slot 50 minimum deposit A senior Israeli diplomat told Newsweek that the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu represented a victory for Hamas and its allies amid the ongoing war that has shaken the Middle East for over a year. The ICC announced Thursday that it had issued the warrant for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant "for crimes against humanity and war crimes," alleging that "both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity." The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for the head of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades military wing, Mohammed Deif, for his role in the "mass killing of members of the civilian population" during the large-scale attack last October that sparked the current conflict. With Netanyahu now facing potential detainment in up to 124 nations that are parties to the ICC's founding Rome Statute, Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis called the move "the most disgraceful decision" by the court, which he argued has "once again failed actually to make the difference between a lawful and democratic state and the world's most brutal terrorist organizations." The decision comes as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues to engage in battle with the Palestinian Hamas movement in Gaza and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. As talks play out in an effort to establish ceasefires on both fronts and return up to 100 hostages held by Palestinian factions in Gaza, Akunis argued that the ICC has effectively granted a boost to Israel's foes and their wartime objectives. "What is the message to Hamas? What is the message in accordance with the hostages deal?" Akunis asked. "By the way, there is a negotiation in Tel Aviv right now about the Lebanon issue, and I think that the message that the ICC sent this morning actually to Hezbollah and to Hamas and to the others is that it's okay to attack Israel, it's okay maybe to initiate another October 7 massacre." He asserted that discussions were being held in the Israeli Foreign Ministry to determine the legal steps to take regarding the ICC's move. Hamas also reacted to the decision on Thursday, with spokesperson and Political Bureau member Basem Naim saying that the action was "an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general, but it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world to implement it." "This is a first step showing international commitment to justice," Naim said in a statement shared with Newsweek . "A message must be sent to every war criminal that he will not escape punishment regardless how long it will take and no matter how much he tries to mislead people or distort the narrative, truth will prevail." Deif, the longtime Hamas military head named in a separate ICC warrant on Thursday, was announced dead by the IDF in August after a raid conducted the previous month, but the group has yet to confirm his fate. Applications for two other top Hamas officials named in the original ICC investigation opened against both the group and Israel in May, then-Political Bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh and Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, were withdrawn due to their confirmed deaths. Haniyeh was killed in Iran in late July in a still unclaimed operation, while Sinwar was slain during an IDF operation in Gaza last month. The ICC has asserted jurisdiction in both cases due to the West Bank-based Palestinian National Authority's signing of the Rome Statute in 2015. Israel, which is not a party to the ICC, has rejected any role for The Hague-based court in the conflict as it does not recognize Palestinian statehood. The United States, a close ally of Israel and also not an ICC member, condemned the judiciary's decision to open a probe into Israel in May. The U.S. State Department canceled its daily press briefing on Thursday after the news of the ICC's decision. While opposed to ICC intervention in the matter, President Joe Biden 's administration has repeatedly called on Israel to do more to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli officials have repeatedly denied they intentionally blocked access to critical assistance and have accused Hamas of stealing food, medicine and other items amid reports of looting and a breakdown of the security situation in Gaza. President-elect Donald Trump took an even harder line against the ICC during his first term. The Trump administration issued sanctions against ICC officials involved in investigations of U.S. personnel for alleged war crimes conducted in Afghanistan and threatened further measures in response to ICC probes against the U.S. and its allies, especially Israel. "I'm very happy to hear that officials in the next administration in the United States, and the current members of the Congress and the Senate actually declared that they will change the laws against the ICC," Akunis said, "because this is really not an ICC anymore. There's no justice." In an interview with Newsweek in September, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan vowed to pursue the investigations into officials of both Israel and Hamas with impartiality and strict adherence to the legal process despite political pressures. "Whether they're the families in the kibbutzim that are mourning the people killed from the seventh of October, or that are so horrendously being kept today, or they don't know, the fear, the terror of the unknown of where they are, or it's Palestinians in the West Bank or in Gaza," Khan said at the time, "they have the right, not as a charity, not as a favor to them, but they have a right to be seen by the law." "And then the law has an obligation to analyze information in this environment, separate fiction from fact, and then present it to judges," he added. "And we'll keep doing that, irrespective of what happens. It's why we have an International Criminal Court." In his statement following the ICC announcement Thursday, Khan said that "it is critical in this moment that my Office and all parts of the Court, including its independent judges, are permitted to conduct their work with full independence and impartiality" and warned "that all attempts to impede, intimidate or improperly influence the officials of this Court must cease immediately." He also said he would "count on all States Parties to the Rome Statute to take these applications and the subsequent judicial decision with the same seriousness they have shown in other Situations, meeting their obligations under the Statute." While Rome Statute members have an obligation to execute arrest warrants issued by the ICC, the repercussions for not doing so remain ill-defined. In September, Mongolia declined to take action during a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin , who also faces an ICC arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, drawing criticism ICC member states, including countries of the European Union . A number of countries, including Belgium, France, Jordan and the Netherlands, have already stated that they would enact an arrest warrant against Netanyahu if he were to visit their respective nations. Akunis called on them to reconsider and for the entire international community "to draw a clear line and state clearly that they will not accept this political decision." "The decision actually send a message today, to the Western world, to the United States, and to other democratic countries," he said, "that today it's Israel, today it's Prime Minister Netanyahu and former defense minister Gallant, tomorrow maybe it's you."

