STANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. Cardinal alum Andrew Luck, left, watches a Feb. 2 game between Stanford and Southern California on Feb. 2 in Stanford, Calif. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws a pass during the first quarter of a Nov. 27, 2010 game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career. Before the 2023 National Football League season started, it seemed inevitable that Bill Belichick would end his career as the winningest head coach in league history. He had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and 298 regular-season games, plus 31 playoff games, across his career. Then the 2023 season happened. Belichick's Patriots finished 4-13, the franchise's worst record since 1992. At the end of the year, Belichick and New England owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways. And now, during the 2024 season, Belichick is on the sideline. He's 26 wins from the #1 spot, a mark he'd reach in little more than two seasons if he maintained his .647 career winning percentage. Will he ascend the summit? It's hard to tell. Belichick would be 73 if he graced the sidelines next season—meaning he'd need to coach until at least 75 to break the all-time mark. Only one other NFL coach has ever helmed a team at age 73: Romeo Crennel in 2020 for the Houston Texans. With Belichick's pursuit of history stalled, it's worth glancing at the legends who have reached the pinnacle of coaching success. Who else stands among the 10 winningest coaches in NFL history? Stacker ranked the coaches with the most all-time regular-season wins using data from Pro Football Reference . These coaches have combined for 36 league championships, which represents 31.6% of all championships won throughout the history of pro football. To learn who made the list, keep reading. You may also like: Ranking the biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 30 years - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1969-91 - Record: 193-148-1 - Winning percentage: .566 - Championships: 4 Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers were synonymous with success in the 1970s. Behind his defense, known as the Steel Curtain, and offensive stars, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann, Noll led the squad to four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979. Noll's Steelers remain the lone team to win four Super Bowls in six years, though Andy Reid and Kansas City could equal that mark if they win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Noll was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, two years after retiring. His legacy of coaching success has carried on in Pittsburgh—the club has had only two coaches (Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) since Noll retired. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 25 - Years active: 1946-62, '68-75 - Record: 213-104-9 - Winning percentage: .672 - Championships: 7 The only coach on this list to pilot a college team, Paul Brown, reached the pro ranks after a three-year stint at Ohio State and two years with the Navy during World War II. He guided the Cleveland Browns—named after Brown, their first coach—to four straight titles in the fledgling All-America Football Conference. After the league folded, the ballclub moved to the NFL in 1950, and Cleveland continued its winning ways, with Brown leading the team to championships in '50, '54, and '55. He was fired in 1963 but returned in 1968 as the co-founder and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His other notable accomplishments include helping to invent the face mask and breaking pro football's color barrier . - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1921-53 - Record: 226-132-22 - Winning percentage: .631 - Championships: 6 An early stalwart of the NFL, Curly Lambeau spent 29 years helming the Green Bay Packers before wrapping up his coaching career with two-year stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington. His Packers won titles across three decades, including the league's first three-peat from 1929-31. Notably, he experienced only one losing season during his first 27 years with Green Bay, cementing his legacy of consistent success. Born in Green Bay, Lambeau co-founded the Packers and played halfback on the team from 1919-29. He was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach and owner in 1963, two years before his death. You may also like: Countries with the most active NFL players - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1991-95, 2000-23 - Record: 302-165 - Winning percentage: .647 - Championships: 6 The most successful head coach of the 21st century, Bill Belichick first coached the Cleveland Browns before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. With the Pats, Belichick combined with quarterback Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls in 18 years. Belichick and New England split after last season when the Patriots went 4-13—the worst record of Belichick's career. His name has swirled around potential coaching openings , but nothing has come of it. Belichick has remained in the media spotlight with his regular slot on the "Monday Night Football" ManningCast. - Seasons coached: 40 - Years active: 1920-29, '33-42, '46-55, '58-67 - Record: 318-148-31 - Winning percentage: .682 - Championships: 6 George Halas was the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and coached the team across four separate stints. Nicknamed "Papa Bear," he built the ballclub into one of the NFL's premier franchises behind players such as Bronko Nagurski and Sid Luckman. Halas also played for the team, competing as a player-coach in the 1920s. The first coach to study opponents via game film, he was once a baseball player and even made 12 appearances as a member of the New York Yankees in 1919. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 as both a coach and owner. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1963-95 - Record: 328-156-6 - Winning percentage: .677 - Championships: 2 The winningest head coach in NFL history is Don Shula, who first coached the Baltimore Colts (losing Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the New York Jets) for seven years before leading the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons. With the Fins, Shula won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973, a run that included a 17-0 season—the only perfect campaign in NFL history. He also coached quarterback great Dan Marino in the 1980s and '90s, but the pair made it to a Super Bowl just once. Shula was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. You may also like: The 5 biggest upsets of the 2023-24 NFL regular season Get local news delivered to your inbox!bookie7 。

FILE PHOTO: Nov 23, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) looks over at the student section after aÕgame against the Kentucky Wildcats at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images/File Photo Quarterback Quinn Ewers is expected to start for No. 3 Texas despite a high-ankle sprain when the Longhorns visit No. 20 Texas A&M on Saturday night in College Station, Texas. The junior was listed as probable on the Southeastern Conference injury report on Friday. He sustained the injury during the first half of the Longhorns' 31-14 victory over Kentucky last Saturday. "I was around the 50-yard-line and I stepped up and kind of took off running a little bit and then kind of got hip-drop tackled, and I think he kind of just rolled up on it a little bit," Ewers said after the game. "But it's football and stuff like that happens." Ewers was hobbled and finished 20-of-31 passing for 191 yards with two touchdowns. Only 14 of those yards came in the second half, when Texas gained 132 on the ground. He described the ankle as "just a little tender" after the game. By Monday, he told the Austin American-Statesman, "Nobody's 100 percent, especially this late in the season. But that's part of it. I feel good." Ewers has completed 189 of 278 passes for 2,089 yards and 23 touchdowns with six interceptions in nine games. He has missed time because of a strained oblique injury, and redshirt freshman Arch Manning has filled in, as he might be called to do on Saturday. Manning is 61 of 90 for 939 yards, nine TDs and two interceptions in six games (two starts). He also has rushed 17 times for 81 yards and three touchdowns. Texas (10-1, 6-1 SEC) has ruled out defensive back Derek Williams Jr. and running backs CJ Baxter, Christian Clark and Velton Gardner. Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2) will be without wide receiver Cyrus Allen, defensive back Tyreek Chappell, running back Le'Veon Moss and offensive lineman Mark Nabou Jr. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowMyanmar Engineering Education centennial jubilee enters second dayTwo senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada’s new border plan with Donald Trump’s transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada’s next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump’s latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn’t clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump’s 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump’s team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada’s new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada’s plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc’s spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump’s threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. “In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada,” Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words “some information about Canada for Americans.” Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau’s recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump’s antics on X Thursday, calling it “casual disrespect” and “carrying the ‘joke’ too far.” “Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership,” said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland’s sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau’s leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia.

