blessing

A day after Green Bay’s blockbuster acquisition of edge rusher Micah Parsons, a legendary NFL executive was riding an emotional high.

“I feel so good. I’m so excited about it,” said Carmen Policy, who built championship teams with the San Francisco 49ers and is pulling for his son to do the same with the Packers. “I think it’s great that the group up there is willing to think outside the box. I have a lot of faith in what they’re assembling.”

The Packers, with Ed Policy as president, made a stunning move Thursday in acquiring Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for first round picks in 2026 and ’27 and three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark.

For the elder Policy, the aggressive transaction was reminiscent of the buy-now-pay-later philosophy in 1994 of the 49ers, who went on a big-money shopping spree to collect top-shelf free agents to build their Super Bowl-winning roster. That included plucking star linebacker Ken Norton Jr. from the Cowboys, who had beaten San Francisco in the previous two NFC championships.

In luring talent with lots of guaranteed money on the front end, Carmen Policy and Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo found a loophole in the salary cap which the NFL had just implemented.

“The salary cap was designed to actually disrupt the 49ers — and the Washington Redskins — but primarily us,” Policy said by phone Friday. “They devised the rules with, ‘How do we change this so the 49ers can’t do it.’ Which, in a way, was a compliment. But what we did was salvage our veteran team and then load up, because we couldn’t tolerate losing to Dallas three times in a row. We knew if we got to the Super Bowl we’d win. It was inexcusable and insufferable.”

The situation isn’t precisely parallel, but Policy sees similar risk taking in the Packers’ move. And not surprisingly, he’s proud of his son who worked his way up from Arena League executive to general counsel of the Packers to team president and chief executive.

“I see him as a much better executive than me,” Carmen Policy said. “I think Ed is really capable of running a public company. He’s smart, he’s disciplined, he’s focused. I would say he’s less inclined to take risks than I was. He’s good with people and he’s patient.

“He’s going to work with his people and give them the leeway they deserve. But ultimately, it has to pencil out in the end. Now we’re hoping, fingers crossed, that this pencils out in the end, meaning a Super Bowl.”

The elder Policy, who later was president and part-owner of the Cleveland Browns, said this transaction is not only good for the Packers but for the NFL as a whole.

“This is a blessing for the league,” he said. “They can point to the smallest market and say this community-owned team without a billionaire owner can still compete with New York, L.A. and Dallas. It speaks so well for competitive balance and how far the league has come.

“And suddenly, you’re not hearing players complain about going to Wisconsin in the winter, as opposed to Manhattan or Manhattan Beach. It puts competitive balance on display.”

Investors interpreted Trump’s comments to mean Nippon Steel had received his approval for its takeover of US Steel.

United States President Donald Trump has expressed support for Nippon Steel’s $14.9bn bid for US Steel, saying their “planned partnership” would create jobs and help the US economy.

Shares of US Steel soared 21 percent on Friday after Trump’s comments as investors interpreted the president’s post on Truth Social to mean Nippon Steel had received his approval for its long-planned takeover, the last major hurdle for the deal.

“This will be a planned partnership between United States Steel and Nippon Steel, which will create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the US Economy,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Friday.

This week, the Reuters news agency reported that Nippon Steel has said if the merger is approved, it would invest $14bn into US Steel’s operations, including up to $4bn in a new steel mill.

Trump added that the bulk of that investment would occur in the next 14 months and said he would hold a rally at US Steel in Pittsburgh next Friday.

Nippon Steel said it applauded Trump’s decision to approve the “partnership”. The White House did not immediately reply to questions about the announcement.

US Steel share price kept rising after hours and reached $54, just shy of Nippon Steel’s $55-per-share offer price made in late 2023. While no details were released, investors expressed confidence that terms will be similar to those agreed in 2023. Investors said that eventually US Steel will no longer be publicly traded and they will receive a cash payout for their shares.

Politically controversial

The deal has been one of the most highly anticipated on Wall Street after it morphed into the political arena with fears that foreign ownership would mean job losses in Pennsylvania, where US Steel is based. It factored into last year’s election that saw Trump return to the White House.

Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick, who also called the deal a “partnership”, on Friday said it was a “huge victory for America and the US Steel Corporation”, that will protect more than 11,000 Pennsylvania jobs and support the creation of at least 14,000 more.