In conclusion, the recent airstrikes on Syrian military sites by Israel underscore the complex challenges facing the Middle East and the urgent need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to resolving the conflicts in the region. Only through dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law can the cycle of violence be broken and a path towards peace and stability be forged.What Google’s quantum computing breakthrough Willow means for the future of bitcoin and other cryptosIndeed, this incredible stroke of luck serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and extraordinary nature of life. It underscores the idea that sometimes, against all odds, dreams can come true and fortunes can change in an instant.

By BILL BARROW, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. ‘Jimmy Who?’ His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. ‘A wonderful life’ At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” ___ Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.

Trent Williams did well to secure strong terms via a reworking completed just days before the season. The perennial All-Pro tackle will not be back to close out Year 1 of this revised agreement. Kyle Shanahan announced Monday ( via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner ) that his future Hall of Fame blindside blocker will not return from injury this season. Considering the 49ers have been eliminated, this is not especially surprising. Williams, who has been rehabbing an ankle injury, has not played since Week 11. Shanahan had said last week ( via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport ) Williams would need to be close to healthy to come back this year, and he is not yet at that point. Two years remain on Williams’ contract. This marks the second straight year in which Williams has missed multiple games due to injury. The 49ers went 0-2 in those contests last season; they are 1-4 without Williams this year. Though, San Francisco has seen other valuable cogs miss time during this disastrous stretch as well. The team sits 6-9 as another woeful NFC title defense winds down. Williams, 36, has not made reference to a 2025 retirement yet. After securing a wave of guarantees midway through his six-year contract, it would represent a modest surprise if the former top-five pick walked away after this season. Ending a lengthy holdout via the summer adjustment, the 49ers have moved all but $1.26M of Williams’ 2025 base salary into void years and option bonuses. He received a $25.69M signing bonus upon inking his updated deal in September and will not be moved in 2025, as such a move would be punitive for the 49ers, who would take on $55M-plus in dead money by doing so. Although Williams is wrapping his age-36 season, he has remained one of the best linemen in football. San Francisco would benefit by having him back for what would be a 16th NFL season come 2025. Williams came back this season in a partial effort to set the tackle record for Pro Bowl nods. He is sitting on 11 going into this year’s unveiling; Hall of Famers Anthony Munoz, Jonathan Ogden and Willie Roaf join him at that number. Pro Football Focus slotted Williams seventh overall among tackles this season, a slight drop-off from his usual place, but ESPN’s pass block win rate metric ranks him first. It would not surprise to see Williams, despite missing five games, to be selected to his 12th Pro Bowl soon. The lucrative contract the 49ers gave to Williams has influenced their decision-making up front. The team has a midlevel deal at center ( Jake Brendel ) and a lower-end contract at right tackle ( Colton McKivitz ) and rookie pacts at guard ( Aaron Banks , Dominick Puni ). San Francisco is unlikely to re-sign Banks , and Williams’ contract should be expected to shape the team’s contractual blueprint — especially with Brock Purdy still on track to be paid in 2025 — with regards to its O-line. Williams announcing he is coming back would all but confirm this approach. This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.The upcoming naturalization of three undisclosed players, including one linked to Manchester United, adds an intriguing dimension to Indonesia's football landscape. With the potential influx of new talent on the horizon, the national team faces both challenges and opportunities in harnessing the collective strength and diversity of its roster.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Luke Kromenhoek threw for 209 yards and tossed three touchdown passes as Florida State halted a six-game losing streak and routed Charleston Southern 41-7 on Saturday. Kromenhoek completed 13 of 20 passes in his first college start, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas, as the Seminoles (2-9) won for the first time since Sept. 21. The true freshman also connected with Amaree Williams for a 4-yard TD and Hykeem Williams for a 10-yard TD. “It was unbelievable, it was a dream come true,” Kromenhoek said. “The more snaps I get, the more reps that I get, it slows down little by little. I just try to take advantage of every one that I get.” The Seminoles (2-9) have started three quarterbacks and nine offensive line combinations this fall, and they came into Saturday with the nation’s worst scoring offense (13.3 points). Florida State hadn’t scored more than 21 points or surpassed the 300-yard mark in 2024. But Florida State overwhelmed FCS Charleston Southern (1-11), accumulating 415 offensive yards. Coach Mike Norvell made major changes following a 52-3 loss at Notre Dame on Nov. 9. He fired offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans. On Saturday, Norvell again called plays (as he has done throughout his five years at Florida State). Randy Shannon, the linebackers coach, was elevated to interim defensive coordinator. “It’s been a tough last couple weeks, tough season in general,” Norvell said. “But I was really proud of them for how they approached this week and the work that they poured in. From senior to freshman, there was a lot of investment to go