities, as he has a strong presence in his community in Manchester and even compared the 25-year-old's ticket-selling ability to the likes of other high-profile British boxing stars over the years such as Ricky Hatton , Josh Warrington and Anthony Crolla . “There’s something real about this, the backing for Pat. Social media followings are great but I’ve never known a ticket seller - and I mean a real ticket seller - to be built purely on one of those. Hatton, Warrington Crolla - they were huge. That was because they knew the people who came to see them. They were out and about and people in their communities felt they knew them. Know them in fact. Things like this, what’s going on around Pat, makes me feel good. It’s a lot better than reading s**t online.” When listening to Hearn speak about his latest Matchroom project, he clearly already envisions many big fights for Brown and has even mentioned that a future unification fight at Old Trafford could potentially be on the cards. “One day we might be having a world unification fight at Old Trafford and looking back to when Pat’s pro career was launched in an old church." Despite looking forward to huge moments with Brown, Hearn pumped the breaks and spoke about wanting to build the 25-year-old up despite plans to fast-track him through the cruiserweight division. Hearn also praised Brown as a person and added that it is not just his talent as to why he is so excited to work with him, it is what he is like as a person as well. “Sometimes you meet someone and you just know. I knew all about Pat’s ability but I also discovered I really liked him as a lad too. If I’m putting money into you, then I want to invest in you as a person as well. It’s like buying a racehorse. You don’t just look at its pedigree. You also look at its character.” Now that Brown is officially signed to Matchroom, the work will now begin for his professional debut, which will take place in the cruiserweight division in 2025. It has already been confirmed that Brown will be trained by Jamie Moore and top British super-lightweight fighter, Jack Catterall .

Alrena Dale, 61, had her six-figure student-loan balance wiped out after decades of payments. She's one of hundreds of borrowers who have received relief after new changes to the . Though Dale filed over five years ago, President Joe Biden's new bankruptcy guidance, which streamlined the information she needed to provide in order to qualify for relief, was a turning point in her case. In August 2023, Dale was finally relieved of her $155,000 balance, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider. "There were no words. I was excited. I cried," Dale, who'd attended an online business bachelor's and master's program but struggled to find employment in her field, told BI. She worked multiple minimum-wage jobs at a time to afford her student-loan payments alongside her monthly expenses. "I really honestly didn't believe it until I got my discharge papers." The reason it was so difficult for Dale and many other student-loan borrowers to seek relief in bankruptcy court before 2022 is that borrowers had to prove an "undue hardship" standard, in which they had to show that they cannot maintain a minimal standard of living, that their circumstances aren't likely to improve, and that they have made a good-faith effort to repay their debt. That standard was an . The Biden administration's guidance changed that by to meet undue hardship, and it allowed borrowers to complete a self-attestation form, allowing the bankruptcy process to move quicker and avoid investigations into their backgrounds. Some bankruptcy attorneys told BI that the new guidance has made student-loan bankruptcy much more achievable for borrowers, with some having seen quick success after decades of stagnancy. Still, they said many lawyers are reluctant to lean into the new process, and more outreach and education on navigating bankruptcy for student loans would help. Dale said the overwhelming emotion she now feels is relief. "Knowing that I don't have to go out and work a second job just to pay it back because they've removed it for me, I really can't thank them enough," Dale said. "I have no words because I'm just happy and grateful and thankful." 'It's given us so much hope' Bob and Tammy Branson, a bankruptcy attorney and senior paralegal, respectively, successfully represented Dale in her bankruptcy proceedings. Tammy said that over the past 25 years, it was nearly impossible to discharge their clients' student loans in bankruptcy — but after the new guidance, she said their law firm has successfully discharged over $1 million in student loans. "Now we're actually getting people not just to the point of treading water, but we're getting them out of the water," Bob said. Dustin Baker, a bankruptcy attorney in Iowa, has seen similar success with the new guidance. Baker told BI that before November 2022, he advised his clients that considering a student-loan discharge wasn't worth their effort because it was so difficult to achieve, and he didn't want to take his clients' money for litigation he wasn't confident would be successful. But once the guidance was announced, Baker said he's eliminated student debt for about a dozen of his clients, with a few more in the pipeline. He said his "biggest excitement" with the new process is the self-attestation form, which directly tells borrowers the questions they need to answer to get approved for a discharge, making communication between the borrower and the government easier. The Justice Department released new data in July on how the process was going since the new guidance was announced. It showed that from October 2023 to March 2024 — a 34% increase from the prior 6-month period. New data BI obtained from Sen. Elizabeth Warren in October showed that in fiscal year 2024, and 85% of borrowers who filed using the new guidance received a full or partial discharge. Baker said his experience incorporating the new guidance into his work was "very easy," and he added that members of the Justice Department gave attorneys in his area training sessions. However, Tammy and Bob said more education and outreach would be helpful because some lawyers are unsure if the new process is worth it. Still, it's clear the guidance works, and Tammy said she hopes that continues. "It's given us so much hope," she said. 