The last pieces of the deal came together surprisingly fast. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), which reviews deals for national security risks, told the White House this week that the security risks can be addressed, Reuters reported, moving the final decision to Trump’s desk.

Following an earlier CFIUS-led review, former President Joe Biden blocked the deal in January on national security grounds.

The companies sued, arguing they did not receive a fair review process. The Biden White House rejected that view.

The companies argued Biden opposed the deal when he was running for re-election to win support from the United Steelworkers union in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. The Biden administration had defended the review as essential to protecting security, infrastructure and supply chains.

Trump also initially opposed the deal, arguing the company must be owned and operated in the US.

The United Steelworkers were against the deal as recently as Thursday when they urged Trump to block the deal despite the $14bn investment pledge from Trump.

For investors, including prominent hedge funds, the news spells relief after more than a year of waiting for a resolution. “There were huge high-fives all around today,” one recent investor said, adding, “We understood Donald Trump’s psyche and we played it to our advantage here.”

Investors said Trump appears to have won ground after the pledge for new investments was increased.

“This deal ensures that steelmaking will live on in Pittsburgh for generations,” another investor said.

Back trouble restricted Muzarabani’s playing time with Northants, but the injury did not affect the learning process.

On the field, Ben Sanderson showed him how to bowl a full length in English conditions. Off the field, he formed a tight bond with Saif Zaib, Jack White and Ben Curran, the latter now a Zimbabwe team-mate.

Even when he could not play for Northants, the county still put Muzarabani to work.

“When I was injured I was touring the sponsorship boxes at Northampton,” he says. “I’d go in there and start conversations with fans. It really helped me to communicate, how to carry myself as a professional – outside cricket, just being a good human being.”

Brexit ended the Kolpak era and Muzarabani returned to the plan to resume his international career. He was back in Zimbabwe colours in late 2020, a “better bowler” for his sojourn in England.

Now his career is really gathering pace. A growing reputation as a white-ball operator has earned Muzarabani an Indian Premier League deal with Royal Challengers Bangalore, under coach and compatriot Andy Flower. Muzarabani will head for India straight after the Test in Nottingham.

The whip in Muzarabani’s action have led to comparisons with South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. With his height and skid, they may be more similarities with former England pace bowler Steven Finn.

Zimbabwe’s chequered past means there are few very meaningful statistics to overhaul, although Muzarabani has the chance to carve his niche. This year no team play more than Zimbabwe’s 11 Tests, meaning he can build from his current 51 wickets towards becoming only the second bowler from the country to reach 100.

The other to top three figures, external is Heath Streak, his 216 unlikely to be overhauled. Even Streak cannot match Muzarabani’s average of 21.84, by far the lowest of any Zimbabwe bowler to have sent down at least 60 overs in Test cricket.

Zimbabwe have not played a Test against England since 2003.

Before then some of the country’s most famous cricketing moments came against the English: Eddo Brandes at the 1992 World Cup, England coach David Lloyd proclaiming “we flipping murdered ’em” in the first drawn Test with the scores level in Bulawayo in 1996.

And 2025?

“England are one of the best teams in the world,” says Muzarabani. “We believe in ourselves. We believe can win. We just have bring our ‘A’ game to beat these guys.”

JoJo Siwa’s bond with Chris Hughes grew undeniable as the pair exchanged cuddles, flirty moments, and emotional confessions in the Big Brother house – with Kath Ebbs revealing their relationship with the Dance Moms star has come to an end

JoJo Siwa has always lived her life in the public eye, but even fans weren’t fully prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that unfolded during her time with Chris Hughes on Celebrity Big Brother.

The unlikely pairing became a fan favourite on the show, despite JoJo being in a relationship with her partner Kath Ebbs, who announced the Dance Moms star brutally dumped her at the CBB afterparty less than 24 hours after exiting the house.

As whispers grow louder that JoJo, 21, ended her relationship to focus on her deepening bond with Chris, 32, we take a look back at all the signs that she was “falling” for the former Love Islander.

READ MORE: JoJo Siwa’s ex Kath Ebbs makes cryptic dig at CBB star after revealing brutal dumping

Physical signs

From hand-holding and cuddles to playful teasing, fans of CBB were sure JoJo and Chris had intense chemistry. They didn’t shy away from close contact – giggling, cuddling, and even one eyebrow-raising moment where JoJo licked chocolate off Chris’s shorts.

