Slot’s impact has been equally evident in Europe, where the Merseyside club has dominated the Champions League, securing victory in all five of their league phase matches. With the January transfer window approaching, Liverpool are reportedly targeting Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong to strengthen their squad and sustain their dominance across all competitions. Liverpool make offer for Frenkie de Jong According to a report by , the Dutch international is seen as an ideal successor to Ryan Gravenberch, who is drawing strong interest from Real Madrid. It was that the Reds could make an offer for de Jong and as per this report, the Reds want to sign the midfielder and have made an offer worth €40m as they look to take advantage of the player’s current situation with the Spanish side. The report adds that Arne Slot has personally advised the club to sign him. De Jong has struggled with injuries at Barcelona The 27-year-old endured a difficult previous season, with an ankle injury sidelining him for the majority of the campaign, resulting in 47 missed games for both club and country. Under Barcelona’s new coach Hansi Flick, De Jong has made 11 appearances this season but only two starts, highlighting his diminished role within a crowded midfield. Since joining Barcelona, he has made 224 appearances for them, scoring 18 and assisting 22. His overall tally across all competitions and levels is 35 goals and 48 assists in 385 games. ( ) He has been a long-term Manchester United target as well under former manager Erik ten Hag and as per a recent report, it is suggested that . Slot’s vision of a possession-focused, dynamic midfield makes De Jong an ideal fit. Known for his ability to control the tempo, break defensive lines, and maintain composure under pressure, he would complement Liverpool’s attacking philosophy perfectly. Should the move materialise, De Jong’s arrival could mark a pivotal step in Liverpool’s quest for domestic and European success while providing him a platform to re-establish himself as one of the world’s best midfielders.

Elisabeth Borne, only the second woman to serve as French prime minister, is making a surprise return to frontline politics as education minister less than a year after losing a job that she never wished to relinquish. An experienced technocrat known for her resilience who pushed through a controversial pensions overhaul while in office, Borne served as premier from May 2022 to January 2024. The 63-year-old engineer was the first woman to head a French government in three decades after the brief stint in office of Edith Cresson who lasted under 11 months in the early 1990s, during which time she endured rampant sexism. When Borne took power, she dedicated the moment to "all the little girls". "Follow your dreams, nothing must slow the fight for women's place in our society," she said. But her departure after just over 18 months left her denouncing the "insidious sexism" that she said still permeated French politics. At President Emmanuel Macron's request, she resigned in January and was replaced by the then 34-year-old Gabriel Attal, who became France's youngest head of government but he only lasted to the summer. Borne said after her resignation that women in politics were "constantly" compared to men. "Men in politics, they all have an interest in imposing masculine codes, it eliminates the competition," she added. She also noted that all candidates to succeed her were men. "It's as if commentators were saying to themselves, 'We've just had a woman prime minister for 20 months, that's it, we're back to normal life'," she told RTL. Even when she handed over office to Attal on January 9, Borne had made clear her resentment over sexism in French politics, saying: "I have also been able to see quite often that there is still some way to go for equality between women and men." But she added in a message to women: "Hold on, the future belongs to you." More from this section Borne had proved her loyalty to Macron during his first term in office, serving as transport, environment and finally labour minister from 2020. As premier she staunchly defended his flagship pensions reform to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. She deployed a controversial executive power to force through the legislation without a vote, despite previously saying she did not want to use it. Discreet about her private life, Borne was accused by critics of showing too little personality in office. Borne's Jewish father had been deported to Auschwitz during World War II and survived the Nazi death camp but never fully recovered. Her father