push to be better.” After a scoreless first quarter, Florida State poured it on — scoring on six straight drives. This is the first time the Seminoles have scored 10 or more points in a quarter, tallying 17 in the second and 14 in the third. Kaleb Jackson completed 22 of 32 passes for 218 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Landon Sauers, and an interception for the Buccaneers. Next up: Randy Shannon Shannon stepped in to coordinate, guiding a first- and second-team defense that didn’t allow a point. Florida State led 31-0 after three quarters, allowing Charleston Southern to pick up just 124 offensive yards and holding the Buccaneers to 23 rushing yards. Once Miami’s head coach, Shannon has now been a defensive coordinator at all four of the state’s Power 4 schools. Shannon was the defensive coordinator at Miami (2001-06), Florida (2017), UCF (2018-20) and will now also be Florida State's interim coordinator next week against Florida. The takeaway Charleston Southern: While the Buccaneers found some success through the air, they couldn’t sustain drives and managed just 57 rushing yards on 29 carries. Florida State: The Seminoles picked up a season-best 176 rushing yards, scoring 17 points in the second quarter and 14 points in the third quarter to take control. Up next Charleston Southern’s season is over. Florida State plays host to Florida on Nov. 30. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

Investors have been enamored with artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. Quantum computing stocks may be next. Companies such as Quantum Computing Inc. ( QUBT 16.38% ) , IonQ ( IONQ 17.64% ) , and Rigetti Computing ( RGTI 25.43% ) are up big in the last few months. Investors are betting on these quantum computing companies as the technology hits the mainstream again, with recent breakthroughs from Alphabet 's research division. If commercialized, quantum computing could disrupt just about every industry in the world, but especially cloud computing, making it a technology potentially on par with the recent developments in AI. Should you buy quantum computing stocks like Rigetti and IonQ in 2025? Let's dig in further and find out. Betting on technological breakthroughs Quantum computing has the chance to disrupt many parts of the economy. But why? Simply put, quantum computers can offer a steep change in the complexity of problems that can be solved with computers. By using the uncertainty of quantum mechanics, the computers operate differently than traditional transistor-based systems, allowing a user to figure out problems instantly that would take a traditional supercomputer years. The technology promises to help a wide range of industries, from self-driving cars and agriculture to physics simulation and drug discovery. The problem is getting these computers to work reliably. With hypersensitive quantum bits -- otherwise called Qubits -- that can get disrupted by the outside environment and introduce errors in the computing process, quantum computers have remained small for the time being and in the early stage research process. Recently, researchers have made progress in this area. For example, Alphabet's quantum computing division came out with a new quantum computer chip called Willow that reduces the errors in the quantum system as it scales up. Other companies are working hard to solve these issues, including Rigetti Computing, IonQ, and Quantum Computing Inc. All three of these stocks are up hundreds of percents or more in the last few months. Quantum Computing Inc. is up over 4,000% in the last six months, bringing in some incredible returns for shareholders this year. Big losses, high valuations Investors are falling over themselves with these quantum computing growth stocks. However, if we look under the hood, the financials are not pretty. IonQ generated $37.5 million in revenue over the last 12 months, with a $171 million net loss. Rigetti generates just $12 million in revenue and loses $60 million a year. Quantum Computing Inc. is even worse, generating less than $1 million in annual revenue and losing $23 million a year. All three of these stocks now have market caps in the billions and a price-to-sales ratio ( P/S) above 100. Bulls and management may argue that the stocks reflect the future potential of these companies. If quantum computing is solved, revenue and earnings for some of these businesses will soar. That's a big caveat, though -- "if" quantum computing can be brought to the masses. Who is to say it will ever happen, or if it will occur within the next few years? QUBT PS Ratio data by YCharts. Should you buy quantum computing stocks? I have no qualms with investors betting on an emerging sector. There was a lot of money to be made from the AI boom of the last few years, and it likely will be in the future. There is a difference between AI and quantum computing: Companies have already figured out how to bring AI tools to the individual and to businesses through software. It is still unclear whether progress in quantum computing will get far enough to make the technology mainstream. If it does, who is to say what companies will be the ones to do it? They could be the three hot stocks listed above, but it could also be Alphabet with its vast resources and unlimited budget, or a new company. Expectations for these stocks have soared, making it even more difficult to rationalize where they trade. These are companies with barely any revenue that have market caps in the billions. The numbers don't make sense. An unproven technology in the early stages, uncertainty around who the winning company will be, and nosebleed valuations: These are not the characteristics that indicate strong future returns for shareholders. Avoid buying quantum computing stocks for your portfolio in 2025.In the annals of teaching history, the teacher's hand-drawn engine cutaway diagram and the accompanying teaching paintings will forever stand as a testament to the transformative power of education and the enduring legacy of a true master of his craft.