It was so obvious that fellow housemate Ella Rae Wise accused the former Love Islander of isolating himself and “not getting to know” anyone else in the house.

Bedtime antics

Perhaps the most telling moments came during more private glimpses into their bond – including being caught on camera holding hands and laughing together in bed. The pair would often keep other housemates awake as they had deep chats well into the night.

At one point, JoJo was called out by Big Brother for “drawing” something on Chris’s hand – with fans speculating it was a love heart.

Heartfelt comments

JoJo didn’t just show it – she said it plenty of times. During the final, JoJo gave a speech at the dinner table in front of her housemates as she said that Chris “feels like family” and he’s “the best thing” to come out of the whole experience.

The US star then said that she has love for Chris as she told him “the love I’ve gained for you is unreal.”

“48 hours”

After receiving a letter from Kath, JoJo cryptically told Chris, “Give me 48 hours,” hinting that she needed time to process her feelings – and possibly make a difficult decision about where her heart truly lay. She later doubled down, telling Chris, “I’ll tell you something in 48 hours,” only fueling speculation that she was weighing a major choice between her current relationship and a future with Chris.

And sure enough, within 24 hours of leaving the Celebrity Big Brother house, JoJo’s former partner Kath claimed she had dumped them “at the after party with Chris in the room next door”.

JoJo’s mum gave her blessing

Jessalynn Siwa, JoJo’s mother, didn’t stay silent. She re-shared a fan-made video comparing JoJo and Chris’s chemistry to the iconic love story of Jack and Rose from Titanic. The “Titanic vibes” comment sent the fandom into a frenzy – especially since Jessalynn’s repost was seen as a subtle seal of approval.

The video featured JoJo and Chris dancing from the Celebrity Big Brother livestream, alongside the caption: “JoJo and Chris are so giving me Jack and Rose vibes. She’s the rich one who has fell in love with someone who is lower class than her and she has probably never had this much fun in her life.

“This is definitely the closest love story to Titanic yet.”

Chris’s emotional reaction

It wasn’t just JoJo declaring her feelings. Chris Hughes was visibly emotional when speaking about JoJo, even tearing up at one point. He compared JoJo to his ex-girlfriend, highlighting their shared personality traits and the connection he felt – suggesting his feelings were very real and very deep.

The Love Island star admitted his “love” for the US star during his exit interview on Friday. “JoJo was a pure rock to me, she was someone I can have fun with and I had fun with her every day,” he said.

“That is to me is a beautiful friendship.”

Kath’s shock video

Meanwhile, JoJo’s partner Kath Ebbs became noticeably absent. She disappeared from social media during JoJo’s stint on the show, with her first video back announcing that she had been brutally dumped by the Dance Mom’s star at the afterparty.

Kath claimed they had “flew across the world” to support JoJo, and she was left heartbroken when her worst fears came true. Once the pair came face to face, the relationship abruptly ended.

READ MORE: Dunelm shoppers rave about £39 ‘Mediterranean’ parasol that’s ‘easy to put up and looks fabulous’

The Kebbi State Government, under the leadership of Nasir Idris, recently announced that some Chinese investors will set up a lithium processing factory in northwestern Nigeria. Speaking during the 2025 Rigata Annual Cultural Festival in Yauri, Governor Idris said the investment would boost the Kebbi State’s economy and also create numerous employment opportunities for local residents.

“Our recent visit to China, aimed at attracting foreign investors, resulted in the signing of an agreement with reputable investors worth $200 million, equivalent to N330 billion,” he said.

The project is facilitated by an indigenous mining company, Three Crown Mines Ltd., which entered into an agreement with Canmax Technologies from China to invest $200 million in lithium mining operations in the state. Under the agreement with three crown mines, Canmax will hold an 85 per cent stake, while the local company will control the 15 per cent stake in the joint venture.

While the planned lithium processing plants would make the northwestern state a significant player in Nigeria’s mineral sector, experts have also raised concerns on its drawbacks.

“You cannot have lithium mining and other related activities without some devastating consequences,” Dr. Umar Wali, an expert in land information systems at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, told HumAngle.

“It is not surprising that China is all over the place looking for lithium. This is because it is an industrial giant in the manufacturing of electric batteries,” Dr. Wali added. 

