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LOS ANGELES — Go to Phoenix on Monday, play Tuesday. Fly to San Antonio late Tuesday and play the next day. Back to Los Angeles late on Thanksgiving eve, off for the holiday and then play the Thunder on Friday. Fly to Utah the next day, play the Jazz on Sunday. Then off to Minnesota on Sunday night, land late and play the Timberwolves on Monday. Then go to Miami for a game Wednesday. Then go to Atlanta for a game Friday. Off for a day, then host Portland on Sunday. And then, for the first time in weeks, exhale for 48 hours. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.NoneNico Iamaleava throws 4 TD passes to lead No. 10 Tennessee over UTEP 56-0

'It always brings back memories': Radio DJs on their favourite Christmas songPam Douglas, founder of Pam’s Wreath, stands beside bundles of balsam outside her Harpswell home studio on Nov. 22. Laura Sitterly / The Times Record Pam Douglas started making wreaths in the 1980s, and it’s still part of her patchwork of seasonal jobs. As she wire-wrapped handfuls of evergreen around metal rings at her home studio last month, she recalled her early days as a wreather. “Back then, I ran off coffee and holiday spirit,” she said. “I still can’t believe how far we’ve come today.” It started out in workshop filled with fragrant branches and bows — first in her grandparent’s old, somewhat-dilapidated barn (she would work through the night with a headlamp, snow freezing on her eyelashes), then in her parent’s basement and now in a home studio in Harpswell. The transitions, bumpy as they’ve been, were worth it to Douglas. Early on, she never considered the possibilities behind her grandmother Yovanna’s traditional Christmas wreaths, which she doled out as gifts to family and neighbors each year. When Douglas became pregnant with her oldest son, Sterling, she remembered asking her grandmother, “Why don’t you sell those?” Douglas took 10 wreaths to Cook’s Lobster House, where she worked for 28 years, and sold them for $10 each — a $100 profit that brought tears to Yovanna’s eyes. While Douglas never considered herself “crafty,” she was drawn by the allure of extra cash during the holidays. Under the moonlight, Yovanna laid a sheet on the kitchen floor, with Sterling, now born, in the playpen, and spent three hours teaching her granddaughter the process — bending coat hangers and using carp thread to secure bundles of fir needles. At the time, Douglas was renting a log cabin by the water. She would practice during the quiet hours from sunset to sunrise, relaxed by the crackle of the fireplace and the sound of the waves, accompanied by the steady movement of her hands, attuning to the trade. Maine’s official state animal inspired Pam’s Moose Head Wreath. Laura Sitterly / The Times Record What began as a hobby translated into a part-time gig. S lowly but surely, corporate orders were secured, and everything snowballed. “One day, some customers told me they were moving to Russia and wanted to send 100 wreaths to their friends,” Pam said. “They asked if we could ship, and naively, I said, ‘Of course.’ The house was filled with boxes, and everyone in the family lent a hand to get those orders mailed.” Ambitious as she was, Sterling said his mother never forgot a sports game — even if that meant showing up with her hands covered in tree pitch. Pam kept her work almost secretive, tiptoeing around once the kids dozed off. This would go on from October, after closing down her ice cream shop (Pammy’s Ice Cream Parlor in Harpswell) through Christmas. “If we could start in August, that’d be great,” Douglas said. “But we can only make wreaths when the brush is ready, which forces our season into a few fast (and furious) weeks. I’m lucky if I get three hours of sleep each night.” Gradually, the work has become more modernized, with some shifts receiving more acceptance than others. As a junior in college, an alumna with her own web development company visited Sterling’s entrepreneurship class and handed out business cards. He kept them for some time, considering his mother’s trade options. Douglas vividly remembers when her son suggested that she take the business online. He proposed creating a website where she could share her story, customers could place orders and financial data could be entered into QuickBooks, eliminating the tedious hassle of pen-and-paper accounting. Sterling and Pam Douglas showcase a traditional wreath at their Harpswell studio on Nov. 22. The mom-and-son duo have created Maine-made wreaths together since 2009. Laura Sitterly / The Times Record “It felt natural to collaborate,” Sterling said. “In 2009, we filed the necessary paperwork and became partners. Our website and Facebook were launched, and we began wreath-making together.” Douglas often jokes that Sterling is stuck helping her because she cannot decipher, let alone manage technology on her own. Her comment is a tease but reveals a deeper fear: moving away from traditional values fosters a sense of dependency. “There’s more control taking things