“Out of the mouths of babes”, or so the Bible-y expression goes. Its meaning is simple: Sometimes those most naive among us accidentally reveal the most. Whether you think that Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex is a babe, and using whichever definition of the word you fancy (hottie or immature tyke), well, that’s between you and your god slash browser history, but a line from his nearly two-year-old memoir has taken on a grim new light. As shocking as it might be to consider, it is less than two years since he published his roman-a-tone-deaf, Spare , a book that carved a swath through the bestseller lists and the sleepless nights of Buckingham Palace courtiers. We all know the high notes – that he lost his virginity in a field behind a pub, Prince William clocked him in a row over wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and he thought it was fine to describe an Eton house matron as THING. It feels like I’ve been writing about Spare since long before my fingers were bleeding nubbins thanks to oh-so-much keyboard tappity-tapping, but here we are. But it’s a line in chapter one that we need to revisit. The scene: The lush gardens of Frogmore House on April 9, 2021, the day the royal family laid Prince Philip and his favourite barbecue tongs to rest. Only one month earlier, the Sussexes’ Oprah Winfrey interview had aired and jaws had dropped so extravagantly reams of physios were put on high alert. Charles walks behind Prince Philip’s coffin during the Ceremonial Procession at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021. Picture: Leon Neal/WPA Pool/Getty Images The duke had flown back for the sombre day and Charles and Prince William joined him to talk. Picture: Leon Neal/WPA Pool/Getty Images The duke had flown back for the sombre day and Charles and Prince William had joined him to talk. In the ensuing conversation, he writes that the King begged his sons, “Please, boys – don’t make my final years a misery”. “His voice sounded raspy, fragile. It sounded, if I’m being honest, old,” Harry writes. Just think about that line, knowing what we know now: “Please, boys – don’t make my final years a misery”. Yes, the “please boys” line got plenty of media play at the time when it was read entirely through the lens of a plaintive father pleading for some peace from his warring sons and, to some degree, taking the paternally avoidant route out. (The House of Windsor might have come to grips with 21st century technology, but their emotional bandwidth is distinctly still 19th). But today, that “final years” bit, a throwaway reference you’d have to assume, well, it’s a different story entirely. Prince Harry and Meghan talk to Oprah Winfrey. Picture: Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions/AFP Prince Harry’s Spare. Picture: Adam Berry/Getty Images We are fast approaching the 10-month mark since the Palace knocked socks and sundry other garments off us all by announcing that, what was meant to be a relatively routine treatment for an enlarged prostate, had revealed the monarch has cancer. (Side note: It’s never been revealed what sort of cancer the 76-year-old actually has). Then, with a hitherto unthinkable degree of honesty and plain dealing, which is to say, a teeny smidgen of the stuff, Crown Inc embarked on trying to keep the ship of monarchy afloat as the King started, and continues to undergo, weekly treatment. There have been green shoots and signs of hope that things are going well. His doctors signed off on him undertaking October’s hugely successful tour of Australia and Samoa (just ask the 10,000 people who headed to the Opera House to see him and Queen Camilla) and taking an 11-day break from his treatment regimen. This month, the Telegraph reported he has “moved into the next phase” of his “cancer journey”, whatever that quite means. Earlier this month, a source close to His Majesty told Vanity Fair ’s Katie Nicholl that the King is “doing very well and that’s very apparent”. But set against the backdrop of this year’s events, that reference to his “final years” takes on a much more ominous and depressing hue. Maybe we could be particularly liberal and read “final” to mean another 20 or so. Maybe. What is clear is that the discovery of Charles’ cancer has up-ended and overturned whatever sense of certainty formerly existed when it came to the calculus about how much time he would have on the throne. The King begged his sons, ‘don’t make my final years a misery’. Picture: Max Mumby/Pool/Indigo/Getty Images The discovery of Charles’ cancer has up-ended and overturned whatever sense of certainty formerly existed about his time on the throne. Picture: Daniel Leal/AFP Those Windsor genes of Charles’ are ferric stuff. Before his diagnosis, I would have said that the very healthful King, a man with a strong lifelong relationship with muesli and the benefits of long, hilly walks, could well surpass the late Queen who passed away at 96. Hell, why not shoot for his grandmother’s example and refuse to go anywhere before his 101st birthday? Thanks to the miracle of modern medicine and the army of homoeopathic tinctures, drops, balms and unguents that His Majesty is no doubt deploying alongside the best that a test tube can offer, he might very well yet hit his century and have to send himself a congratulatory 100th birthday letter. But what that Spare line does is to drive home the uncertainty and darkness the world is operating in when it comes to His Majesty’s health. The ancient Romans liked to dissect an occasional dove to divine the future and this Charles situation has a certain feel to it. Straws have and will continue to be clutched as we all operate in a vacuum. All tea leaves can and will be read. At least there is one thing that we can say with some confidence – despite the challenges of 2024, he is ‘happier than ever’. That royal source told Vanity Fair’s Nicholl: “I think the past year has shown the king to be very human. He recognises that there’s a limit to what he can do, but I do think he’s happier this year than last year. There’s a levity about him and a sense of joy. You see him hugging people and laughing. He’s happy to be here doing what he loves”. Daniela Elser is a writer, editor and a royal commentator with more than 15 years’ experience working with a number of Australia’s leading media titles More Coverage ‘Broken ranks’: Grim sign Charles is in trouble Daniela Elser Insider’s shocking Charles cancer claim Daniela Elser Originally published as ‘Final years’: Ominous King Charles admission resurfaces Read related topics: King Charles III Royals Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News. Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Royals ‘Lonely’: Queen Mary announces podcast Australian-born Queen Mary is following in the footsteps of Meghan Markle by launching a new podcast. 