The expanded College Football Playoff has sparked speculation over which 12 teams will make the field. Many of the Associated Press’ preseason top-25 teams should be in the hunt, but five unranked teams could also find themselves in the CFP.Boise State | 8-6 last season | ScheduleThe highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion is guaranteed a spot in the 12-team field, but surprisingly, no non-power conference team was in the preseason top 25. Boise State appears likeliest to come out of the Mountain West and claim that final automatic berth. The 2023 champion Broncos were a near-consensus pick by media voters…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
Protesters clash with police after the outgoing president’s allies try to revise election rules, which could have installed a political dynasty.Indonesian legislators have cancelled plans to ratify revisions to election laws, the deputy speaker of parliament says after thousands of people protested in front of the parliament building. Parliament was preparing on Thursday to reverse a Constitutional Court order over candidate age requirements for upcoming regional polls, superseding a ruling that had made President Joko Widodo’s youngest son, 29-year-old Kaesang Pangarep, ineligible. If implemented, the changes could have further enhanced the political influence of the outgoing president. Critics said the…
The Italian coast guard said Thursday the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable. One woman remains missing. She has not been identified, but Hannah Lynch, Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, is reportedly unaccounted for. The family had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with the people who defended him at trial in the United States. Five others were recovered by rescue crews following Monday’s tragedy. The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, went down in a storm early Monday…
SANDTON, South Africa, 22 August 2024 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- GrowthHouse, a leading independent financial planning services provider, has launched GrowthX. GrowthX, a publicly accessible rapid practice valuation tool for financial advisers stands out as an industry-first. Unlike existing valuation tools, GrowthX is available to all financial advisers free of charge, making it a unique offering in the market. This unprecedented accessibility allows financial advisers to evaluate and improve their practices without incurring additional costs, levelling the playing field in the financial advisory industry. Gari Dhombo, CEO of GrowthHouse Empowering financial advisers Gari Dhombo, CEO of GrowthHouse, explains the vision behind the tool: “GrowthX…
The music sensation established that he has a great relationship with the music imprint.Nigerian rising music act, Ayomide Mafoluku Ayodele, popularly known as Ayo Maff, has opened up about talks of him being signed to the heavyweight record label YBNL.The buzzing singer, who started to gain traction in early 2024 with his street-hop introspective song ‘7 Days,’ has gone on to become one of the most exciting newbies in the Nigerian music scene, churning out a crowd favourite like ‘Dealer,’ which features YBNL award-winning star Fireboy DML.With YBNL boss and ace rapper Olamide lauding Ayo Maff’s talent in a recent…
International Dog Day is being held again in 2024 for its 20th anniversary — with pooches of all shapes and sizes being celebrated. Social media is set to be abuzz with owners showing off their dogs, but the occasion also highlights less fortunate canines to find them a home.Organisers of the day have compiled a list of 20 ways to celebrate, including adopting a dog and donating blankets to your local rescue centre. Dog days are far from over, then, so here is all you need to know about the event this year.Treat your dog to a walk, a stick — or…
Set to turn 73 in September, Carroll does not have a role of any kind in place with the Seahawks. Seattle’s power structure now has general manager John Schneider making final decisions on roster-building moves and rookie head coach Mike Macdonald positioned to take over on the sidelines. Carroll has not been in touch with Macdonald or other Seattle staffers, nor is he actively seeking out a new coaching opportunity.“Well, you know, I get asked a lot, so I’m pretty familiar with answering that I could coach tomorrow,” the Super Bowl winner said during an interview on 93.3 KJR. “I’m…
The mpox virus is spreading internationally, and more countries, some very far from the initial location of the outbreak in East Africa, have confirmed cases of a new and potentially deadlier strain in the past week. Where has mpox spread? So far, four countries – Sweden, Thailand, Philippines and Pakistan – have reported mpox cases outside the African continent. Fourteen countries in Africa have reported cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated last week that the virus has become a “public health emergency of international concern”. While the WHO has been at pains to emphasise that mpox is “not the…
Authorities are investigating a multi-vehicle accident on Long Island that left at least one person dead, according to New York State Police. Few details were immediately available regarding the crash near exit 42 in Miller Place early Thursday. State Police said four vehicles were involved. There was no word on possible injuries in addition to the death. Chopper 4 showed extensive wreckage on the roadway, with debris scattering the pavement. The highway was shut down in the area for a time to assist in the investigation and later reopened. Authorities said at a late morning news conference the wrong-way driver…
Two human rights defenders who held a news conference to criticize the Democratic Republic of Congo’s “state of siege” in eastern provinces have been held without charge since August 1, 2024, Human Rights Watch said today. Jack Sinzahera, 35, one of those held, a member of the citizens’ movement Amka Congo (Wake up Congo), is a longtime activist and campaigner who advocates lifting the “state of siege” imposed in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Gloire Saasita, 27, also held, is a member of the Génération Positive citizens’ movement, which fights for the defense of human rights in Congo. Neither has been taken before…