Tens of millions of broken or unused electrical appliances are cluttering up Irish homes when they could be easily recycled, with valuable raw materials extracted, junior minister with responsibility for the circular economy Ossian Smyth says. The vast majority of Irish households have at least 15 broken or unused electrical items lying around, Bord Gáis Energy and Electric Ireland announce cuts in the cost of domestic electricity and gas which will save customers about €300 a year. An Post raises the price of a standard postage stamp, the fourth such price hike the State-owned postal carrier has rolled out in less than three years. The rate of inflation in Irish supermarkets continues to slow with data from retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel suggesting prices are increasing by 7.1 per cent. It represents a dramatic decline from a rate of 15.5 per cent that was recorded at the height of the cost-of-living-crisis in the summer of 2023 and marks the eighth month in a row that inflation has fallen. Irish mobile phone and broadband customers face an ongoing risk of significant price hikes every year without being given a chance to shop around for better value, ComReg warns. Many of the State’s leading telecom operators, including Vodafone , Eir and Three Mobile, link the price of their mobile and broadband packages to inflation, with increases of 3 per cent plus the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation rolled out each year. The finances of just under 40 per cent of Irish people have worsened over the last 12 months with large numbers feeling increasingly gloomy about their prospects despite some positive top-line economic news, according to the annual Pulse of the Nation research from Amárach . It identifies what it calls a “vibecession”, which notes that people’s feelings about the economy dip even when economic circumstances appear to be improving. Flogas Energy rolls out price cuts of up to 25 per cent. A new deposit and return scheme is rolled out which sees an automatic 15 cent deposit added to bottles and cans of between 150ml and 500ml, and a 25 cent deposit added to bottles and cans of between 500ml and three litres. It emerges that a record number of complaints were lodged with the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman in 2023 with concerns over customer service dominating and a significant number of consumers making contact over fraudulent activity on their accounts, according to a report. Diageo announces a price hike of 6 cent and says it is necessary to “maintain a sustainable business”. Publicans condemn it as a “hammer blow” to the sector. The increase hits Diageo products including Guinness, Carlsberg and Smithwick’s. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) launches High Court proceedings against PhoneWatch and HomeSecure, both of which are owned by Norwegian firm Sector Alarm Group , in connection with an investigation into anticompetitive practices in the sector. Clerys on O’Connell Street re-reopens, sort of. The new-look Clerys Quarter is occupied by H&M – which has spread itself over 30,000sq ft and two floors of the former department store. It will be joined later in the year by Decathalon. Consumers are at risk of being ripped off by rogue locksmiths operating without licences, the State’s private security watchdog warns. Lidl asks the company behind both Facebook and Instagram to remove pages on the social media platforms that are designed to steal money and personal details from unsuspecting shoppers by using its logos and livery and promising discounted “middle-aisle” deals. Irish people are run ragged, stressed by the social media screeching from the far right and struggling with an enduring cost-of-living crisis , according to the latest Sign of the Times survey published by Ipsos B&A. The deposit return scheme introduced in February is still in a transition phase with consumer frustrations including missing logos and broken reverse vending machines set to be resolved within weeks, the chief executive of Re-Turn promises. A judge labels Eir a “disgrace” after a court hears evidence that the telecom provider warned staff they could be disciplined for adhering to statutory regulations governing customer complaints. In a Dublin District Court case taken by ComReg, Eir and its parent company, Eircom, pleads guilty to multiple breaches of the law over its failure to acknowledge customer complaints and provide responses within 10 working days, among other issues. It emerges that the cost for a family of four climbed by about €500 in 2023 when compared with 2022. A Health Insurance Authority report also notes that older people are typically paying almost 50 per cent more for cover than younger cohorts. Irish holidaymakers at home and abroad are warned to be on alert for “complex and deceptive” scams in fraudulent activity recorded in 2023. According to data from a banking umbrella group, fraudsters stole almost €100 million from Irish consumers last year – an increase of 16 per cent on 2022. SSE Airtricity reduces the cost of its domestic electricity and gas by 10 per cent from the start of July. Grocery prices are rising at their slowest rate since the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine , according to data from retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel. Inflation across Irish supermarkets is put at 2.6 per cent. Up to one-third of Irish home cooks do not wash their hands after handling raw chicken before touching their mobile phones or tablets, according to research from a food safety watchdog. The promoter of Bruce Springsteen’s concert in Dublin apologises to thousands of fans who were left raging in the dark after they found themselves still queuing outside Croke Park as the Boss and his band took to the stage. Bank of Ireland warns consumers about a new wave of purchase scams luring unsuspecting shoppers through online ads to make payments for goods and services that subsequently turn out to be fake. According to a payment fraud report from the BPFI, €98.6 million was lost by Irish people to fraudsters in 2023. Card fraud accounted for 95 per cent of fraudulent transactions, which amounted to a total of €35.2 million, or 36 per cent of the losses. Temu , one of the fastest growing online shopping portals in internet history, is accused of using manipulative sales techniques illegal under EU law and failing to protect European consumers. The online marketplace is “rife with manipulative techniques – dark patterns – to get consumers to spend more than they might originally want to, or to complicate the process of closing down their account”, the Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs says. In response, Temu says it is “a newcomer to Europe” and has been “actively adjusting our service to align with local practices and preferences, and