took his own life when she was just 11 years old. "It's shocking for an 11-year-old girl to lose her father in these conditions," Borne told LCI. "And I think I closed up and that I avoid showing my emotions too much." "I think... this closing up, maybe, goes a little far. Yes," she acknowledged. But she expressed pride over how France had allowed her to study under a special programme for children who have lost parents. "We are a country where you can be the daughter of an immigrant, where you may have lost your father at 11, but the country reaches out to you to allow you to study," she said. "And then you are a prefect (senior local official), and then you are a minister and you are even prime minister," she added. Her father, who was reportedly named Joseph Bornstein, fled to France from Poland in 1940 and then fought in the French resistance during World War II. He was captured and deported to Auschwitz in 1944. bur-sjw/as/phzCampaigners called for voters to be given a say over who replaces Senedd politicians booted out of office for bad behaviour under a proposed system of recall. Jessica Blair, director of the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Cymru, supported calls for a recall system to allow voters to remove misbehaving politicians between elections. But Ms Blair said voters should have a say over the replacement, warning an element of personal accountability will be lost with the Senedd’s new “closed-list” electoral system. From 2026, people will vote for parties rather than individuals as Wales ditches first past the post in favour of a full form of proportional representation, with no by-elections being held. Ms Blair said: “This idea of replacing someone with the next person on the list, it could be ... from the voters’ perspective ... seen as a party being rewarded for bad behaviour.” Giving evidence to the Senedd’s standards committee, she added: “This shouldn’t be necessarily about parties keeping control, it should be about voters having their say.” Labour’s Mick Antoniw pointed out it is the person, not the party, that has transgressed. But Ms Blair said: “That could also reflect badly on the party or the way a party’s handled it, so I don't think it's necessarily as clear cut, as this is one person’s actions.” She told the committee that three of the four UK Parliament by-elections triggered by recall petitions since 2019 were won by a different party. She said: “Parties can be punished for an individual’s bad behaviour or it could be a reflection of changing political support post election. There doesn’t seem to be a real case for retaining that party’s seat, especially three years after an election, for example.” The standards committee will make recommendations on how a recall mechanism should work in Wales as part of its inquiry on Senedd members’ accountability. Hannah Blythyn, who chairs the committee, asked witnesses whether the circumstances for recalling a Senedd member should be the same as Westminster. Ms Blair suggested the triggers – a custodial sentence of less than 12 months, a suspension of at least ten sitting days, or an expenses offence conviction – make a good starting point.

Florida Republican seeks ban on 'weather modification' tech amid right-wing conspiraciesGuess who hasn't even started their holiday shopping yet? Yours truly. But I know, statistically speaking, surely I can't be alone. Luckily I've hunted down some Walmart deals on gear that the WIRED team has hand-tested and would recommend to a friend. Today those friends are you and me. May the odds be ever in our favor. WIRED Featured Deals A sleek-looking Chromebook: Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 for $329 ($171 off) The best fitness tracker: Fitbit Charge 6 for $120 ($40 off) Stocking stuffer earbuds: JLab Go Air Pop Earbuds for $10 ($20 off) An excellent Dyson deal: Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum for $400 ($250 off) Power up with unlimited access to WIRED . Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today . Tech Deals Samsung 65-inch S90D QD-OLED TV for $1,348 ($200 off) This discount comes close to what we saw during Black Friday. The Samsung S90D ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) is one of our very favorite TVs out of the dozens and dozens we've tested. The colors are vivid, but not too vivid, and the contrast and black levels are perfect. It also comes equipped for gaming with a bevy of ports and support for Samsung's Game Hub. Sony 65-inch Bravia 9 QLED TV for $2,698 ($302 off) This is another great deal that's a holdover from Black Friday sales. The Sony Bravia ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) is our favorite QLED TV . The mini LEDs give it super bright backlighting, and it's also packed with dimming technology to ensure contrast and black levels stay optimal. We wish it had a few more ports, but overall you're getting stunning picture quality in nearly any environment at a price that could justifiably be higher. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) for $599 ($144 off) This MacBook Air ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) is the cheapest MacBook you can buy, and the discount makes it even more attainable. It's a little older now, but it's still a great laptop for everyday tasks like getting work done, browsing the web, or binge-watching video essays on YouTube. If you just need a computer that'll do the job without costing an arm and a leg, this is a very good option. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 for $329 ($171 off) On the hunt for a great-looking Chromebook ? That'd be the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ). Chromebooks often look bulky or dated, but the CX34 is sleek and svelte, with an all-white design that belies its affordable price tag. It can handle multiple tabs and open apps, and the webcam looks great too. We wish the keyboard was backlit, but this is still an excellent, affordable option that might make a great gift for your household's chief homework-doer. Bose Smart Soundbar for $399 ($100 off) Everybody should have a soundbar . The Bose Smart Soundbar ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is nice and compact, and despite its small footprint it packs in great, expansive sound that'll immerse you in whatever you're watching. Since it doesn't have a subwoofer, you won't get room-shaking bass, but it's still going to sound much better than your TV's tinny built-ins. Learn more about it and get additional recommendations in our Soundbars Buying Guide . Beats Pill (2024) Bluetooth Speaker for $100 ($50 off) The new Beats Pill ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) has the hallmark thumping bass that's characteristic of Beats audio gear. And it packs all that sound into a portable little capsule-shaped package that's got a 24-hour battery life and one-touch pairing for Apple and Android devices. It's dust- and water-resistant, and it can even charge your phone through its USB-C output. If you're looking for a portable party, this Bluetooth speaker is absolutely worth checking out, especially at this price. Fitbit Charge 6 for $120 ($40 off) The Fitbit Charge 6 is our favorite fitness tracker , and this is a very solid deal if you or a loved one have some health-related New Year's resolutions coming up. The tracker can help keep tabs on your steps, your heart rate, your skin temperature, and your sleep to name just a few key categories. Some features are locked behind a $10/month Fitbit Premium subscription, but we still think this offers a great suite of features for a very reasonable price. Find more recommendations in our Fitbit Buying Guide . Logitech G Pro X 2 Gaming Headset for $185 ($65 off) We've seen better discounts for it, but if you're in the market, you can save a decent amount on the best gaming headset . The sound quality and fit are great. 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Home and Beauty Deals Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum for $400 ($250 off) This discount beats what we saw on Black Friday by a staggering $130. The Dyson V12 Detect ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is our favorite cordless Dyson vacuum for small spaces. It's got a small canister, which makes it best suited to tasks like cleaning the kitchen or the living room rather than the entire house (unless you're in a studio or one-bedroom, in which case it might be able to handle the whole shebang). It's compact and easy to store, and it has a few different attachments as well as a neat bright-green laser to help you spot any missed dust bunnies. Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum for $600 ($150 off) If you want a higher-performance vacuum than the V12, you could check out the Dyson 15 Detect, which is the best Dyson vacuum overall. It's lightweight and easy to maneuver, and it also has the eye-catching neon green laser that shines a spotlight on missed dirt and dust. 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It's easy to use and gets your hair styled quickly, leaving behind volume and movement that'll make your blowouts look fresh out of the salon. The brush is also detachable if you don't need all that airflow but you still want to tame your tresses.