'I would've had to work another job' The new bankruptcy process for student-loan borrowers still isn't perfect. Igor Roitburg, a former attorney and senior managing director at Stretto — a bankruptcy services and technology firm — told BI that the timeline for borrowers to receive a bankruptcy decision can still widely vary and that uncertainty is a roadblock for some borrowers and attorneys to participate. "For them to invest time and effort into a new process that they're uncertain about if they don't see results for months and months and months, makes it hard for them to commit to the process and offer it as a global service to all their clients," Roitburg said. Dale said she saw no other option but to file for bankruptcy, regardless of whether it would be successful. Once the new guidance was released, the self-attestation form allowed Dale to prove that her financial circumstances were unlikely to improve, qualifying her for relief. She now works at a call center and said she can't afford to retire yet. If she had the opportunity to do things differently, she might have considered going to a trade school to avoid the student-debt burden. "I'm just making the best of what I have to work with right now," she said, adding that if she didn't see success through bankruptcy, "I would've had to work another job just to pay the student loans." Read the original article onAlex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah's Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekBiden's broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and pardon his son Hunter wasn't all that surprising to those who are familiar with the president's devotion to his family. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president has raised new questions about his legacy. Biden has held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns. It was part of an effort to draw a deliberate contrast with Republican Donald Trump. Now, both his broken promise and his act of clemency are a political lightning rod. Some Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course and pardoning his son Hunter ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeat at the polls, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden's pardoning of his son for a federal felony conviction — after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who operates above the law. The White House on Monday struggled to defend the pardon, claiming the prosecution was politically motivated — a page out of Trump's playbook. That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats who are angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump. Hezbollah attack draws Israeli strikes on Lebanon, killing 11 people and testing ceasefire's limits JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has unleashed its largest wave of airstrikes across Lebanon since agreeing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah last week, killing at least 11 people. The strikes came after the Lebanese militant group fired a volley of projectiles earlier on Monday as a warning over what it said were Israeli truce violations. This was apparently the first time Hezbollah took aim at Israeli forces after the 60-day ceasefire went into effect last week. The increasingly fragile ceasefire aims to end more than a year of war between Hezbollah and Israel — part of a wider regional conflict sparked by the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Key players in Syria's long-running civil war, reignited by a shock rebel offensive BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s long civil war has reclaimed global attention after insurgents seized most of its largest city and dozens of nearby towns and villages. The stunning advance on Aleppo by rebel forces came as several key players in the conflict have been distracted or weakened. That triggered the heaviest clashes since a 2020 ceasefire brought relative calm to the country’s north. Russian and Syrian forces have carried out dozens of airstrikes to try to limit the insurgents’ advances, inflicting heavy casualties. Syria’s civil war started in 2011 after an uprising against President Bashar Assad’s rule. Delaware judge reaffirms ruling that invalidated massive Tesla pay package for Elon Musk DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge has reaffirmed her ruling that Tesla must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package. The judge on Monday also rejected an equally unprecedented and massive fee request by plaintiff attorneys. The rulings came in a lawsuit filed by a Tesla stockholder who challenged Musk’s 2018 compensation package that carried a potential value of $56 billion. The judge ruled in January that Musk engineered the landmark pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent. Tesla shareholders then voted for a second time to ratify Musk’s 2018 pay package, but the judge refused to revisit her initial ruling. Woman driving drunk who killed bride still in her wedding dress sentenced to 25 years in prison A woman who admitted to drinking and who was driving well over twice the