we are committed to full compliance with the laws and regulations of the markets where we operate”. Taylor Swift comes to town and plays three nights in the Aviva Stadium as part of her Eras Tour. All talk of high priced hotel rooms and wildly expensive tickets and merchandise is shaken off as she wows more than 120,000 Swifties with a set lasting almost 31⁄2 hours. The costs are put into perspective when it emerges that many Americans were able to fly to Ireland, stay in hotels in Dublin, see her perform and then fly home for less than the tickets alone would have cost them in the US. Industrial action at Aer Lingus between management and pilots throws the travel plans of thousands into disarray. At the heart of the dispute is the pilots’ demand for a 24 per cent pay hike while management made an initial offer of just under 10 per cent. Tesco is found guilty of breaking the law in connection with how it displayed the price of products it was selling on promotion. The retailer is ordered to pay €1,000 to a charity as well as covering the legal costs of the consumer watchdog that took the case. Tracker mortgages almost immediately benefit from the 0.25 per cent cut in interest rates announced by the European Central Bank (ECB). Retailers and distributors still selling amber teething jewellery that can choke or strangle infants have been told to withdraw the products immediately by the CCPC. Almost three-quarters of secondary school parents and just more than half of parents with children in primary school are worried about covering back-to-school costs this year, according to a survey from children’s charity Barnardos. People with Aer Lingus flight bookings breath a sigh of relief as the industrial action by its pilots is called off after a pay deal is reached which sees the pilots get a 17.75 per cent pay increase. Fans of Nicki Minaj express disappointment tinged with outrage after the rapper appears on stage in Dublin about 90 minutes later than planned, and plays a set that lasted less than an hour. Irish people are increasingly aware of the damage their consumption patterns have on the planet, but a majority are unwilling to pay a premium for more sustainable products, according to research by Amárach on behalf of Penneys . Tickets for Oasis go on sale at 8am on the last Saturday of the month with prices that leave many users looking back in anger. A so-called dynamic, or in-demand, pricing model sees some standing tickets more than double in price over the course of the first three hours of the sale. Customers who bought tickets on the Fota Island Wildlife Park’s website between the middle of May and the end of August have been told to cancel debit or credit cards following a cyberattack. Customers are also urged to review transactions on their accounts since May 12th, to identify any suspicious activity. Complaints to the CCPC jumped sharply in the first half of the year, with telecoms operator Eir and Ryanair the two companies most likely to be referenced by callers to its helpline. Many Irish people who have been mistreated, ripped off or otherwise let down by businesses are being denied access to any form of meaningful legal redress as the Small Claims Court hears only cases involving sums of €2,000 or less. The CCPC describes this ceiling as “out of step with the most basic and unavoidable expenses” with which many consumers have to contend. Retailer Brown Thomas defends its decision to impose a 60 cent charge for paper bags, a move it says has been taken out of concern for the environment with the profits to be used to plant trees across Ireland. Wagamama in Dublin closes after receivers appointed to the Press Up group fail to reach agreement with the UK-based chain on restructuring the franchise arrangement. The health insurance market here has grown too complicated and is overwhelming consumers, working against their best interests and seeing many paying over the odds for cover, according to the HIA. Tupperware is facing an existential crisis. It files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US as the cost of materials, labour, transportation and more climbed, and its losses soared. The ECB cuts its rates by another quarter of a point. The Government plans to impose “serious restrictions” on vaping including the banning of disposable vapes, restricting the sale of flavours and prohibiting point-of-sale advertising displays. The CCPC opens an official investigation into Ticketmaster over its handling of the sale of Oasis tickets. It acts after receiving more than 100 complaints from disappointed fans of the band. In advance of the investigation being announced, Oasis say they at “no time had any awareness” that dynamic pricing was being used to sell tickets. It emerges that the cost per square metre of building the Leinster House bike shed came in at about twice what it would typically cost to build a five-star hotel in Ireland and more than four-times the price a high-end house. At a cost of €336,000, the bike shed ended up being about 200 times more expensive than a flat-pack bike shelter of roughly the same size. Thousands of people line O’Connell Street on Halloween expecting a parade that never was. They showed up because of a post which first appeared on a website called myspirithalloween.com . The man behind the site apologises and says it was not a hoax but a mistake. Energy bills of Irish consumers are typically more than €500 higher than much of the EU, with the cost of domestic electricity alone about €350 more, according to data from Eurostat . Ireland’s consumer watchdog lacks the teeth to properly take on businesses that break the law and let people down, its chairman admits. Speaking at an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the CCPC, Brian McHugh calls on the Government to give it more powers to impose meaningful financial penalties on companies found to have broken the law. Ryanair defends its decision not to offer passengers stuck on its planes for up to 15 hours due to Storm Ashley free bottles of water or any other refreshments because there were “not entitled” to it. Customer service in Ireland is getting worse according to an annual assessment. The customer experience report by Amárach Research suggests that after two years of things looking up, our overall customer experience score fell by just under 2 per cent compared to 2023. The ECB reduces its interest rate by another quarter of a point. The cuts, and a once-off technical reduction of 0.35 per cent rolled out in September, will see the monthly repayments on a tracker mortgage of €180,000 fall by about €104. Alias Tom shuts up shop ending a stretch of more than 50 years on the Dublin retail landscape. The annual rate at which grocery prices have been increasing in the Republic continues to stabilise at less than 3 per cent over the 12 weeks to the end