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The South Carolina women's basketball team has been defeated for the first time since March 31, 2023. The No. 1 Gamecocks fell Sunday in Los Angeles as Lauren Betts posted a double-double effort to lead No. 5 UCLA to a 77-62 triumph. The Gamecocks (5-1) suffered their first defeat after 43 consecutive victories, dating back to the loss to Iowa 77-73 in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. South Carolina defeated Iowa last season for the national championship. Betts finished with 11 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks to power the Bruins (5-0) to a historic victory. UCLA also got 15 points from Londynn Jones on 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, 13 points from Elina Aarnisalo and 11 each from Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jacquez. It's the first time UCLA has beaten South Carolina since 1981. The Bruins lost twice to the Gamecocks in the 2022-23 season, including in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Te-Hina Paopao had 18 points for South Carolina on 4-of-4 3-point shooting, while Tessa Johnson had 14 points. UCLA won the rebounding battle 41-34, marking the second time this season the Gamecocks have been outrebounded. South Carolina also got outscored in the paint 26-18. It's rare that a Dawn Staley-coached team -- units that typically revolve around dominant centers from A'ja Wilson to Aaliyah Boston to Kamilla Cardoso -- gets beat in the paint and on the glass, but with 6-foot-7 Betts, UCLA had the recipe to outmuscle the Gamecocks in those areas of the game. South Carolina never led after UCLA began the game with an 18-5 run, capped off by back-to-back 3-pointers from Jones. The Gamecocks cut the deficit to nine points in the second quarter, but the Bruins responded with a 17-5 run and entered halftime ahead by 21 points. Aarnisalo scored seven points during that run. From there, the Gamecocks never got within single digits of the lead in the second half. It's the first time in 21 tries that UCLA has beaten an AP-ranked No. 1 team. And it's the first time South Carolina lost a true road game since 2021, a streak of 33 games. The schedule doesn't get any easier for South Carolina. While UCLA faces UT Martin next on Friday, the Gamecocks play No. 8 Iowa State on Thursday. --Field Level MediaThe South Carolina women's basketball team has been defeated for the first time since March 31, 2023. The No. 1 Gamecocks fell Sunday in Los Angeles as Lauren Betts posted a double-double effort to lead No. 5 UCLA to a 77-62 triumph. The Gamecocks (5-1) suffered their first defeat after 43 consecutive victories, dating back to the loss to Iowa 77-73 in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. South Carolina defeated Iowa last season for the national championship. Betts finished with 11 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks to power the Bruins (5-0) to a historic victory. UCLA also got 15 points from Londynn Jones on 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, 13 points from Elina Aarnisalo and 11 each from Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jacquez. It's the first time UCLA has beaten South Carolina since 1981. The Bruins lost twice to the Gamecocks in the 2022-23 season, including in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Te-Hina Paopao had 18 points for South Carolina on 4-of-4 3-point shooting, while Tessa Johnson had 14 points. UCLA won the rebounding battle 41-34, marking the second time this season the Gamecocks have been outrebounded. South Carolina also got outscored in the paint 26-18. It's rare that a Dawn Staley-coached team -- units that typically revolve around dominant centers from A'ja Wilson to Aaliyah Boston to Kamilla Cardoso -- gets beat in the paint and on the glass, but with 6-foot-7 Betts, UCLA had the recipe to outmuscle the Gamecocks in those areas of the game. South Carolina never led after UCLA began the game with an 18-5 run, capped off by back-to-back 3-pointers from Jones. The Gamecocks cut the deficit to nine points in the second quarter, but the Bruins responded with a 17-5 run and entered halftime ahead by 21 points. Aarnisalo scored seven points during that run. From there, the Gamecocks never got within single digits of the lead in the second half. It's the first time in 21 tries that UCLA has beaten an AP-ranked No. 1 team. And it's the first time South Carolina lost a true road game since 2021, a streak of 33 games. The schedule doesn't get any easier for South Carolina. While UCLA faces UT Martin next on Friday, the Gamecocks play No. 8 Iowa State on Thursday. --Field Level Media

How Patriots tackles explain disastrous performance vs. DolphinsCancer – (21st June to 22nd July) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Success will be your companion today Challenges exist in the love affair. Do not let egos impact your productivity and ensure you meet expectations. Financially you are good. Health is normal. Settle the issues in love and take the relationship to the next level. Some tasks will be challenging at the office. Health is normal while financially you are prosperous and this will reflect in the lifestyle. Cancer Love Horoscope Today Do not let a third person interfere in the relationship. There can be minor hiccups over egos and you should be careful about the words that you make while spending time together. Value the person and consider the opinions of the lover while making decisions. This will strengthen the bond. Married Cancer females should keep an eye on their spouse today. Today is good to have a romantic dinner where you may surprise your partner with gifts. Cancer Career Horoscope Today Put in efforts to win a project that will also add value to your profile at the office. Some deadlines will be tough but you will succeed in accomplishing them. Minor productivity issues may impact the day but focus on giving the best results. Some professionals will save the day based on their past track record. Avoid arguments with seniors and you should also keep a distance from office politics. Businessmen handling finance or production-related offices will see good returns. Cancer Money Horoscope Today Wealth will come in from different sources but you need to be careful about the expenditure. Today is good to take up a new trade and some natives will also show interest in trying the luck in stock, trade, and speculative business. Entrepreneurs will be successful in raising funds through promoters. Maintain a cordial relationship with partners and try to solve every financial issue amicably. Cancer Health Horoscope Today While you will be free from major ailments, viral fever, sore throat, and digestion issues will be common Cancer natives. Females will have minor disturbances in mind but that will be fine soon. Avoid drinking and smoking today and have more homemade food rich in nutrients, vitamins, and proteins. Seniors with pain in joints or sleep-related issues should opt for traditional remedies. Cancer Sign Attributes Strength: Intuitive, Practical, Kind, Energetic, Artsy, Dedicated, Benevolent, Caring Weakness: Insatiable, Possessive, Prudish Symbol: Crab Element: Water Body Part: Stomach & Breast Sign Ruler: Moon Lucky Day: Monday Lucky Color: White Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Stone: Pearl Cancer Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Less compatibility: Aries, Libra By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)No. 13 seed Tarleton State wins inaugural FCS playoff game, beats Drake 43-29

