Entertainment
NFL season opens with defending champ Eagles edging Cowboys in game with hour-long lightning-related delay
Philadelphia — Jalen Hurts rushed for two touchdowns for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who lost their hot-tempered star defender for spitting on Dak Prescott, then withstood a rare weather delay and needed a late stop to beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 early Friday in a wild start to the NFL season.
With one last chance at a comeback, Prescott threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-3 with 1:54 left to send what was left of a thinned out Eagles crowd into a frenzy.
The game ended at 12:18 a.m.
It was delayed 65 minutes because of lightning in the area. The Eagles led 24-20 with 4:44 left in the third quarter when the gamn was stopped – and that’s the way it ended.
Hurts wore out a defense without Micah Parsons on TD runs of 4 and 8 yards – no legal tush push needed. Saquon Barkley also ran for a 10-yard score, even if his final rushing total of 60 yards was minuscule compared to the last season, when he topped 2,000 yards.
Emilee Chinn / Getty Images
Hurts punctuated one score by chucking the ball into the stands and shrugging his shoulders much like his friend and mentor, Michael Jordan, who received a nice ovation when he was shown on the big screen.
“I think our discipline wasn’t in it early in the game,” Hurts said. “Great job by our defense being able to battle and respond. Guys stepped in and filled those roles. We came into this game talking about discipline and focus, and we’ll leave it saying the same things.”
Hurts, Barkley and the rest of the Eagles spent a pregame ceremony where the team raised their 2024 championship banner inside the locker room, per the wishes of coach Nick Sirianni.
“It’s a new team. It’s a new journey. We got tested tonight,” Hurts said. “We know how they are when Dak is back and they’ve got their crew all together. We’ve played better football, but it’s always good to say that and find a way to win.”
Jalen Carter headed right back inside only moments after the banner was raised.
Prescott and Carter exchanged words after the opening kickoff, and Carter spit on Prescott’s jersey before backing away. Prescott quickly motioned to a nearby official who threw the flag and sent Carter packing. Fans booed as Carter walked off slowly, the standout defensive tackle holding his helmet in his hands behind his back.
Mitchell Leff / Getty Images
Carter could be headed toward a hefty financial penalty, if not worse, in the first major test of the NFL’s increased emphasis this season on sportsmanship.
The ejection was the quickest in a game since 2005, when former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr. was ejected from the game for a pregame altercation prior to Philadelphia’s season opener, notes CBSSports.com’s Garrett Podell and Jeff Kerr.
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.
Dallas running back Miles Sanders, though, fumbled the ball at the 10 and the Super Bowl champions recovered. Prescott made a touchdown-saving diving tackle on cornerback Quinyon Mitchell on the play.
It would be a while until the Eagles got the ball back, thanks to the delay.
The scores by Hurts and Barkley made the Eagles the first defending Super Bowl champions to score touchdown on the first three drives of the season since Green Bay in 2011. Jake Elliott put the finishing touches on the scoring with a 58-yard field goal.
Javonte Williams had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs – the first on the opening driving after Carter was ejected – and Brandon Aubrey kicked field goals of 41 and 53 yards.
Eagles offensive lineman Landon Dickerson left with a back injury.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer lost his head coaching debut. He was promoted him from offensive coordinator to be the 10th coach in the storied franchise’s history.
Dallas plays its home opener against the Giants.
Did someone say Super Bowl rematch? The Eagles head to Kansas City seven months after a 40-22 romp in New Orleans.
Entertainment
Prince William, Kate Middleton’s concerns for Prince Louis: ‘day will come’
Prince William and Kate Middleton are doting parents to their three children and have long established how much they prioritise them.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have also not shied away from breaking several royal protocols and traditions for the well-being of Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, and made their own.
The children are well-loved by the public and fans are always eager to see the young royals during royal events, especially at the balcony. As the eldest Wales child, George, is ready for the next phase in his royal heritage, William and Kate have lingering concerns for their youngest.
Prince Louis is known for his cheeky antics that have captured the hearts of the fans and is dubbed, ‘cute’ for being unable to maintain the poise that his elder siblings so easily carry.
Sources have revealed that William and Kate “are easier on Louis because he’s the baby of the family” but they fear one day will come when he would have to grow out of it.
According to the insider, the parents do their “best to teach him how to behave, but understand these events are tiresome” and Louis is “quite a handful”. The source told OK! magazine that William and Kate “don’t want to break his little spirit”.
The source claimed that William and Kate are like any other parents who are much more lenient towards the youngest. However, they are well-aware that “the day will come and making faces won’t be ‘cute.’ Hopefully, Louis will grow out of it”.
There has been a notable change though as Louis is getting older. Recently, he joined his family on Friday to mark the Together At Christmas Concert, helmed by Princess Kate.
He was seen obediently following with his siblings; and while he no longer made faces, he still garnered adoration from the onlookers.
Entertainment
Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton relationship update: ‘Solid’
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton want fans to know they’re still going strong.