of in September, data from retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel suggests. A scam which uses bogus QR codes on parking meters to fool people into downloading malicious software or submitting sensitive financial details to websites controlled by criminals is identified in areas of the east coast. Almost half the honey on Irish supermarket shelves is likely to be adulterated with sugar syrups and additives, or sourced from countries not properly identified on labels, according to research from the Institute of International and European Affairs . Budget 2024 is unveiled. Billed as the biggest bonanza budget in the history of the State, many people will be substantially better off over the next 12 months as a result of the tax changes and the cost-of-living measures announced by Minister for Finance Jack Chambers. The CCPC secures a commitment from the liquidators of Homebase to fulfil contracts for kitchen and bathroom installations or offer full refunds. The liquidators also agree to honour vouchers for the eight Homebase stores in the Republic while they continue to trade. Retailers selling electronics, cosmetics, furniture and clothes are accused by the CCPC of deliberately misleading shoppers looking for bargains in the sales. It says legal proceedings against a number of retailers nationwide for breaking sales pricing laws will lead to court appearances in January. The general election takes place with the cost-of-living crisis front and centre in people’s minds. It is hardly surprising given that many people are so much worse off as a result of the crisis which is continuing despite a sharp decline in the rate at which prices have been climbing. Irish Life Health announces its third price increase in less than 12 months with customers facing an average hike of just under 4 per cent from the start of next year. The cost of private health insurance has climbed by an average of 11 per cent so far this year, according to a report from the HIA. It says average policy premiums are now €1,712. Ryanair cancels flights to and from airports across Europe and alerts passengers to the changes via email before sending them follow-up emails announcing their flights were not actually cancelled at all. More than 180,000 homeowners have failed to claim up to €1,250 in tax relief that was designed to soften the blow of rising mortgage interest rates. As a group, they could be missing out on as much as €120 million. Fewer than one-in-five domestic energy customers changed provider in 2023 despite potential savings amounting to hundreds of euro for those who moved companies. Dozens of customers of a Dublin-based windows and doors company that went into liquidation express anger and concern that money they paid will never be recovered. One couple say they could lose close to €50,000 after provisional liquidators from Grant Thornton were appointed by the High Court to DK Windows & Doors. Research from the CCPC suggests Christmas spending is rebounding sharply when compared with 2023. It suggests the cost of an Irish Christmas will climb by an average of 14 per cent or €1,177 compared with €1,030 in 2023 and €1,186 a year earlier. Storm Darragh clashed with the Toy Show but its impact would turn out to be far greater. The high winds damaged Holyhead Port which was closed in the run-up to Christmas and left many parcels and people who expected to be driving home for Christmas potentially stuck on the wrong side of the Irish Sea. While delivery companies and ferry operators raced to come up with alternatives it added a bit of pre-Christmas drama to our world that we could really have done without.Albany takes down Kansas City 67-65By Kaushalya Perera Sri Lankans love their educational qualifications. Qualifications permit envious comparisons of value, similar to the ownership of gold jewellery, an expensive watch or a branded pair of shoes, resulting in exactly the same questions of provenance, worth and authenticity, but from a much higher moral ground. For the past two weeks we, the people, have watched as allegations that the (now) ex-Speaker’s educational qualifications were faked, proliferated across the news and social media. We waited for him to prove otherwise, all the while observing how his party and his current place of work (the Parliament) seemed to have neither the will nor the means to verify these claims. As I write, the ‘qualifications war’ has turned into an Absurd play. Why were the ex-Speaker’s qualifications so important? This is a two-fold problem related to the unhealthy relationship that Sri Lankans have with qualifications, coupled with NPP’s self-branding as a ‘clean’ party. Let’s take the second part first. One of the NPP’s pledges was that they would give ‘sudussata sudusu thaena’, i.e., appropriate positions to suitable individuals. This was a constant thread of their election rhetoric and it was accepted as a counter to the rampant nepotism and cronyism we have been seeing. After the (ex) Speaker stepped down, the Prime Minister said in Parliament that her Party includes members with no certificates, as well as those with many qualifications; that all are equally valued because her party values all types of knowledge; and that knowledge cannot be understood narrowly. I fully agree. It is the kind of vision I expect from a Minister of Education. At the same time, it cannot be denied that the NPP knowingly played the qualifications game during their long drawn-out campaign. The JVP’s image—associated in public discourse with ragging, student protests and workers’ strikes—was subsumed into the NPP’s much-vaunted membership of professionals, academics and artists. And the reason why the ‘qualifications game’ was so effective as election currency is precisely because Sri Lankans value qualifications so highly, in such a problematic way. It provided legitimacy to the NPP’s portrayal of themselves as a party standing against a host of corrupt charlatans. This brings us to the first part of the problem – our love of qualifications. In the education sectors, we’re all familiar with that little line: ‘A certificate will be provided’, which is included to increase participant numbers. Also familiar are instances of people registering for a specific course disappearing from the actual class and turning up at the ‘certificate-awarding ceremony’. Further, degrees are often demanded in some sectors for jobs that do not require one. This love of qualifications is not a new phenomenon. In an interesting article, titled ‘The growth of foreign qualification suppliers in Sri Lanka’, published in 2005, Angela W. Little and Jane Evans describe the growth of the ‘qualification marketplace’ in Sri Lanka. They found that advertisements by ‘qualification-suppliers’ in three national newspapers (Sinhala, Tamil and English) grew steeply over three decades, rising from 15 