speed limit when she smashed into a golf cart killing a bride who had just got married at a South Carolina beach has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jamie Lee Komoroski pleaded guilty Monday to reckless homicide and three felony driving under the influence charges. Police said the 27-year-old drank at several bars on April 28, 2023, and was driving 65 mph on a narrow Folly Beach road when she slammed into a golf cart leaving a wedding. The bride, 34-year-old Samantha Miller, died still wearing her wedding dress. What is 'lake-effect snow'? Warm air from large bodies of water is the key ingredient The lake-effect snow that has fallen in parts of upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan is the result of cold, moist air that blew over the Great Lakes region. A meteorologist with the National Weather Service says the warmer temperature of the water sends the moisture into an atmospheric layer conducive to snow. Then clouds form and snow falls downwind from the lakes. Over the weekend, parts of upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan saw nearly 4 feet of lake-effect snow. The weather service says forecasting lake-effect snow can be difficult. The storms typically form in thin bands, meaning slight wind shifts can easily change which areas see heavy snow. Florida woman sentenced to life for zipping boyfriend into suitcase, suffocating him A 47-year-oldFlorida woman has been sentenced to life in prison for zipping her boyfriend into a suitcase and leaving him to die of suffocation amid a history of domestic and alcohol abuse. Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick imposed the sentence Monday in Orlando on Sarah Boone for the 2020 killing of 42-year-old Jorge Torres. A jury deliberated only 90 minutes Oct. 25 before convicting Boone of the second-degree murder of Jorge Torres after a 10-day trial. Boone had insisted she was herself a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Torres and had pleaded not guilty. Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year's biggest day for online shopping Consumers in the U.S. are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon on Cyber Monday. The National Retail Federation coined the term for the Monday after Black Friday in 2005. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people’s regular routine, Cyber Monday continues to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to steady discounts and a fair amount of hype. Several major retails actually started their Cyber Monday promotions over the weekend. Consumer spending for the online shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday provides an indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays.Tokyo Musical: ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’

United States President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday (Dec 2) there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if hostages held in the Gaza Strip were not released prior to his Jan 20 inauguration. During their deadly 2023 attack on Israel, Hamas-led militants captured more than 250 people, according to Israeli tallies, including dual Israeli-American nationals. Around half of the 101 foreign and Israeli hostages still held incommunicado in Gaza are believed to be alive. Making his most explicit comments on the fate of the hostages since his election in November, Trump said on social media: "If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity." Trump added: "Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America." Hamas has called for an end to the war and total Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal to release remaining hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war will go on until Hamas is eradicated and poses no more threat to Israel. On Monday, Hamas said that 33 hostages in Gaza had been killed during the almost 14-month-old war between the Palestinian militant group and Israel in the enclave, without giving their nationalities. Israel launched its war after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities on Oct 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 44,400 Palestinians and displaced most of Gaza's population, Gaza officials say. Vast swathes of the enclave lie in ruins.NHL fines Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner $2,000 for embellishmentImo Grasshoppers, COAS Babes set Ardova HPL record

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Mike McDaniel has seen a change in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa over the past month. “He's found a way to improve the way he plays the position throughout the game,” the Dolphins coach said Sunday, after Tagovailoa threw for four touchdowns in a dominant 34-15 win over the New England Patriots. “The most monumental thing that you have to overcome as a quarterback is playing the position regardless of the ebbs and flows," McDaniel added, "so not changing how you play based upon positive or negative results and letting every play stand on its own.” Tagovailoa has mastered that ability to remain even-keeled during Miami's three-game winning streak, McDaniel noted, highlighted by his 317-yard passing performance on Sunday. The Dolphins (5-6) have a thin margin for error the rest of the season but have kept themselves afloat with a strong stretch that includes two-straight 30-point games. With their win at New England (3-9) in Week 5, the Dolphins have swept their division rivals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. Tagovailoa, who moved to 7-0 in his career against New England, entered the game with a league-high 73.4% completion rate and went 29 for 40. He has 11 passing touchdowns and just one interception since returning from injured reserve in Week 8. “We’re still below the .500 threshold, and it’s a long way to where we want to get to," Tagovailoa said. “We’ll enjoy this win, but this next one is going to be big for us.” The Dolphins have a short turnaround with a game at Green Bay on Thursday. Backup Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa with about 11 minutes left in what was already a blowout, but a bad handoff on his first play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Christian Gonzalez and returned 63 yards for a touchdown. It cut New England's deficit to 31-15, and Tagovailoa returned the next drive. Miami's defense held the rest of the way. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson intercepted rookie quarterback Drake Maye on New England's penultimate drive, then Miami stopped the Patriots on fourth down on the next. Jaylen Waddle caught eight passes for a season-high 144 yards and a 23-yard touchdown that stretched Miami's lead to 31-0 entering the fourth. Running back De'Von Achane scored on a 9-yard screen pass and then walked into the end zone for an 11-yard TD in the first half. Jonnu Smith finished with 87 yards on nine catches to continue his strong first season as a Dolphin. One week after catching two touchdowns with a career-high 101 yards receiving, Smith found the end zone for a 7-yard TD catch on the Dolphins' second drive. New England was shut out until tight end Austin Hooper got behind the Dolphins defense for a wide-open 38-yard touchdown catch from Maye to make it 31-7 with 13:43 left. Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 221 yards with 26 yards rushing. But he couldn't overcome an overall sloppy performance by the Patriots in which they got nothing going offensively until the final quarter and had 10 penalties accepted against them. “I always say I hate losing more than I like to win," Maye said. "We got our butts whipped today, and it’s only up from here. We’ve got a bright future and the right players in there for the Patriots.” New England's best drive of the first half lasted 12 plays and covered 80 yards but included three accepted offensive penalties and ended in a missed 45-yard field goal by Joey Slye. The Patriots forced a Dolphins punt and moved down the field again on the opening drive of the second half, with Maye completing an improvised 10-yard throw on third down to receiver Kendrick Bourne. New England then tried a double pass with Bourne, whose cross-field throw fell short of Rhamondre Stevenson on 3rd-and-17. DeMario Douglas led the Patriots with 61 yards receiving. Antonio Gibson had six rushes for 30 yards. With the loss, the Patriots will finish their third straight season below .500. Its the first time since 1991-93 New England has had three straight losing seasons. “Once those guys cross the white lines, there’s nothing I can do for them,” coach Jerod Mayo said. "There’s nothing any coach can do for them. It’s my job to continue to prepare not only them, but our coaches as well.” Dolphins: LB Anthony Walker Jr. sustained a noncontact hamstring injury in the second quarter. He was helped slowly off the field by trainers and did not return. Patriots: Host Indianapolis next Sunday. Dolphins: At Green Bay on Thursday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLThe eCourts Mission Mode Project, spearheaded by the Government of India in collaboration with the Department of Justice and the eCommittee of the Supreme Court, represents a transformative step in modernising the judiciary through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of the judicial process, ensuring a citizen-centric and inclusive approach to justice delivery. The project is revolutionising the legal ecosystem by streamlining court operations and integrating digital solutions, reflecting India’s commitment to a robust and technologically advanced judicial system. Phase I focused on basic computerisation and ICT infrastructure development across district and subordinate courts. Significant advancements have been made in computerising courts as part of the ongoing efforts to modernise the judiciary. 14,249 district and subordinate courts have been computerised to enhance efficiency and accessibility. To support this transition, Local Area Networks (LAN) have been successfully installed in 13,683 courts, ensuring seamless connectivity. Additionally, hardware has been provided to 13,436 courts, enabling them to operate modern systems. Installing software in 13,672 courts further facilitates the smooth functioning of court operations, streamlining case management and promoting transparency. These developments are crucial in strengthening the judicial system and improving justice delivery. Phase II of the ICT Enablement and Citizen-Centric Services initiative, spanning from 2015 to 2023, marked significant strides in enhancing the digital infrastructure of the judicial system. Over 14,000 judicial officers were equipped with laptops, and more than 14,000 were trained in the Ubuntu-Linux Operating System, alongside 3,900 court staff trained as System Administrators in the Case Information System (CIS). This phase also facilitated the operationalisation of video conferencing between 493 court complexes and 347 jails, streamlining court processes. Despite an allocated budget of Rs 935 crore, Rs 639.41 crore was effectively spent to further the goals of ICT adoption, improving efficiency and expanding citizen engagement through multiple new services. The digital infrastructure for the judicial system has been significantly enhanced, with connectivity provided to 18,735 courts through a diverse range of technologies, including MPLS, OFC, RF, VSAT, and SD-WAN. This robust network ensures that 99.5% of