Baylor wins 6th straight as Sawyer Robertson throws 4 TDs in 45-17 win to end Kansas seasonCanucks lines vs Sharks, December 23, 2024

National Elections 2024 – a harbinger of a new era

Maoists allegedly hacked to death two men in Mulug district of Telangana over suspicions that they working as police informers, police said on Friday. According to officials, the incident took place at the Penugolu village in the district near the state’s border with Chhattisgarh. The deceased were identified as Uika Ramesh (36), panchayat secretary of Penugolu village, and Uika Arjun (35)/ A police officer from Mulug, who refused to be quoted, said around six members of the Communist Party of India (Maoists) entered Penugolu village on the intervening night of November 21-22. They divided into two groups – one went to the residence of Ramesh and another to Arjun’s house. “The Maoists dragged the two men out of their houses and beat them up severely. Despite repeated pleas by their family members to spare them, the Maoists hacked the two men with axes and killed them,” the official said. Before leaving the village, the Maoists left separate letters, purportedly written by CPI (Maoist) Venkatapuram-Wazeedu area committee secretary Shanta, on the bodies of the victims. The letters alleged that the two men were collecting information about the movement of Maoists and passing it on to the special intelligence bureau of the state police, involved in counter insurgency operations. “We had warned Ramesh and Arjun several times to mend their ways, but they continued to act as police informers. Hence, we are eliminating them,” Shantha said in the letters. The Wazeedu police, which came to know about the incident early in the morning, reached the village but the Maoists had left the area by then. “The bodies of the victims were shifted to the Eturunagaram Community Health Center (CHC) for post mortem,” the official said. Following the incident, Mulug district police intensified combing operations in the interior forest areas abutting Chhattisgarh. “Special police teams have already been involved in the combing in the forest areas on the inter-state borders. We have also sounded an alert, cautioning political leaders and businesspeople not to enter the area in the present circumstances,” they added. There has virtually been no major activity of Maoists in Telangana for the last 15 years, except occasional incidents of violence in Mulug, Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts, bordering Chhattisgarh, where Maoists from the neighbouring state enter these villagers and indulge in sporadic attacks. On September 5, six Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Neeladrigutta forest area of Karakagudem block in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, just adjacent to Raghunadhapalem village of Mulug district. The earlier major encounter after the formation of Telangana was in the forests of Jayashankar Bhupalpalli district in March 2018, when 10 Maoists were killed.Alberta minister wants to see $100B in data centre infrastructure in next five years

French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday evening, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, to drag the second-largest EU economy out of political crisis. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, 63, education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou, announced Elysee secretary-general Alexis Kohler. Another former premier, Manuel Valls, 62, returned as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin became justice minister. Both Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot kept their jobs, the presidency said. Lecornu, a 38-year-old loyalist with a keen political nose, has served in every government since Macron's first election as president in 2017. Conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, and right-wing Culture Minister Rachida Dati, also stayed in their posts. The difficult job of delivering a budget plan for next year falls to Eric Lombard, head of public-sector lender Caisse des Depots (CDC), who was named economy minister. "I'm very proud of the team we're presenting this evening," Bayrou said on X, adding his "experienced" cabinet would aim to "rebuild trust". The inclusion of two former prime ministers indicates Macron's desire for a heavyweight government that will enjoy stability and not share the fate of Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, ousted in a no-confidence vote. Bayrou had hoped to bring in figures from the left, right and centre to protect his government from possible censure, but his 35-member team does not include any members of the left-wing coalition New Popular Front. Macron will assemble Bayrou's team on January 3 for a first Council of Ministers meeting, the presidency said. Barnier was brought down over his failure to win support for an austerity budget to shore up France's shaky finances with spending cuts and tax rises. The priority for 73-year-old Bayrou is to make sure his government can survive a no-confidence vote and that it passes a cost-cutting budget for 2025. The unexpected comeback of Valls, premier from 2014 to 2016, as the head of the overseas territories ministry indicates the importance of the post after