Nigeria’s growing lithium industry

Nigeria, and by extension, Africa, has become a  lithium investment destination for Chinese companies like Sinomine Resource Group, Chengxin Lithium, and Yahua Group. Propelled by the global demand for this essential component in renewable energy solutions, Nigeria is attracting significant foreign direct investments.

The influx of foreign capital is crucial in enhancing infrastructural development, improving local businesses, and elevating the overall standard of living in both the state and the country by extension. With lithium, an essential component for batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy systems, being highly sought after as the world transitions towards cleaner energy, Nigeria can benefit from investments.

Globally, China has maintained an unflinching focus on the green energy revolution and has continued to invest in renewable energy anywhere it can lay its hands on that key ingredient: lithium. 

Lithium deposits have been identified in several Nigerian states, including Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti, and Kebbi, among others. The Nigerian government has recognised the potential of these reserves and is actively promoting lithium investment activities.

One notable example of this investment is the partnership between Canmax and Avatar New Energy Materials Co. Ltd., a Chinese firm, in setting up a lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, North-central.

Lessons from unregulated practices

The Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 outlines the legal framework for lithium mining in Nigeria. The act vests ownership of all mineral resources in the Federal Government under the supervision of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The ministry carry out the issuance of exploration licenses, mining leases, quarry leases, and small-scale mining leases.

Despite these regulations, the country has persistently witnessed a disregard for the its regulatory frameworks. In fact, illegal lithium mining across the country has been reported to cause several environmental and social concerns, including child labour.

This means a significant portion of Nigeria’s lithium mining operates outside legal frameworks, leading to unregulated and unsafe practices. In some parts of the country, numerous mines function without official oversight, employing rudimentary methods that disregard environmental and safety standards.

This non-compliance with regulations and oversight has resulted in unsafe practices that impact both the environment and local communities. But to prevent similar outcomes in Kebbi State, Dr. Wali suggests the implementation of a robust regulatory framework. 

“Environmentally, lithium is associated with water contamination and the depletion of water sources because water is used to purify what is mined, and this could lead to land degradation where you have soil pollution and erosion, thereby reducing the productive capacity of the land. Incidentally, we are turning fertile lands into barren ones.

“Scientific exploration is required for lithium and any other mineral. But what we have here in Nigeria is mostly artisanal mining activities [controlled by foreign companies], which tend to be unorganised,” he said.

A potential for conflict?

The discovery of substantial mineral reserves has sparked a rush for control over these valuable resources, raising concerns about potential conflicts and insecurity. In 2023, the Kebbi State government announced the suspension of mining activities in the state, citing insecurity. Yakubu Bala-Tafida, the Secretary to the State Government, revealed that the decision is a result of heightened security challenges in mining sites in some host communities of the state.

Though illegal mining activities have been reported to escalate local conflicts in Nigeria, Dr. Wali says even legal mining investment could also lead to conflicts.

“Incidentally, we can then begin to look at the possibility of land conflict because we now have agricultural land being transformed into mining land. This may also usher in some sort of conflict because increasing value of land is generally associated with conflict, as we have seen in Zamfara over gold,” the expert said.

For experts like Dr. Wali, the proposed lithium processing factory in Kebbi presents a significant opportunity for economic advancement and integration into the global mineral economy. However, balancing these benefits with environmental stewardship and social responsibility is paramount.

He noted that by tapping into this demand, the state and Nigeria, by extension, could diversify their export portfolio, reduce dependence on traditional oil revenues, and strengthen their position in the global mineral market.

“For this investment to be fully beneficial, adopting sustainable and responsible mining practices is crucial. These include utilising technologies that minimise environmental footprints, implementing recycling measures to manage waste effectively, and continuously monitoring environmental parameters to detect and mitigate adverse impacts promptly.”

Summer online reservations for Yosemite National Park have been postponed indefinitely.

After the park announced several months ago that a new system was in the works, the online reservation page now reads, “Yosemite National Park anticipates sharing details about this year’s reservation system early in 2025.”

The implementation of a new system has apparently been delayed to first get the approval of the Trump administration, according to park officials.

A park spokesperson was unavailable to respond to a Times email asking when reservations would be accepted.

Currently, no reservations are needed to visit the park during the weekdays, except for holidays and weekends, until the end of March.

No reservation plan is listed online for visits from April through October.

The park began its reservations system in 2020 and the summer of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, reservations were taken because of repairs to infrastructure, then again in 2024 to ease traffic on roads and trails.