court complexes are connected through a Wide Area Network (WAN), offering speeds ranging from 10 to 100 Mbps. Such advancements in connectivity enable seamless communication and efficient digital operations across the judicial network, improving access to justice and enhancing the overall functioning of the legal system. The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) serves as a comprehensive repository of 27.64 crore orders and judgments, providing real-time access to judicial data, thus improving transparency and efficiency in the legal system. Complementing this is the Case Information Software (CIS), a free and open-source platform tailored to streamline case management in district and high courts. Communication within the judiciary is further enhanced through various platforms, including SMS services that send 4 lakh messages daily, email services with 6 lakh messages sent each day, and the eCourts Services Portal, which receives 35 lakh hits daily. Additionally, Judicial Service Centers and Info Kiosks contribute to the accessibility of legal services. Mobile applications like ECMT for lawyers, with 2.69 crore downloads, and JustIS for judges, with 20,719 downloads, facilitate seamless communication and case management for legal professionals. India has established itself as a global leader in utilising video conferencing for court hearings, a significant advancement in the judicial system. As of October 31, 2024, the District and Subordinate courts have conducted 2.48 crore hearings, while the High Courts have handled 90.21 lakh cases, totalling 3.38 crore hearings through video conferencing. The Supreme Court of India, between March 23, 2020, and June 4, 2024, has conducted 7.54 lakh hearings through this technology. In addition, video conferencing facilities have been set up between 3,240 court complexes and 1,272 jails, enhancing accessibility and efficiency within the justice system. This transformation highlights India’s commitment to modernising judicial proceedings and ensuring greater access to justice for all. The introduction of live streaming in various high courts and the Supreme Court is a significant step toward promoting transparency and accessibility in the judicial system. Allowing public access to real-time court proceedings fosters greater accountability and demystifies the judicial process. This initiative ensures that people can observe the legal proceedings, making the courts more accessible, especially for those who cannot attend in person due to geographical or other constraints. Additionally, it helps bridge the gap between the judiciary and the public, reinforcing the idea that justice should be open and available for scrutiny. The live streaming of court cases also sets a positive precedent for enhancing public trust in the legal system. As of October 31, 2024, virtual courts have been successfully operationalised in 21 states and Union Territories (UTs) to manage traffic challan cases. These courts have handled over six crore cases (6,00,29,546) and facilitated the resolution of more than 62 lakh (62,97,544) cases. Through these virtual platforms, online fines totalling over Rs. 649.81 crores have been collected, reflecting the growing efficiency and accessibility of the digital justice system in addressing traffic violations. This initiative has greatly contributed to streamlining the adjudication process and ensuring prompt resolution of cases. E-filing and e-payment systems have further modernised the judiciary, offering 24×7 access to case documents and the ability to electronically pay court fees, fines, and penalties. The rollout of Version 3.0 of this system allows seamless integration of services, ensuring that individuals can engage with the court system at any time, regardless of location. This digital shift enhances convenience, accelerates case management, and reduces the backlog that courts often face, providing a more efficient and transparent process for users. To bridge the digital divide and ensure access to justice for all, 1394 eSewa Kendras (Facilitation Centres) have been established in District Courts, alongside 36 centres in High Courts, offering crucial citizen-centric services to lawyers and litigants. These centres support litigants who may struggle with technology or reside in remote areas, helping them access online e-Courts services. The eSewa Kendras enable individuals to navigate the legal process more easily by addressing issues like illiteracy and limited technological resources. The initiative also delivers significant benefits, such as saving time, reducing the need for long-distance travel, and cutting costs. Additionally, it facilitates e-filing of cases, virtual hearings, and the scanning and access of e-Court services across the country, making the judicial system more efficient and inclusive. The rollout of Version 3.0 of the E-Filing and E-Payment Systems has marked a significant advancement in the digital transformation of the judicial system. This version facilitates round-the-clock access to case documents and the electronic payment of court fees, fines, and penalties. The system’s 24×7 availability ensures that litigants, advocates, and other stakeholders can access case-related information and settle financial obligations without the limitations of working hours. By simplifying these processes, the judicial system has made strides toward reducing delays and improving overall efficiency. Besides these technological innovations, the judiciary has launched the Judgment Search Portal. This portal provides an advanced search function that allows users to easily access judgments, making it a valuable resource for legal professionals, researchers, and the public. The service is free of