into your own hands,” she said. After much reluctance in the early-2000s, Douglas bought a wreath machine. Testing her sales at a roadside stand, she remembers holding up two wreaths, surprised that no one could tell which one was handmade. Slowly, she incorporated more technology to boost production. Due to high demand, Douglas makes larger wreaths by hand but can create traditional wreaths on the machine in about eight minutes. “It’s not the money that motivates me,” she said. “I love what I do. Working in the middle of the night, with no one bothering me, I can focus on making something that I know will bring joy to someone else.” Sterling agreed; his children enjoy helping out in the shop, too. His son can make a wreath in under 20 minutes, and his daughter recently had to be dragged to her birthday party as she was begging to play at the shop instead. While the aim is to keep the business family-run, Sterling is clear about his stance: He will only encourage his children to continue in the trade if they are genuinely passionate about it. He describes the work as a labor of love, noting, “It just feels good to serve others.” As Pam Douglas stated, every order is inspected before it is picked up. Quality is a top priority. Laura Sitterly / The Times Record For Downeast farmers, balsam-harvesting is a welcome change of pace at the end of a season’s crescendo. A bucket of homemade pinecone decorations Sterling and Pam Douglas made using materials found across the Midcoast landscape. Laura Sitterly / The Times Record When the last wildflowers turn golden, temperatures dip and fishermen pull their traps from the water, the time finally comes for “tipping,” or what others may call “brushing.” This is when folks head into the woods to gather the ends of evergreen branches for use in holiday wreaths. The work is physically demanding — hauling the weight of heavy branches and pulling ticks off at day’s end. However, a certain magic comes with noticing the soft patterns in the branches and keeping an eye out for barred owls living in the woodlot. Douglas and Sterling have found this to be true while foraging for supplies. “A lot of companies cut corners,” Sterling said. “That’s why needles fall off wreaths in department stores — they need three frosts before they’re ready to use.” Inside Pam’s Wreath studio in Harpswell. Pammy’s 2024 Tree Sale will be held at 1410 Harpswell Neck Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 7. Laura Sitterly / The Times Record Pam’s Wreaths receives its fir supply from Van Buren. In recent years, the temperatures in the Midcoast haven’t dropped low enough at the right time, so they rely on colder areas where the tipping starts earlier. The remaining materials, such as reindeer moss and pinecones, are gathered from Harpswell and nearby towns. Neighbors and friends contribute by collecting natural items from their properties and delivering them to the shop for decoration. Douglas values quality and will not compromise on it. To uphold these high standards, she checks every wreath before it leaves the shop and avoids wholesale commitments, such as those for hockey boosters or school fundraisers. That said, this year, there will be an exception. Pam’s Wreaths is hosting a tree sale at 1410 Harpswell Neck Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Locals can grab supplies while they last; a percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Harpswell Santa Fund . The horse-themed design, as pictured, is another signature Pam’s Wreath item. Laura Sitterly / The Times Record Last season, the business sold 2,000 wreaths — a number Douglas and her son hope will continue to grow. By incentivizing early orders with a 10% discount, they already shipped over 400 orders before Thanksgiving. Themed designs highlight Maine classics like the state animal, a moose. Next year, a cat wreath will be available; the wire prototype is almost perfected. Shipments are still sent to established customers, but due to high demand, Pam’s Wreaths focuses on local pick-ups only. Orders must be placed before Dec. 15 to be ready before Christmas. Most purchases can be made online , but call 751-7870 for larger wreaths or bulk orders. “I don’t get a wreath up until after the holidays because things are so busy,” Douglas said. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.” We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »

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Leading Driver in the Social Audit Services Market 2024: Growing Corporate Social Responsibility Fuels Market GrowthSpending squeeze ‘could cost more than 10,000 Civil Service jobs’WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter has spurred a broader discussion about what else he should be doing with the broad clemency powers of the presidency before he leaves office in January, including whether he should be pardoning Donald Trump. Biden on Tuesday ducked questions about his son, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola . He dismissed shouted questions about the matter with a laugh during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, telling the Angolan delegation: “Welcome to America.” Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa, and he has largely avoided interactions with reporters since President-elect Trump’s victory last month. Biden’s decision to offer his son a blanket pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, after the president repeatedly had said he would not use his extraordinary powers for the benefit of his family. Biden claimed that the Justice Department had presided over a “miscarriage of justice” in prosecuting his son, using some of the same language that Trump uses to describe his own legal predicaments. Biden's reversal drew criticism from many Democrats , who are working to calibrate their approach to Trump as he prepares to take over the Oval Office in seven weeks. There is concern the pardon — and Biden's claims that his son was prosecuted for political reasons — will erode their ability to push back on the incoming president’s legal moves. And it has threatened to cloud Biden's legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20. Hunter Biden is the closest presidential relative ever to be granted clemency, but other leaders have pardoned family members and close friends. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after Roger Clinton had served his sentence. By the time Trump left office after his first term, he had issued 144 pardons, which included Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned fervent supporters Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and other people convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. In the months after the 2020 election, Trump and his allies were trying to overturn his loss, a failed effort that culminated in the violent riot by his supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. There were discussions at the time over whether Trump would preemptively pardon some of those involved in the effort — and maybe even himself — before he left office. But that never happened. Now, Democrats are having similar discussions about preemptive pardons on their side because of Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail. He's made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. He talks about "enemies from within." He's circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He's also taken aim at Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris, promoting a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals to punish her because she was guilty of treason. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said last week on Boston Public Radio that Biden might consider broad pardons to protect people against whatever wrath Trump may seek, but also as a way to move the country past this acrimonious and divided time. “I think that without question, Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascistic way, in a revengeful first year at least of his administration toward individuals who he believes harmed him,” Markey said. Presidents enjoy expansive pardon powers when it comes to federal crimes . That includes granting clemency to people who have not yet been charged, as President Gerald Ford did in 1974 when he pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. The decision at the time caused an uproar but has been seen in the ensuing decades as a move that helped restore order. Markey cited Ford's pardon as a way for the country “just to close that chapter and move on to a new era.” Biden could do the same, Markey said, to help the country move on “to an agenda that deals with the ordinary families.” Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrat-turned-independent from West Virginia, took it a step further and suggested Biden should even pardon Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, federal charges that are now evaporating with Trump's upcoming return to the White House. “Why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges?" he said in an interview with CNN. “It would have gone down a lot more balanced. I'm just saying, wipe them out.” At the same time, Democratic lawmakers and criminal justice reformers are pushing Biden to grant pardons to broad groups of Americans. Democrats Ayanna Pressley, Jim Clyburn and Mary Gay Scanlon wrote to Biden on Nov. 20, asking him to use his clemency powers to "address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.” The letter, also signed by 61 others, suggested Biden could use his powers to send a powerful message of criminal justice reform and "rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges.” “We encourage you to use your clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers,” they wrote. So far, Biden has pardoned 25 people. Most presidents tend to grant a flurry of clemency requests at the end of their terms, and it's likely Biden will do the same. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said Biden is “thinking through that process very thoroughly.” Weissert reported from Luanda, Angola.