qualification-suppliers in 1965 to 153 in 2000. One can only imagine what a post-2000 study would reveal! The authors chart the rise of the qualifications industry in parallel with the economic liberalisation and economic growth that occurred post-1980. Though they did not make this link, we can connect this rise to the failure to expand higher and vocational education to a growing population and a fast-changing economy, during two decades of political upheaval. During this period, public funds for education declined, and declined even more sharply post-2000, despite large loans from international financial organisations. This is the context for both the deterioration of public education and the rise of privately-funded education, which is symbolised by the desire for a qualification, rather than an education. Qualification versus education Re-creating a society that values learning and education over a certificate of qualification would involve a protracted and difficult journey. It would require a few decades of high quality, widely-accessible education as well as moral re-socialisation: a simple-sounding solution, yet one that is very difficult to initiate and achieve. Indeed, it would be illogical to expect any kind of moral or ethical socialisation from an underfunded and damaged education system, embedded in a decaying society. The fact remains that the education sector desperately needs actual physical resources. Today, while a small proportion of schools in Sri Lanka contemplate installing computer labs, other schools are deprived of the basics; school meals, electricity, running water, uniforms, chairs, desks and books. We also need more and better paid teachers, plus national regulations and explicit minimum standards for the teaching profession, regardless of whether they are in the state, private or international sectors. A larger issue that is not discussed is that we actually do not know enough about our own education system. Our attention has for too long been focused on the state education system, resulting in a lack of attention towards other sectors, e.g., early education, private and international education. The education ecosystem in the country needs urgent study, and researchers across disciplines can contribute to this need. And while the education sector has accepted multiple donations and loans, it is not at all clear if these funds are used in a manner that best fits the purpose. In summary, it is vitally important that the fundamentals must be fixed. But we need to also re-think the way we over-estimate the value of a qualification, as against a wholesome education. A re-examination of values and ethics The fact that we value qualifications rather than an education has been apparent for a long time now. The prevalence of forged certificates and honorary doctorates is not the only indicator. Long before ChatGPT arrived, newspapers and social media were advertising ghostwriting services, i.e., the writing of assignments and dissertations for a fee. This is a business that is clearly unethical and must surely be illegal, but it is now so common that both the suppliers and their clients appear to consider it perfectly normal. We have come to value quantity over quality: two degrees simultaneously, more qualifications, promotions and rankings based on numerical criteria and so on. Start somewhere It is obvious that ethics socialisation has not happened through education in Sri Lanka. This is a major problem that has no simple or quick solution. When the Parliament that is supposed to be discussing the interim budget of a financially distressed country spends that time trading accusations with each other about each other’s educational qualifications; when an MP is unable to prove – even after a week – the qualifications he claims to possess and then imagines that it is sufficient to resign from his position but not from his seat in Parliament; when a party that has pledged immediate action on corruption-related issues takes several days to effect a resignation from a powerful position; and when the Prime Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson are angered when questioned about matters of veracity and authenticity – we know we still have a long way to go to re-socialise a population into ethical beliefs and conduct. It is not enough to prevent bribes and reduce wasteful spending. We also need to start looking at providing meaningful and broad-based public education, where learning and integrity go hand in hand. (Kaushalya Perera teaches at the Department of English, University of Colombo.) Kuppi is a politics and pedagogy happening on the margins of the lecture hall that parodies, subverts, and simultaneously reaffirms social hierarchies.

There are reasons why some prefer a monocular to a pair of binoculars for bird-watching and wildlife-viewing. Lighter by half, more accessible, quicker to focus and easier to hold steady, the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 is the perfect example of why a monocular can be the best optic for everything from birding and safari to hiking and watching sports. Design: Roof prism Magnification: 8x Objective lenses: 32 mm Eye relief: 15 mm Weight : 8.09 oz (229.4g) Dimensions: 5.03 x 1.77-inches (128 x 45mm) Durability: IPX7 (waterproof and fog-proof) The bottom line is that the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 is pocket-sized and portable. Weighing just 8.09 oz (229.4 g), it easily slips into a pocket or, if you attach a lanyard, hangs around your neck without any discernible weight. That means it’s always with you and light enough to hold completely steady, giving you a more stable, detailed view of subjects. That’s further ensured by its 8x magnification, which is the limit for hand-holding a monocular without any risk of wobbly views. Taken on a hiking trip to a national park where birds of prey swooped above, the water- and fog-proof Nocs Field Tube 8x32 impressed during the day with bright, detailed images. It also successfully fought rain and dew. Nocs Provisions Field Tube 8x32 monocular review Nocs Provisions Field Tube 8x32: Design Twist-up eyecups BaK-4 prisms Tripod thread The first thing you’ll notice about this monocular are its eye-catching colors, but don’t let the choice between Corsican Blue, Coral Red and Banana Slug Yellow put you off. A serious monocular, its optical system uses BaK-4 prisms, with a surprising seven lens elements arranged into five groups. Its optics are multi-coated to suppress nasties like lens flare and ghosting. At the same time, those wanting a monocular to carry in a pocket will love its scratch-resistant lenses. It’s also IPX7-rated, which means it can survive lengthy dunks in shallow water. Thanks to a nitrogen-filled internal chamber, it’s also fog-proof, which, during our test, proved helpful in battling a high dew point. The