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No. 5 UCLA snaps No. 1 South Carolina's 43-game win streakZahira Super 16 Soccer 7’s on December 8DALLAS — The Winnipeg Jets have finally hit the end of the long road here in Dallas. Now the question is whether the hockey club has any fuel left in the tank? Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * DALLAS — The Winnipeg Jets have finally hit the end of the long road here in Dallas. Now the question is whether the hockey club has any fuel left in the tank? Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? DALLAS — The Winnipeg Jets have finally hit the end of the long road here in Dallas. Now the question is whether the hockey club has any fuel left in the tank? Stops in Pittsburgh, Nashville, St. Paul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas have produced a 2-3-0 record so far. If the Jets are to finish this 10-day trek at .500, they’ll need to find a way to beat a tough Stars team on Sunday afternoon. “This has been a grind. It really has,” said head coach Scott Arniel. “We’ve got one more to go here. We’d all love to go home 3-3.” Ryan Sun / The Associated Press The Winnipeg Jets will play the Dallas Stars on Sunday to cap off a six-game road trip that’s seen them travel from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles – with a few stops in between – and earn a record of 2-3-0 in their last five games. One potentially good bit of news emerged during Saturday’s optional practice at American Airlines Center — forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who left Friday’s 4-3 loss to the Golden Knights with a lower-body injury, has not entirely been ruled out. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow, see if he’s any better. Get some treatment, get some rest today. And then look at it tomorrow and see where we’re at,” said Arniel. “He’s the type of guy that wants to play. It doesn’t help that it’s a 3:30 game (with no morning skate).” “He has a skill-set that opposition coaches kind of circle. His skill and his speed and his ability to create.” Ehlers was one of a handful of players who didn’t hit the ice, along with Mark Scheifele (who is also battling an undisclosed ailment), Vlad Namestnikov (he also missed Thursday’s skate in Vegas for maintenance) and defenceman Dylan DeMelo. Winnipeg still has the best record in the NHL at 18-6-0, although they are just 3-5-0 in the last eight games overall as tough travel, tough opponents and some tough breaks on the injury front all take a toll. Shutdown defenceman Dylan Samberg suffered a broken foot a week ago against the Predators and is sidelined indefinitely, and the Jets certainly missed Ehlers’ presence for the second half of their game against the Golden Knights, especially late as they pushed for the equalizer with a 6-on-4 advantage in the final minute. “He has a skill-set that opposition coaches kind of circle. His skill and his speed and his ability to create,” Arniel said of Ehlers, who is third on the team in scoring with 25 points (9G, 16A) in 24 games. “It’s a hole when he’s not there.” Alex Iafallo jumped up from the fourth line to take Ehlers’ spot beside Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti, who snapped an 11-game scoring slump with two goals. That trio would likely remain intact if Ehlers can’t go, and David Gustafsson — a healthy scratch for 23 of 24 games — would come into the lineup to fill Iafallo’s role. Ian Maule / The Associated Press Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti scores on Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill in the first period of their game Friday in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights won 4-3. “I was real proud of Cole last night. He’s been struggling,” said Arniel. “The biggest thing is where he went and scored that first goal. It was to the net-front against a team that’s real hard. Vegas doesn’t let you get inside, and he went right in there and got that first one. I liked the way he competed on pucks. That line has to do that. If Al’s in there tomorrow, we’ll see how it goes without Fly (Ehlers).” Iafallo had a great net-front drive on Perfetti’s second goal and will look to do more of the same if required. “It’s tough when a guy goes down like Fly in the second, obviously we had to just pick up from there and try to get as many chances as we could,” he said. “It was great for him to get those two goals. Now he’s just got to remember to not grip his stick too hard. Just play the right way and it will eventually go in.” “It was great for him to get those two goals. Now he’s just got to remember to not grip his stick too hard. Just play the right way and it will eventually go in, and that’s what he did yesterday. He had a great game.” Hellebuyck will start in goal for the Jets after getting a rest against the Golden Knights. Arniel wasn’t about to tip his hand as to other potential lineup decisions. He opted to scratch third-pairing defencemen Ville Heinola and Colin Miller against Vegas in favour of Dylan Coghlan (making his Jets debut after 23 straight scratches) and Logan Stanley (coming off the injured list). “I felt good. First couple shifts I got into it early with a little turnover and then getting my stick on a puck that probably was going to go into the net,” said Coghlan, who still has several friends on the Golden Knights after playing his first two NHL seasons (2020-21, 2021-22) there. The undrafted 26-year-old says he prides himself on being a good teammate and understood why it was tough to crack an otherwise healthy Jets lineup that was flying so high. “I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job trying to stay mentally prepared and ready. Through video and stuff, just making sure those little things I’m not losing sight of,” said Coghlan. “It is hard, but I’ve done it in the past so it’s not something I’m new to. Obviously everybody wants to play, but happy for all the guys and I don’t think anybody expected us to start 15-1. I’m not one to complain when guys are playing well and the team’s doing so well. That’s kind of my mindset.