charge, democratising access to judicial decisions and fostering greater transparency within the legal system. With the growing availability of legal data, stakeholders can better understand judicial precedents and rulings, supporting more informed decision-making. The judicial system’s commitment to digital literacy is further demonstrated through its extensive training programs. Between 2020 and 2024, 605 training programs were conducted, benefiting over 6.64 lakh stakeholders, including judges, advocates, and court staff. These programs are designed to improve digital literacy, ensuring that all participants are equipped to navigate the evolving technological landscape of the judicial process. By investing in continuous education, the judiciary is enhancing its workforce’s overall competence and readiness to manage digital tools effectively. The total budget allocated for modernising the modernisation judicial system was Rs 1,670 crore, with Rs 1,668.43 crore utilised. This significant financial investment reflects the government’s commitment to judicial reform and technological innovation. By investing in infrastructure, training, and digital systems, the judiciary is better equipped to handle the growing demands of a digital world, ultimately ensuring a more efficient, transparent, and accessible justice system for all. Approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2023, Phase III is a visionary step toward a fully digital and paperless judiciary. The transition to digital and paperless courts marks a significant leap towards efficiency and accessibility in the judicial system. The digitisation of court digitisation records, encompassing legacy and pending cases, ensures better organisation and organisation of information retrieval. Expansion of video conferencing (VC) facilities to include courts, jails, and hospitals enhances accessibility and reduces logistical challenges, while online courts broaden their scope beyond minor cases like traffic violations to include more complex matters. Additionally, establishing eSewa Kendras in all court complexes facilitates citizen-centric services, streamlining interactions with the judiciary. To support these advancements, a cloud-based data repository offers a secure and efficient platform for storing and retrieving case-related data, reinforcing the system’s reliability and user-friendliness. These initiatives collectively aim to modernise judicial processes and improve public access to justice. Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is revolutionising the judirevolutionisingcial system by addressing critical challenges such as case pendency, litigation trends, and judicial efficiency. AI algorithms and OCR can analyse vast amounts of case data, extracting valuable insights to identify case backlogs and delay patterns. This analysis enables authorities to prioritise the resolution process. Furthermore, AI-driven predictive models can forecast future litigation trends by evaluating historical data and socioeconomic factors, helping policymakers and legal institutions prepare for emerging challenges. Additionally, these technologies enhance judicial efficiency by automating routine tasks such as document digitisation, case categorisation, and research, allowing judicial officers to focus on core decision-making. AI and OCR promise to transform the judiciary into a more proactive, data-driven, and efficient system. The initiative to improve transparency and accountability through live streaming and electronic evidence handling is a crucial step towards enhancing governance and judicial efficiency. With an allocated budget of Rs 7,210 crore, four times the funding provided during Phase II, the focus is on integrating advanced technologies into the judicial and administrative processes. This increased funding will facilitate the expansion of live-streaming services for court proceedings, ensuring real-time access to justice and promoting greater public trust. Additionally, the handling of electronic evidence will be strengthened, streamlining the process for collecting, preserving, and presenting digital evidence, further bolstering the integrity and transparency of legal proceedings. The eCourts initiative is revolutionising the judirevolutionisingciary by fostering accessibility, affordability, and transparency in delivering justice. It addresses the issue of pendency by implementing faster case disposal mechanisms, ensuring timely resolution of disputes. Citizens and litigants are empowered with real-time access to case information, enhancing awareness and participation. The introduction of online services such as e-filing and e-payment has significantly increased convenience, reducing the need for court physical visits. Additionally, the initiative bridges the digital divide by establishing eSewa Kendras and conducting training programs, ensuring that even those in remote areas can benefit from technological advancements in the judicial system. The eCourts Mission Mode Project marks a transformative step in integrating technology with governance to modernise India’s judiciary. Through advanced technologies like AI, OCR, and a robust digital infrastructure, the initiative addresses critical issues such as case backlogs and accessibility to legal services. The project ensures that justice is delivered swiftly and equitably across the nation by emphasising citizen-emphasising services, digital literacy, and improved connectivity. With Phase III underway, the judiciary is poised to become more transparent, efficient, and inclusive, reaffirming the principles of justice, accountability, and equity while setting a global standard for judicial innovation.

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