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ISTANBUL Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced late Wednesday that Ethiopia and Somalia reached an agreement to solve the conflict between the two nations in Ankara-mediated peace talks. “We have taken the first step toward a new beginning based on peace, cooperation between Somalia, Ethiopia,” President Erdogan said at a joint news conference with his Somalian counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Erdogan expressed his satisfaction with hosting his guests and their delegations in Türkiye. He noted that the Ankara Process, initiated approximately eight months ago due to the trust Somalia and Ethiopia placed in Türkiye, had reached a significant milestone. "Thus, by overcoming certain grievances and misunderstandings together, we have taken the first step towards a new beginning based on peace and cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia," he said. "We carefully listened to the sensitivities, priorities and expectations of both parties throughout this process. With the valuable contributions of both countries, we have prepared the joint declaration text agreed upon today." Erdogan emphasized that despite having faced numerous injustices and serious conflicts in the past, the region where Somalia and Ethiopia are located has also experienced bright periods in history and made significant contributions to humanity. "This joint declaration focuses not on the past, but on the future, recording the principles that these two friendly nations will build upon moving forward, which is of great importance to us," he said. Ankara’s fundamental expectation is to establish peace and stability “in this distinguished corner” of Africa between Somalia and Ethiopia, he added. Türkiye believes the agreed-upon joint statement by Somalia and Ethiopia will establish a solid foundation for cooperation and prosperity based on mutual respect, he said. Erdogan said that Türkiye, Somalia and Ethiopia will plan future steps together and implement projects to boost regional peace and prosperity. He also praised Somalia’s president and Ethiopia’s prime minister for “reaching this historic reconciliation with great dedication” during the Ankara-mediated peace talks. The Turkish president also expressed his gratitude to Mohamud and Ahmed. He said he believes Mohamud will provide the necessary attention, care and support, particularly in line with Ethiopia's requests for access to the sea. "This world is enough for all of us. Together, we will undoubtedly secure our place here, and we will take these steps together," he said. Ahmed hailed Türkiye for its efforts in resolving the Somalia-Ethiopia conflict during the talks. Mohamud also hailed Türkiye's efforts in resolving the perennial territorial and political conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia. Ties between Ethiopia and Somalia have worsened since Ethiopia struck a deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland on Jan. 1 to use its Red Sea port of Berbera. Türkiye has been working to end tensions between the two countries. Ethiopia lost its Red Sea ports in the early 1990s after the Eritrean War of Independence, which lasted from 1961 to 1991. In 1991, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, leading to the establishment of two separate nations. The separation resulted in Ethiopia losing direct access to the Red Sea and key ports. Ethiopia has since been landlocked, affecting its ability to conduct efficient maritime trade.IT'S taken just 11 months for some Manchester United fans to turn on minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. And doubters in the Old Trafford faithful will no doubt be left even more frustrated when they find out what could've been under the Qatari administration, who had plans to revolutionise the club in just THREE DAYS. 7 Sir Jim Ratcliffe has endured a pitiful start to life at Man Utd 7 Other bidder Sheikh Jassim's concrete plans have been revealed 7 Plans were put in place for a brand new stadium 7 United fans staged a protest against Ratcliffe Fan pressure and soaring costs saw the majority owning Glazer family announce that they were open to selling United in November 2022. And Qatari billionaire banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, entered the race to buy Britain's biggest football club. After months of speculation, Sheikh Jassim's final £4.5billion offer for full control was shunned by the Glazers , in favour of Britain's richest man Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe's own £1.2bn offer for a 27.7 per cent stake was accepted, and the 72-year-old, a life long fan, was effectively given the keys, taking control of all operations. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS RED ALERT Gary Lineker reveals 'the worst thing of all' about 'laughable' Man Utd But things haven't gone to plan, with sporting director Dan Ashworth leaving the club after just five months in his role in the latest of a string of PR disasters. Almost 12 months on, the 'new' United lurches from horror show to another under Ratcliffe and his Ineos officers. Ahead of Sunday's derby at Man City they find themselves in a lowly 13th place in the Premier League. After 15 games they are 16 points behind Liverpool, who spanked them 3-0 at Old Trafford. Most read in Football WELCOME BACK 'I know the reception I'll get at Ibrox - I love it' says Ange Postecoglou TOTT-AL RECALL I had results v Real Madrid & PSG, Gers can beat Spurs to make more memories GET OUT I'm an ex-Gers star who was sacked after one game - I was surprised I got that long WORLD ORDER World Cup 2030 & 2034 confirmed with latter part of £2.5TRILLION Saudi project FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS But the Mail have now revealed an inside swoop into what could've happened in M16 if the Qatari's were allowed to buy the club outright. Plans for a United rebirth, fuelled by vast wealth and some of the finest sporting and finance brains on earth , had already been carefully drafted. Dan Ashworth leaves Man Utd after just five months with Sir Jim Ratcliffe ordering shock boardroom shake-up The strategy for 'Project Ruby' saw the Qatari's pledge to announce the takeover on the first day. The removal of ALL of the club's debt would come on the second day. And United would be taken off the New York Stock Exchange and no longer answerable to far-away stakeholders. By day three, Sheikh Jassim would reveal plans for a brand new state-of-the-art stadium. That's it, a clean break in three days to change the club's history and current predicament. As for Old Trafford, there would be no attempt to grab any money from the taxpayer, or confusion over whether this would be a refurbishment or a rebuild. Ratcliffe was reportedly lobbying the government's "Levelling Up" plan to give the north of England a venue to rival Wembley. And the iconic ground continues to rot away, hampered by an embarrassing leaky roof and dead RATS under seats. Under Sheikh Jassim this would have been a more straightforward process. 7 A supporter posted a picture of a dead rat at Old Trafford A senior adviser to the Qatari group told the Mail: "The b****y thing would have been fully in-motion now. "A stadium for a football club paid for by a football club and nobody else. And as for the staff Ratcliffe is firing - we would have been hiring." None of the above will be of solace to the United fans – and the large numbers of staff - who had wanted the Sheikh Jassim bid to succeed. Populous, the designers responsible for many of the venues at the 2022 World Cup, had already drawn up plans, which were shared with bidders for United. It can now be disclosed that an 'adaptable' stadium was being seriously considered, with a capacity of between 90,000 and 100,000. 7 A banner saying 'Stop Exploiting Loyalty' was held up inside and outside Old Trafford last week 7 AI images have been mocked up to show what Old Trafford could look like under Ratcliffe Leading commercial property company JLL, based in Manchester city centre, had already been signed up to work on the project. And there was a separate fund planned for the women's team, who would've had their own training centre in Manchester. Leading commercial property company JLL, based in Manchester city centre, had already been signed up to work on the project. Far from being given the sack, Sir Alex Ferguson was to be cherished and invited onto an advisory board. Others, including Class of '92 members David Beckham and Gary Neville, were also being lined up to add their input. But the opposite has come true. Ratcliffe's hated cost-cutting campaign has seen 250 redundancies made and tickets were hiked to £66 for kids and pensioners. He's even turned into the grinch and replaced the £100 staff Christmas bonus with a £40 M&S voucher in his latest money-saving measure. Fans have already protested outside Old Trafford begging to stop being "exploited". But it might not be the end of the story. The advisor told the Mail: "Sheikh Jassim is still a rich guy. Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW JOKE Snow maps reveal the Scotland areas forecast to have a white Christmas OFF THE AIR 'Gutted to hear this', fans cry as BBC Scotland series axed after 19 years "He is still a United fan. He is not going to rush off and try another Premier League club. 'If the opportunity to buy the whole of Manchester United arose again at some point in the future it is hard to see there not being a big level of interest. The plans are still there." Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first year at Man Utd SIR JIM RATCLIFFE'S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 - and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since... December 2023 - Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe's takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford January 2024 - Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington January 2024 - Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO February 2024 - Ratcliffe's £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed February 2024 - Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added March 2024 - Ratcliffe bans words "awesome" and "lukewarm cappuccino" in bizarre move March 2024 - Matt Johnson appointed head of women's football March 2024 - Ratcliffe announces plans to build "Wembley of the North" to replace Old Trafford March 2024 - Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 - down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December April 2024 - Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled April 2024 - John Murtough quits as football director April 2024 - Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton May 2024 - Ratcliffe turns Carrington "toxic" after sending email to employees slamming "disgraceful" lack of cleanliness May 2024 - Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof May 2024 - Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish May 2024 - Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy May 2024 - Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket May 2024 - Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed May 2024 - Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result June 2024 - Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground June 2024 - Ratcliffe introduces strict "back to work" policy forcing staff to come into office June 2024 - Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women's team July 2024 - Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation July 2024 - Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026 July 2024 - Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher's role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart. July 2024 - Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment July 2024 - Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board July 2024 - Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125 July 2024 - Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie August 2024 - Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window August 2024 - Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet October 2024 - Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson October 2024 - Staff Christmas party cancelled October 2024 - "Back to work" policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches October 2024 - Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m November 2024 - Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause November 2024 - Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim November 2024 - Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings November 2024 - Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association December 2024 - Ratcliffe admits "mediocre" Man Utd "still in last century" December 2024 - Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66 December 2024 - Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director December 2024 - £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher

Crypto Boom Ahead: Top 5 Cryptos Tipped for Explosive Growth in 2025New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday appointed Jessica Tisch as commissioner of the New York City Police Department, the second woman to lead the department in 179 years. Tisch is a 12-year NYPD veteran and current commissioner of the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), according to a press release. She will assume the role on Monday, Nov. 25, succeeding Interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon. “As one of the most successful managers in our administration, I am confident that Commissioner Tisch will effectively lead the greatest police department in the world and continue to deliver the safety and peace of mind New Yorkers deserve,” Adams said. Tisch’s career in public service spans over a decade with the NYPD, where she spearheaded technological advancements and modernization efforts. During her tenure at DSNY, she led the city’s “Trash Revolution,” containerizing 70% of New Yorkers’ daily 44 million pounds of trash. “For 12 years, I cherished the special privilege of serving alongside the brave women and men of the New York City Police Department,” Tisch said. “It is now my distinct honor to advance Mayor Adams’ vision of fighting crime and disorder, keeping our great city safe and vibrant, and protecting all New Yorkers.” Tisch, who follows Keechant Sewell as the second female NYPD commissioner, emphasized a commitment to safety, counterterrorizm and public trust in policing. She aims to build on technological innovations, improve training and continue fostering confidence in the NYPD’s role in the city. Adams also thanked Interim Commissioner Donlon for his service over the past two months and expressed enthusiasm for his transition to a new role.