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Although they suffered a second straight loss, Arniel was much more pleased with the effort against Vegas than the one on Wednesday night in Los Angeles, where the Jets mustered just 14 shots in a lacklustre 4-1 setback. “I liked a lot of what we did. There were a lot of good things. We stayed in it,” said Arniel. “Now Dallas, a different team, a different look.” This is the second meeting of the year between the Jets and Stars, with Winnipeg taking the first by a 4-1 score back on Nov. 9 at Canada Life Centre. “To me this is the second-best team in the Western Conference,” Arniel said of Dallas, which is coming off a 5-3 victory over Colorado on Friday. “These guys are real good and they’re probably going to be real angry after our game that we had in Winnipeg. We’re going to have make sure we have all our energy, all our right mindset.” Iafallo doesn’t believe that will be a problem, even if fatigue is a real factor during a schedule such as this. “We definitely have to have a good game and try to get a win out of this,” he said. “Our expectations are high, so we’ve got to keep pushing to get to that next level. Obviously we had a good start to the season but this long road trip, we’ve got to come together and finish it with a good end. The boys are going to be ready to do whatever it takes.” mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the before joining the in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the before joining the in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementBlack Friday goes digital as American rack up $10bn worth of online purchases

Nadler Financial Group Inc. cut its position in shares of Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN ) by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 38,685 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock after selling 427 shares during the quarter. Amazon.com makes up about 0.8% of Nadler Financial Group Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Nadler Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Amazon.com were worth $7,208,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its stake in Amazon.com by 5.1% during the third quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 94,217 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $17,555,000 after acquiring an additional 4,542 shares in the last quarter. Pursue Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Amazon.com by 55.4% during the third quarter. Pursue Wealth Partners LLC now owns 42,144 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $7,853,000 after purchasing an additional 15,027 shares during the last quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. boosted its holdings in Amazon.com by 1.8% during the third quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 316,211 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $58,920,000 after purchasing an additional 5,554 shares during the last quarter. Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Amazon.com by 3.4% in the third quarter. Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors LLC now owns 134,000 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $24,968,000 after acquiring an additional 4,344 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Golden Road Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Amazon.com by 9.8% in the third quarter. Golden Road Advisors LLC now owns 3,115 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $580,000 after acquiring an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. 72.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Insider Buying and Selling In other Amazon.com news, SVP David Zapolsky sold 2,190 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $195.00, for a total transaction of $427,050.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 62,420 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,171,900. This trade represents a 3.39 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CEO Matthew S. Garman sold 15,260 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.19, for a total transaction of $3,054,899.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 349,261 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,918,559.59. The trade was a 4.19 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 6,030,183 shares of company stock valued at $1,252,883,795. 10.80% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Read Our Latest Stock Report on Amazon.com Amazon.com Stock Performance Shares of AMZN stock opened at $227.03 on Friday. Amazon.com, Inc. has a one year low of $143.64 and a one year high of $227.15. The company’s 50-day moving average is $197.39 and its 200 day moving average is $188.12. The company has a market capitalization of $2.39 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.09. Amazon.com ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The e-commerce giant reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $158.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $157.28 billion. Amazon.com had a net margin of 8.04% and a return on equity of 22.41%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.85 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Amazon.com, Inc. will post 5.29 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Amazon.com ( Free Report ) Amazon.com, Inc engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero; and develops and produces media content. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMZN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Amazon.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amazon.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Botafogo won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history with a 3-1 victory over fellow Brazilians Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. Botafogo played almost the entire match with ten men after Gregore was sent off in the first minute but they showed impressive spirit and resilience to secure victory at River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. It is the sixth straight season that a Brazilian club has won the Libertadores, the top competition for South American clubs. The 120-year-old Botafogo, the Rio club who have twice won the Brazilian championship, have a rich history, including producing greats such as World Cup winners Garrincha, Didi, Nilton Santos and Mario Zagallo. But they have long suffered taunts from their rivals about their failure to win the continental title -- a jibe that can be made no more. Midfielder Gregore was shown a red card after a wild, high challenge on Fauto Vera, forcing Botafogo to adjust their game plan, but Atletico failed to press home their numerical advantage. Veteran forward Hulk had an effort from outside the box saved by John but the team from Belo Horizonte created little pressure. Sensing the game might not be the rearguard action they might have expected, Botafogo began to show more attacking intent and they were rewarded in the 35th minute. Marlon Freitas's shot from the edge of the box ricocheted around a crowded box before the ball fell to Luiz Henrique, who fired home from close range. To