authorities were strongly criticised for their response to the deadly cyclone on the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which killed at least 35 people. Darmanin had long been known to covet the post of foreign minister, but after days of intense discussions will have to content himself with the justice ministry. Just before the official announcement, heavyweight right-wing politician Xavier Bertrand, who had been tipped for the health ministry, announced he would not be part of the government. He alleged that it had been formed with the implicit "backing" of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who will play a key role in ensuring its survival. "The prime minister informed me this morning, contrary to what he had proposed yesterday, that he was no longer in a position to entrust me with responsibility for the justice ministry due to opposition from (Le Pen's) National Rally," Bertrand said in a statement. "Despite his new proposals, I refuse to take part in a government of France formed with the backing of Marine Le Pen." Bertrand is a major irritant for the far right, which he has long opposed. Le Pen on March 31, 2025 faces the verdict in an embezzlement trial on charges she denies. If convicted, she could lose the chance of standing in the 2027 elections and with it her best chance yet of winning the presidency. The announcement came as France observed a day of mourning for victims in cyclone-hit Mayotte, France's poorest overseas territory. Bayrou, the head of the centrist MoDem group, which is allied to Macron's party, was appointed on December 13. He is the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate. Many already predict Bayrou will struggle to survive. France has been mired in deadlock since Macron gambled on snap elections this summer in the hopes of bolstering his authority. The move backfired, with voters electing a parliament fractured between three rival blocs. Le Pen suggested Macron has been weakened by months of political crisis and would eventually have to resign. "I am preparing for an early presidential election," she told French newspaper Le Parisien last week. bur-as/jhb

Founder of Go Daddy shares life, legacy in new bookSOUTH BEND, Ind. — Eight thoughts on Notre Dame ’s 25-man recruiting Class of 2025, which got a major boost as the early signing period began on Wednesday. 1. And just like that, the perception of Notre Dame’s recruiting class changed. Notre Dame signed four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo on Wednesday, beating out perceived favorite USC and former finalist Texas. Marcus Freeman broke his own news, casually mentioning the addition to open his news conference. Advertisement This was the kind of recruitment Notre Dame needed to win, for a linebacking corps that’s developed into one of the nation’s best and to fortify the notion that recruiting has taken steps forward. Faraimo is a top-100 prospect from Oceanside, Calif., roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. There was no organic connection to Notre Dame, only the one the program could create. Signing Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa last year helped. Mixing with alumni — football and regular — helped. A staff that includes Freeman, Al Golden and Max Bullough helped. But Faraimo had to say yes, which he wasn’t ready to do Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Freeman told Faraimo to “choose hard,” which can be a losing pitch with the wrong prospect. When Faraimo made his decision, he told Freeman that he “chose God,” which underscores the fit and the necessity of landing him. The best in California choose Notre Dame @MaddenFaraimo has officially signed #2TheeIri5h #GoIrish ☘️ | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/D8RN2L7qIV — Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 4, 2024 To put it another way, USC and Texas didn’t need to sign Faraimo. They had other options near the top of the recruiting food chain. Notre Dame did not have other options, unless you’re counting Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, who faded from consideration late and committed to Michigan. The necessity of signing Faraimo doesn’t make it any easier to close the deal, though. It just makes getting his signature that much more rewarding for Notre Dame. “Yes, there’s some truth to the recruiting rankings, but I think more important is that we still have to trust our evaluation and our eyes in terms of bringing in the right guys to this program,” Freeman said. “Obviously you’ve heard me say this before. We can’t recruit everybody. We’ve got to recruit the guys that fit this place, but we want to get the best players in the country that do.” Advertisement 2. In the 247Sports Composite , Faraimo ranks as the No. 2 player in Notre Dame’s class, behind offensive tackle Will Black. That makes him the top-ranked defensive prospect in a haul that was outstanding in the back seven. The Irish couldn’t have done better at defensive back than the six signed, which included Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery IV. Linebacker production on the field turned into linebacker production in recruiting, and that happened at defensive back, too. There aren’t better recruiting billboards than the seasons of