Support for Kemi Badenoch is almost as strong among Reform UK supporters as within the Tory tribe, the latest Savanta polling shows. Fifty-nine per cent of people who voted Tory in the summer election think she would make a better prime minister than Sir Keir Starmer , as do 57 per cent of those who voted Reform. A key challenge for the Tory leader is winning over people who supported Nigel Farage ’s party in July. Just four per cent of Reform backers think Sir Keir would be the finer PM, with the rest undecided. Among all respondents, 39 per cent think the Labour leader has what it takes to be the best prime minister, with 26 per cent opting for Mrs Badenoch. However, Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, saw a silver lining for the Tory leader, suggesting this “isn’t a bad position to start from”. He said that “Starmer trailed Boris Johnson by more than 20 points at the start of his own tenure as party leader”. While 41 per cent of Britons said they disliked both Sir Keir and his policies, just 29 per cent said this of Mrs Badenoch. And 37 per cent disliked both the Labour leader and his party, with one in three saying this of the leader of the opposition. Mr Hopkins said: “At the start of Starmer’s tenure, just 23 per cent of the public said they disliked both Starmer and his party, 10 points lower than it is for Badenoch now. Reversing your own party’s fortunes from opposition is easier said than done, but will be made harder for Badenoch by her own low personal favourability down at -10. “Badenoch needs the vast majority of people still to make up their minds about her to end up actively liking her, and history tells us that almost no politician ends up achieving such a feat.” Exclusive polling by Ipsos shows one of the biggest challenges facing the Tory frontbench is invisibility. Nearly half of Britons (46 per cent) could not recall reading or hearing about leading Conservatives other than Mrs Badenoch “in the past couple of weeks”. Priti Patel, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, had the highest profile, with 32 per cent saying they had noticed her. She was quickly followed by Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick (31 per cent), with Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride (15 per cent), Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott (12 per cent) and Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins (seven per cent) coming in further behind. The polling conducted on November 8-11 found only one in 25 people could remember Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho or Shadow Leader of the Commons Jesse Norman coming onto their radar. Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Richard Fuller made an impression on just three per cent of respondents. And a mere one in 50 had noticed the likes of Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge or Science Secretary Alan Mak. Mrs Badenoch will hope that as the MPs bed into their shadow cabinet roles and take on Sir Keir’s team their profiles will rise. A former Tory minister acknowledged the difficulty of winning the limelight after a lost election, saying: “It’s never easy because governments get all the attention, particularly in the wake of elections. We’re still in that period where everyone is interested in the Government. “That’s the price you pay for going into Opposition.” The highest-profile Labour MP other than the Prime Minister was Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Nearly half of people (48 per cent) had read or heard about her recently. The next most prominent were Deputy PM Angela Rayner (36 per cent), Foreign Secretary David Lammy (35 per cent), Shadow Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (27 per cent), and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Health Secretary Wes Streeting (both 26 per cent).MachTen, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks . Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn't improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Top Financial Sector Stocks for Canadian Investors in 2025

Police Investigate Alleged Murder-Suicide in DunleithSir Keir Starmer has been warned by a trade union not to impose “blunt headcount targets” for the size of the Civil Service but Government sources insisted there would be no set limit, although the number “cannot keep growing”. Departments have been ordered to find 5% “efficiency savings” as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review, potentially putting jobs at risk. The size of the Civil Service has increased from a low of around 384,000 in mid-2016, and the Tories went into the general election promising to reduce numbers by 70,000 to fund extra defence spending. Any reduction under Labour would be more modest, with the Guardian reporting more than 10,000 jobs could be lost. A Government spokesman said: “Under our plan for change, we are making sure every part of government is delivering on working people’s priorities — delivering growth, putting more money in people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, rebuilding Britain and securing our borders in a decade of national renewal. “We are committed to making the Civil Service more efficient and effective, with bold measures to improve skills and harness new technologies.” Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect trade union said: “We need a clear plan for the future of the civil service that goes beyond the blunt headcount targets that have failed in the past. “This plan needs to be developed in partnership with civil servants and their unions, and we look forward to deeper engagement with the government in the coming months.” A Government source said: “The number of civil servants cannot keep growing. “But we will not set an arbitrary cap. “The last government tried that and ended up spending loads on more expensive consultants.” The Government is already risking a confrontation with unions over proposals to limit pay rises for more than a million public servants to 2.8%, a figure only just over the projected 2.6% rate of inflation next year. Unions representing teachers, doctors and nurses have condemned the proposals. In the face of the union backlash, Downing Street said the public sector must improve productivity to justify real-terms pay increases. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s vital that pay awards are fair for both taxpayers and workers.” Asked whether higher pay settlements to staff would mean departmental cuts elsewhere, the spokesman said: “Real-terms pay increases must be matched by productivity gains and departments will only be able to fund pay awards above inflation over the medium-term if they become more productive and workforces become more productive.” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises. “And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings. “The Government must now engage unions and the millions of public sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.”