their credit, Botafogo didn't retreat to defend their slim advantage and they were able to double their lead in the 44th minute. Atletico defender Guilherme Arana attempted to shepherd the ball back to goalkeeper Everson, but Luiz Henrique snuck between the pair and went down under challenge from the keeper. After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded and Alex Telles confidently smashed home the spot kick to give Botafogo an unlikely 2-0 lead at the break. Atletico, who won the Libertadores in 2013, made a triple substitution at the interval and it paid off swiftly with Eduardo Vargas heading in from a corner. Inevitably, there was late pressure from Atletico, but Botafogo made sure of the victory when Junior Santos finished off a counter-attack deep in stoppage time. With the win, Botafogo earns the final of 32 places in next year's FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United States. The club, owned by American businessman John Textor, also has a chance to complete a double by winning what would be their third Brazilian league title -- they currently lead Serie A by three points with two games remaining. Luis Henrique, whose fine form this season has seen him break into the Brazil squad, said the win was an emotional one for him and the team. "Many people tried to stop me, but I know that God is with me, my family is with me, and I have to keep my feet on the ground because there is still more to come," the 23-year-old striker said. "I want to thank Botafogo a lot, Botafogo needs to be at the top, because it's a club that has been working hard, that has been doing a lot on a daily basis." sev/js

Back in its second-quarter earnings report in August, Target ( TGT 2.81% ) gave investors hope that it was finally turning the corner. Since the pandemic began to wind down, the retailer has struggled with inflation, weak consumer discretionary spending , and an increase in theft. However, Target's shares plunged on Wednesday after its latest update indicated that the recovery trend didn't last, and the company is still struggling on both sides of the income statement. Comparable sales rose 0.3% in the quarter as traffic was up 2.4%, but its average transaction fell. The company's sales shifted to the digital channel, with digital comps up 10.8%, but in-store comparable sales fell 1.9%. Overall revenue rose 1.1% to $25.7 billion, which missed the consensus of $25.9 billion. The retailer continued to face margin pressure as gross margin fell from 27.4% to 27.2%, due to higher inventory levels and increased fulfillment and supply chain costs. Management stocked up on and rerouted inventory ahead of the October port strike, which should be a one-time headwind. Higher wages and benefits led to an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses from 20.9% to 21.4%; as a result, operating margin fell from 5.2% to 4.6%. That led to a decline in earnings per share (EPS) from $2.10 to $1.85, which badly missed estimates of $2.30. Target also offered disappointing guidance for the key holiday quarter: It sees flat comparable sales growth and earnings per share of $1.85 to $2.45, which was well below the consensus of $2.64. It also cut its full-year EPS guidance from $9.00-$9.70 to $8.30-$8.90. What's ailing Target The company trotted out familiar excuses. Management said that "We encountered some unique challenges and cost pressures that impacted our bottom-line performance"; on the earnings call, it said that consumers are continuing to be selective about spending, and patiently waiting for deals. However, Target's struggles came as rival Walmart continued to dominate. Walmart captured comparable-sales growth of 5% in its third quarter at U.S. stores, driven by its core grocery business. It trimmed inventory in the third quarter and was able to increase gross margin, driving overall profitability. Walmart also reported mid-single-digit deflation in its general merchandise category, showing that it's lowering prices across its product range. And it called out market-share gains across all income cohorts, a sign that it's taking market share from Target, among other retailers. Target did have some bright spots, including 6% comparable-sales growth in beauty, and double-digit growth in Drive Up and same-day delivery. But overall, inventory challenges, consumer sluggishness, and competitive weakness continued to weigh on the business. Can Target bounce back? While Target stock deserves to be down sharply on the news and had fallen 21% as of early Wednesday afternoon, there are some reasons it could bounce back sooner than you think. Target has a lot of operating leverage in its business model, and a modest improvement in gross margin can lead to a surge in operating profits. First, better inventory management might have enabled the company to expand gross margin to 29%, an improvement of 180 basis points. Those gains would flow directly down to operating margin, which was just 4.6%. If its operating margin was instead 6.4% -- 180 basis points higher, and within Target's historical guidance for an operating margin of at least 6% -- operating income would have jumped 39%, a huge difference. Getting there isn't as hard as it looks, especially as management expects categories that have been under pressure, like home, to eventually recover. Second, shares are cheap compared to those of peers like Walmart: Target now trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14 based on this year's EPS estimates. Of course, the company needs to make some fundamental improvements before investors can capitalize on the discounted valuation, but the opportunity is there. After the third-quarter update, however, a recovery in the stock looks even further away.An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition

Browns restructure QB Deshaun Watson's contract to create cap space, flexibility, AP source says

Samuel Chukwueze: Arsenal set to swoop in for Super Eagles star in player swap dealThe final week of November brings a host of exciting new releases on major OTT platforms in the United States (US), offering something for every taste, from animated comedies to gripping documentaries and thrilling dramas, and sports documentaries. Here’s a detailed look at the key titles hitting streaming platforms in the US this week: Here’s a roundup of the top picks: November 25, 2024: Hulu Family Guy: Gift of the White Guy (Episode 17) Genres: Animation, Comedy In this holiday-themed episode, Peter must recover Lois’ Christmas brooch after giving it away in a White Elephant exchange, while Stewie changes his behavior upon discovering he’s on Santa's Naughty List. Directed by Joseph Lee, this episode features the voices of Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, and Seth Green, under the production banner of Fuzzy Door Productions. November 26, 2024: Amazon Prime Video It’s in the Game: Madden NFL (4 Episodes) Genres: Documentary, Sports