Despite recent breakup rumours swirling around the couple, multiple signs show their marriage is solid, just like the two of them insist.
A source told PEOPLE on Tuesday that there is “no truth to the split rumoUrs,” explaining the speculation is mostly due to the pair juggling their busy individual careers.
“When they are together, it’s just so obvious how solid they are,” the insider added, shutting down the buzz that they’re heading for divorce.
Stefani recently confirmed they’ll be celebrating the holidays together, which is a clear sign they’re united.
Appearing on the Today show, she said she and Shelton are preparing for their usual back-and-forth lifestyle during the festive season.
“We’re doing all the regular stuff,” she shared, adding that they split time between California and Oklahoma.
“Blake and I, we just bounce back and forth between Oklahoma constantly. This December, we’re going back there, and then we’re going to bounce back to [Los Angeles].”
The couple even fit in two different Thanksgiving celebrations with family and friends. Stefani said she feels lucky they can enjoy time in both places.
“I love it. I love Oklahoma. This time of year is the best, so beautiful.”
Rumours first intensified earlier this year when the couple released the emotional breakup ballad Hangin’ On.
Shelton later explained to Access Hollywood that the song was simply music they loved, not a sign of trouble.
“We’re to a point in our lives where we just wanna do songs that we love, and then see what happens, I guess, later,” he said, noting it had “really no reflection” on their relationship.
Speculation grew again when neither attended the CMA Awards in November, and fans noticed fewer photos of Shelton on Stefani’s social media.
But their continued travel together and holiday plans appear to paint a very different picture, one of a couple managing real life, not falling apart.
Married since 2021 and together since meeting on The Voice in 2014, Stefani and Shelton seem focused on making their blended life work, wherever they are and whatever rumours come next.
Entertainment
ECC approves hike in profit margins of petroleum dealers, OMCs
- Petrol diesel rates likely to rise up to Rs2.56 per litre: sources.
- Committee approves amendments to vehicle import procedure.
- ECC okays summary seeking curbs on chloroform imports.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to revise the profit margins of oil marketing companies (OMCs) and petroleum dealers on petrol and high-speed diesel.
The ECC meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The adjustments were made in line with the National Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2023–24 and 2024–25, with increases capped between 5% and 10%.
It also decided that half of the increase in the margins will be paid immediately, while the remaining half will be conditional on digitisation progress, with the Petroleum Division to report back by June 1, 2026.

Sources told Geo News that the decision would push the prices of petrol and diesel by up to Rs2.56 per litre. An increase of Rs1.28 per litre in petrol and diesel prices will be passed on immediately, they added.
It emerged that the hike of Rs1.22 per litre in OMCs’ margin on petrol has been approved, while dealers’ commission on petrol has been raised by Rs1.34 per litre.
For diesel, the OMCs’ margin has also been increased by Rs1.22 per litre, and dealers’ commission by Rs1.34 per litre, the sources added.
New scheme for vehicle imports
The committee approved amendments to the vehicle import procedure, retaining only the transfer of residence and gift schemes.
Under the revised framework, commercial-import safety and environmental standards will apply to these schemes, the intervening import period will be extended from two to three years, and imported vehicles will remain non-transferable for one year.
Restrictions on chloroform imports
The ECC of the federal cabinet also approved a summary seeking restrictions on chloroform imports due to its toxic and carcinogenic nature, and decided that Trichloromethane (chloroform) would only be imported by pharmaceutical companies and only with a DRAP-issued NOC.
It also considered a summary regarding the claim of M/s Ghani Glass for a concessionary gas/RLNG tariff and decided the request was untenable as such subsidies were no longer permissible and that wider export-support initiatives were already in progress.
It also reviewed the Circular Debt Management Plan for FY 2025–26, presented by the Power Division, for ensuring financial sustainability and efficiency in the power sector.
The ECC called on the Power Division, in coordination with the Finance Division, to develop a medium-term plan for gradually reducing fiscal support.
It also asked the Power Division to institute a follow-up mechanism with the distribution companies (Discos) to ensure delivery of the targets committed to the Government.
On another summary, the committee approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs1.28 billion for the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) to facilitate digital transformation and technological innovation across government departments.
The committee further approved the release of funds as technical supplementary grant relating to the development expenditure of the Cabinet Division for FY26, as proposed by the Interior and Narcotics Control Division.
The ECC also approved the allocation of Rs5 billion to the Housing and Works Division through a technical supplementary grant for the current fiscal year.
On a summary by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the ECC approved creating a special-purpose company to wind up Passco and settle its remaining liabilities.
It authorised the company’s incorporation, administrative and financial arrangements, and necessary regulatory exemptions, along with appointing initial subscribers and interim management.
The company will be dissolved once its mandate is fulfilled.
Additionally, the committee accorded in-principle approval for the release of budgetary allocation for PIA Holding Company Ltd (PIAHCL) to meet pension and medical related expenses of the PIACL employees.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister for Investment Board Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, along with federal secretaries and senior officials from the concerned ministries, divisions and regulatory bodies.
— With additional input from APP.
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