Reservations will still be required for the park’s upcoming, wildly popular Firefall event at Horsetail Fall trail. The event is Saturday and Sunday, and Feb. 15-17 and 22-23. The number of visitors on weekends can number in the low thousands.

Firefall reservations are designed to limit erosion and damage to the environment as visitors clamor to see El Capitan when it resembles an active volcano. When the sunset properly backlights Horsetail Fall, the water cascading down the granite cliff face, 3,000 feet to the valley floor, becomes a “firefall,” taking on an orange glow.

Even those not visiting Horsetail Fall on the dates listed above are required to apply for a reservation.

The $35 per car entrance fee is valid for entry for seven days, regardless of day of arrival.

That online system was rolled out in mid-November, giving interested parties months to plan.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that National Park Service officials were delaying the system’s implementation because they wanted “the blessing of the new administration.”

Teri Marshall, director of marketing communications at Rush Creek Lodge and Spa at Yosemite, said it was her understanding that the Trump administration put a complete stop to the reservation system for cars.

“For us, it’s not confusing,” she said, “but it’s very confusing for international travelers and others trying to plan.”

Marshall’s main concern was to avoid a “free for all” with huge numbers of visitors overwhelming the park’s infrastructure and natural beauty.

“We should all love this park,” she said, “but not love it to death.”

She encouraged visitors to use the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System, or YARTS, luxury bus that offers regularly scheduled pickups and drop-offs throughout the park, Yosemite Valley, Mammoth Lakes and other nearby locales.

Some hotels and lodges, including Rush Creek, also offer private tours with shuttles.

“We want to welcome everybody, we just don’t want everybody getting into their car and driving into the park,” Marshall said. “Use the alternative methods and make it better for everybody.”

Yosemite officials have been grappling for months with how to balance park access and conservation “due to rapid growth in day use visitation during high use season.”

The new Peak Hours Plus program carried a $2 reservation fee and was intended to ease heavy traffic and full parking lots, especially in popular Yosemite Valley.

Firefall is the nexus of that battle.

The site has seen a surge of popularity in the last decade, with Yosemite officials noting that they registered nearly 2,500 visitors on Feb. 19, 2022.

Guests then and since have trampled vegetation, overflowed onto riverbanks and increased erosion while overwhelming parking and other facilities, Yosemite officials said.

The park responded with the reservation system for February’s visits.

Lake Tahoe native Kyle Roberton, 27, photographed Horsetail Falls in February 2023 and captured the elusive “firefall” effect. Robertson is a fan of reservations to Yosemite to limit damage to the environment and provide an enjoyable visitor experience.

(Courtesy of Kyle Robertson)

Lake Tahoe native Kyle Roberton, 27, calls himself a fan of visitation limitations.

“You can easily get a couple of thousand people at Horsetail and the reservations enhance the experience of everything there while providing a less damaging impact on the environment,” said Robertson, a part-time landscape photographer.

Robertson has reservations for Horsetail Falls this month and has previously visited four times.

It was in 2023, however, when he said conditions were just right for him to capture the majestic “firefall” effect.

“We had adequate snowpack that year, a really clear sky and the sun in the right position,” he said. “It’s a visual effect that you can really only capture with your camera and so everyone is crowding into the few viewing platforms in the valley.”

Robertson said he’d seen increased trash along with the erosion and destruction of nature over the years as the number of visitors increased.

“If reservations help with at least some of these issues,” he said, “it’s a win-win.”

Lorenzo Hernandez announced Friday he is stepping down as football coach at Garfield High after 24 years.

He helped develop the program into one of the best in the City Section and tried to generate community support beyond the annual Garfield vs. Roosevelt game.

His son, Noah, just completed his senior season while starting on the offensive line, so he said it was a good time to step down and focus on being the school’s athletic director.

In a letter sent to the Garfield community, Hernandez said, “Looking back on the past 24 years, I am filled with gratitude and pride. Serving as the head coach of the Garfield Bulldogs has been an honor and blessing. Together, we’ve celebrated victories, faced challenges and most importantly, watched our scholar-athletes grow and thrive both on and off the field.”

The next coach will be getting a new football field that is under construction. There are several internal candidates likely to seek to replace Hernandez, including offensive coordinator Patrick Vargas, who’s a teacher and Garfield graduate.

Hernandez is ready to be a mentor if asked by his future replacement.