Xavier Watts , Christian Gray and Leonard Moore , with the freshman cornerback’s the most compelling pitch. Not every freshman will play right away. That’s fine. But showing prospects that the staff isn’t afraid to go young at least gives the recruiting office an angle to play. 3. Offensive line recruiting has been strong enough at Notre Dame during the past decade that it hardly moves the needle when the Irish land three four-star prospects and a single three-star prospect who’s 6-foot-6, 287 pounds. And Matt Augustine is the smallest of the three offensive tackle prospects signed by Notre Dame, joining Black (6-7, 292) and Owen Strebig (6-7, 292). The Irish also landed center Cam Herron from Indianapolis. The best part about the class for Notre Dame is the Irish probably don’t need it to contribute for years. That’s how healthy offensive line rooms are built: two years in the weight room and the practice field before breaking into the lineup. Notre Dame couldn’t afford to play that waiting game with Anthonie Knapp and the offense suffered for it. With back-to-back-to-back strong classes up front, the Irish shouldn’t have to go down that road again. 4. Freeman repeated what he said a year ago when asked about the plans to take a transfer quarterback this winter. After going in for Riley Leonard , Notre Dame didn’t want to spend in that market again. Freeman confirmed the Irish won’t. It’s a smart business move considering the costs associated with defensive tackles and the needs at wide receiver. It’s also good news for Notre Dame because it means CJ Carr remains on track to compete for the job this spring. Advertisement 5. Freeman keeps talking about wanting to “major in high school recruiting” and only doing a “minor” in the transfer portal. I get it. Notre Dame doesn’t work if it builds its roster like Colorado . Different approaches for different programs and different universities. But why can’t the Irish double major? Notre Dame has a higher hit rate in transfer recruiting than high school recruiting the past two cycles, which makes sense with how much available film is out there. Yes, it’s more complicated and more expensive to go heavy in the portal. It’s probably not sustainable. But the Irish didn’t leave themselves much choice at wide receiver or defensive line with this recruiting class. And the maturity of a graduate transfer maybe plays better at Notre Dame than a high school prospect, anyhow. 6. When Freeman was asked about wide receiver recruiting Wednesday, he seemed taken aback by the insinuation Notre Dame didn’t nail the position and didn’t have a good product to sell. It’s worth remembering the Irish have had one 100-yard performance by a wide receiver in the past three seasons combined. The leading receiver on this year’s team is Beaux Collins (34 catches, 427 yards, two touchdowns). Irish wideouts have nine receiving touchdowns total this year. Kris Mitchell had six by himself at FIU last season. “We’re looking for speed but also really good football players. That’s what we feel like we got with this class in wideouts,” Freeman said. “We’re extremely happy about it, and we’ll continue to recruit wideouts at a high level.” Maybe Elijah Burress, Scrap Richardson and Jerome Bettis Jr. — all outside the top 250 nationally, with Bettis the lowest-rated position player in the class at No. 853 overall and No. 125 at receiver — will exceed expectations. But while Notre Dame has earned the benefit of the doubt at defensive back in terms of development, the opposite is true at receiver. How Notre Dame treats the portal at wideout will say plenty about how the staff views the haul. Advertisement 7. The biggest sleeper in this class might be running back Nolan James Jr. The running back from DePaul Catholic in New Jersey was a longtime commitment to Boston College before the Irish decided to upgrade their running back class as Justin Thurman (Kansas) and Daniel Anderson ( Northwestern ) moved on. James is stronger than both and the kind of all-purpose back who plays bigger than 5-9, 200 pounds. He’s not Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price , but he’ll fit better into the Notre Dame running back room than either previous commit. 8. Notre Dame’s class ranks 12th in the 247Sports Composite as of Wednesday evening, with three top-100 signees and 14 four-stars. Overall, Notre Dame’s class has enough talent to settle the debate (assuming there still is one) that the program is recruiting better under Freeman than it did under Brian Kelly. This is another by-product of landing Faraimo at the end. Now that we have Notre Dame's final recruiting class numbers after Madden Faraimo's signing, here are ND's last 16 classes It's certainly a step back from the 2022-24 classes but the average player rating is still higher than all but two Kelly classes pic.twitter.com/WC6ZYMaFoY — Notre Dame Football Stats & Analytics (@ND_FB_Analytics) December 4, 2024 Are the Irish closing the gap on Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama? It’s hard to make that case with conviction. But Notre Dame is still improving in the recruiting department from where it was much of the past decade. (Photo: Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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