This four-episode documentary series chronicles the origins and evolution of the Madden NFL video game franchise. The series focuses on the groundbreaking partnership between legendary football coach John Madden and a visionary computer programmer that sparked a revolution in sports gaming. It’s in the Game dives into the untold story of the game, from its humble 8-bit beginnings to its status as an annual must-have. With exclusive access to rare footage from EA Sports' vault and behind-the-scenes looks at the development of the next generation of the game, the documentary explores how this unlikely collaboration bridged the gap between the worlds of sports and technology. Directed by Nathan Caswell and Jeremiah Zagar, the series offers an in-depth look at how a game that "should have failed" became a cultural phenomenon. It is directed by Nathan Caswell and Jeremiah Zagar. November 28, 2024: Disney+ Dr. Odyssey (1 Season, 13 Episodes) Genres: Drama, Medical In this new medical drama, Dr. Odyssey follows Max, the newly appointed on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship. Along with a small but dedicated medical team, Max navigates unique and sometimes life-threatening medical crises in the isolated setting of a ship far from shore. With 13 episodes in the first season, this series promises high-stakes drama, intense emotional moments, and intricate character dynamics, set against the backdrop of a glamorous yet dangerous environment on the high seas. November 28, 2024: Netflix The Madness Genres: Thriller, Drama, Crime A chilling new thriller from Netflix , The Madness centers on media expert Muncie Daniels, who becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy after accidentally stumbling upon a murder deep in the Poconos. As Muncie fights for his innocence and his life, the series unfolds as a tense crime drama that mixes high-octane suspense with psychological thrills. The gripping storyline promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as Muncie uncovers the deadly secrets surrounding the murder. November 29, 2024: Showtime The Agency Genres: Drama, Thriller Based on the French series Le Bureau des légendes (2015), this thrilling new series takes viewers inside a world of espionage, intrigue, and national security. As characters navigate existential threats, the stakes are high in this high-paced drama that explores the secretive world of intelligence operations. With such a diverse lineup of releases, streaming platforms are set to provide plenty of entertainment for audiences looking to wrap up their month with thrilling new content. The final week of November 2024 brings a variety of exciting and diverse content across different genres on major streaming platforms. Whether you're in the mood for comedy (Family Guy), documentary (Madden NFL), medical drama (Dr. Odyssey), crime thrillers (The Madness), or high-stakes espionage (The Agency), there's something for every viewer to enjoy. As the holiday season approaches, these releases offer an ideal opportunity to unwind and catch up on fresh new shows and films from top streaming services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix , and Showtime.

Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. One decision stands out from all others in what has been a grim year for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – and it holds a clue as to what he may do next. Albanese ends 2024 in a dire position for a leader who must face the people in just a few short months: the economy is weak, the federal budget is back in deficit and his personal popularity is down. But his allies name his move to overhaul personal tax cuts in January, delivering bigger benefits to millions of workers, as the best example of what he did right this year. Albanese began the year with a bold move by breaking an election pledge to leave the “stage three” personal tax cuts intact after years of argument about a tax package that had been written into law by the Coalition five years earlier. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton railed against the Labor changes and called for an election to be held to decide the matter, only to retreat when polls showed that most Australians liked the idea of a $313 billion package with bigger tax cuts for more workers on low and middle incomes. Albanese won the policy and the politics. He took a risk and it paid off. The tax cuts went ahead as scheduled in July with the Labor brand stamped all over them. If there was a reward from the electorate, however, it evaporated before the summer was over. Just as Albanese seemed to be taking the initiative, the Labor primary vote went into reverse . It fell from 35 per cent in December to 34 per cent in February and 32 per cent in March. This became the pattern of the year. Nothing seemed to work for Albanese. His readiness to do radio interviews, while Dutton avoided scrutiny, did not appear to create a lasting bond with listeners. His speaking style, with mangled sentences instead of sharp messages, made it harder for him to cut through. Worse, the government never seemed to galvanise Australians with a sense of political mission. It unveiled more assistance for childcare, an age limit for social media, subsidies for energy bills, a wage boost for aged care workers and changes to prescriptions to make medicines cheaper. And it drifted down in the polls. “Labor and Albanese appear so dour, a government of grinding necessity,” says Paul Strangio, the emeritus professor of politics at Monash University. “The sense of missed opportunity is all the greater since they are in office at a time when the public shows signs of being fed up with business as usual. Albanese doesn’t appear to know how to harness or manage that sentiment.” Strangio highlighted this challenge in an essay for Inside Story in September and says there has been no shift in the pattern in the final months of the year. “Growth in office has been a hallmark of many of Australia’s best prime ministers,” he says. “Albanese is yet to demonstrate this.” While Albanese was elected to parliament in 1996 and watched John Howard govern for 11 years, there is no sign he is learning a lesson from the Howard era. “When Howard was in trouble during his first term, he drew upon his deep-seated convictions to strike out in a bold direction,” Strangio says. The result was a high-stakes election on the GST. ​Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold hands for the G20 group photo in Rio de Janeiro in November. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen On international affairs, however, Albanese has moved easily into overseas meetings and global summits. He lowered the temperature with China, resumed leadership meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and helped restart exports of beef, barley and lobster. This added billions of dollars to Australian industry. There was no economic dividend, and possibly no political payoff, from his effort to secure the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from the United States and the five remaining members of the Bali Nine from Indonesia. Even so, he pursued the talks to bring Australians home. The defeat of the Indigenous Voice in October 2023 still reverberates around Australian politics – and polling shows a slide in Labor support from that moment – but the government points to other achievements in this term, such as legislating a climate target to cut greenhouse gas emissions, to counter claims it has too little to show for its time in office. One minister says Australians will back the prime minister when the election arrives because of his personal qualities and what he offers in hard policy. “We are closer to making sure voters see this as a choice between Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese,” he says. Labor strategists say this is not just about what Albanese has delivered during this term, but about the “forward offer” of policies for the next three years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In this assessment, from those closest to Albanese, the prime minister is just getting started in winning voters with new policy measures and attacking Dutton on Coalition vulnerabilities, such as its nuclear energy plan. But Albanese has been subject to relentless attacks from left and right while trying to hold the middle ground on the Middle East. Greens leader Adam Bandt accused him of complicity in genocide over the war in Gaza, while Dutton accused him of deserting Israel and being weak on antisemitism. The conservative media picked up on the claim and rammed it home. When arsonists committed what police called a “likely act of terrorism” at the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne in early December, Albanese condemned the antisemitism in a statement and on radio. But he was scheduled to fly to Perth and did not divert the aircraft to Melbourne, which meant he took several days to visit the destruction and stand with the Jewish community. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on Tuesday, December 10. Credit: Justin McManus The symbolic show of support seemed too slow, even if the actual support was strong. Albanese gave no quarter to protesters who called antisemitic chants, and he made sure that laws were passed to ban the “doxxing” used to reveal personal details of Jewish Australians. He arranged more funding to protect synagogues and schools. This was not enough, however, when the government was infuriating Israel by voting at the United Nations for a ceasefire in Gaza in a motion that did not condemn Hamas, listed by Australian authorities as a terrorist group. “I don’t subscribe to the view that he has been weak on antisemitism,” says Strangio. “To me, this is an idea prosecuted by dogmatic elements – especially the Murdoch media – and doesn’t allow for the diabolical challenge it has been for the government to strike a position that doesn’t aggravate the polarisation of community opinion but maintains some degree of social cohesion.” Australians, meanwhile, felt their household incomes shrinking in real terms. Although wages moved ahead of inflation in recent quarters, they remain down in real terms since the election. With the Reserve Bank seeking to reduce inflation, the government could not risk spending more money to help voters. The pressure on households generated pain in the polls. Voters are clearly sceptical about Albanese. Thirty-one per cent said in early December that he was doing a good job, but 57 per cent said he was doing a poor job. His net rating in the Resolve Political Monitor, minus 26 per cent, was four times worse in December than it had been in February. The verdict is more savage from some of his own Labor colleagues. “He’s tough on the weak issues and weak on the tough issues,” says one caucus member. The complaint is that Albanese can take a strong line on something that is secondary to most Australians – like the release of the last of the Bali Nine – but struggle on the problems that will decide the election. Most of all, the cost of living. Cautious in choosing his battles before the election, Albanese risks leaving voters with the sense that he does not know what to fight for. “I like Anthony Albanese, and I regard him as a friend, but I find his government underwhelming,” says independent MP Andrew Wilkie. “And that would be the view of many of my constituents. It is fair to add that politics in general has become underwhelming. I’m not suggesting for a moment that Peter Dutton is any better.” Albanese tried through the year to outline practical policies – including a rush in December to pass dozens of laws through parliament. This included the Help to Buy scheme to offer $5.6 billion in federal equity for young people buying their first homes, as well as the Build to Rent scheme to attract investment into new homes. Also in December came the $1 billion early education fund for childcare and the “three-day guarantee” to make it easier for new parents to receive childcare subsidies. The Coalition opposes the move, which could help Albanese in a cost-of-living battle. Albanese can point to other measures that help with costs. The changes to student loans will help young Australians by reducing their debts by $3 billion, with the promise of more change if the government holds power at the election. Again, the Coalition opposes the move. This leaves some observers wanting a bolder vision. Saul Eslake, an independent economist, says Australia needs ambitious reform to lift living standards over the long term. Dutton has no significant economic policy, other than his nuclear plan, and Albanese is not revealing anything too risky. “I sort of despair, really, that the government has shown no inclination to argue for an ambitious second-term reform agenda,” says Eslake. “And it’s almost too late now. Albanese seems not to have the vision or the rhetorical capacity to do this stuff.” Leaders are not only judged on what they do, but what they choose not to do. A shadow has fallen over Anthony Albanese’s prime ministership in 2024. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Will the prime minister lift his fortunes after a difficult year? Watch for some policy moves early in 2025 to convince voters to stick with him rather than take a risk with Dutton. The Labor strategy seeks to copy the approach taken at the last election: to kick with the wind in the final quarter. One of the prime minister’s allies says the critics of today forget the mistakes of the critics from three years ago, when Albanese was not given much credit for lining up a victory that swept Labor into power. “On the big calls he was proven right,” he says. This year has been no triumph for Albanese. But the contest is not over. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .

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