most important details about the Nocs Field Tube 8x32, though, are the specifications of its optics. At 8x magnification and with a 32mm objective lens, it has the right balance to ensure an impressive close-up while also letting in enough light during dusk and dawn. But don’t expect to use it at night for stargazing: it can make a rudimentary attempt at the night sky, but at least a 42mm, if not a 50mm, objective lens is required for impressive astronomical views (the moon aside). The most impressive aspect of the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 is that it can focus to just 7.4 feet (2.25 meters), which makes it worth considering for small gardens where birds and wildlife may appear directly in front of you. It is also helpful for safaris, where birds and small animals can often be seen very close to the truck. The plasticky design may put some off, but it’s precisely this that helps the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 remain lightweight. For those looking for an optical aid to carry in a pocket on hiking trips, its plastic construction is a huge bonus, mainly since it’s a hard-wearing design complete with a ridged, ribbed outer casing that’s easy to grip in all kinds of weather and temperatures. On the bottom of the chassis is a 1/4-inch tripod thread designed to fit a small tabletop tripod, of the sort you might also carry in a pocket. That could be useful for some kinds of birding — such as observing a nest — or for any other largely stationary animal. A good option, therefore, is to use a tripod with flexible legs that can be twisted around railings and bars. A small tripod is also a good idea if you want to share views with others, or just as a different way to support and hold the Nocs Field Tube 8x32. Nocs Provisions Field Tube 8x32: Performance Easy to hold steady Quick to focus Lacks ultimate brightness Taken on a hiking trip to mid-Wales, the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 performed well. We used it for everything from identifying red kites and buzzards to some casual moon-viewing and were impressed both by how easy it was to hold steady and by how quick it was to focus. The Nocs Field Tube 8x32 also proved adept at sweeping across landscapes. Whether it was for checking out the beautiful changing colors on the horizon during sunset or finding the next waymarker up ahead on the path, it delivered consistently impressive views. Using the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 on a herd of wild horses helped us identify foals among them. While walking through an orchard, the close focus ability enabled us to get a close-up of birds in the trees above. Is the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 as sharp as an expensive pair of high-quality binoculars? No, it is not, but there is little noticeable difference when used in bright conditions. Besides, what it lacks in ultimate image sharpness, vibrancy and brightness it more than makes up for in its travel-friendly design and ease of operation. We were impressed by close objects, too. Since our hike took place on a typical Welsh day — with periods of strong summer sun followed by lashing rain — we could really put the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 through its paces. Its weatherproof status held up, and so did its fog-proofing, particularly late at night when we used the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 to observe a waxing gibbous moon setting in the west around midnight. The high dew point caused a nearby camera to fog up, but the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 remained clear. Nocs Provisions Field Tube 8x32: Functionality Non-slip outer casing Smooth focus wheel No neck strap The Nocs Field Tube 8x32 is very simple to use. With an easy-to-grip outer casing, all that’s required is to extend the eyepiece a couple of clicks (there are two positions it can sit in, depending on how much eye relief is needed) and turn the focus wheel on the top of the body. That wheel has enough resistance to move quickly but stays in place post-adjustment. If you’re birding or hiking and want an optical aid to hand at all times, the best way is to hang a monocular like the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 around your neck. After all, it’s super-lightweight. The Nocs Field Tube 8x32 does, conveniently, sport a carrying strap/loop on its bottom and there’s a wrist strap in the box. However, what it’s lacking are attachments for its eyecup shield and lens cap, both of which have loops, but there’s nothing in the box. That’s a shame because these small covers are easy to lose. We recommend you either tie them to the Nocs Field Tube 8x32’s carry strap/loop or wrist strap, or else be sure to hike/bird/safari while wearing a shirt with top pockets where you can easily stash them away to keep them safe. Although the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 has a protective case, it’s nothing more than a drawstring bag. Given that the product is weatherproof and has the scratch-proof option, this is not a deal-breaker, but something a little more protective would have been nice. Should you buy the Nocs Provisions Field Tube 8x32? ✅ You want a monocular that you can use in all kinds of weather: The Nocs Field Tube 8x32 is rated IPX7, which means it’s weatherproof and fog-proof. ✅ You like the option of using a modular with a tripod: This product has a 1/4-inch thread on the bottom for use with tabletop tripods. ❌ You’re not prepared to modify it: The lens cap and eyepiece cover will be easy to lose, so some DIY may be necessary to attach them to the wrist strap. ❌ You want to use it in low light: Its 32 mm aperture is less than ideal for collecting light, so images lose their brightness when the sun goes down. Easy to hold steady for any subject near or far, the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 offers sharp, crisp and colorful views from dusk through dawn. Its 8x magnification and 32 mm objective lens make it less than ideal only for astronomy, though moon-viewing nevertheless impressed. Adept in all kinds of weather and easy to operate, the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 boasts excellent build quality. Overall, it’s highly recommended. If the Nocs Provisions Field Tube 8x32 isn't for you If you like the sound of the Nocs Field Tube 8x32 but want a little more magnification, there’s another version available that may suit your needs. The Nocs Field Tube 10x32 gives you 10x magnification and is also available in Ponderosa Green, Paydirt Brown and Oxblood Maroon. If you’re okay with 8x magnification but want something that allows more light in for better astronomical results, try the lightweight Opticron Explorer 8x42. For more of both, choose the Celestron Outland X, which offers 10x magnification and 50 mm objective lenses.