jiliko 100

jiliko 100 LONDON (AP) — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the “modest award.” Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. “She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” she said. “I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. “He’s not a man, he’s a coward,” attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. “A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.” Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him “no” as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, “now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. “I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman’s complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said “she never said ‘no’ or stopped” and testified that everything she said was a lie. “It is a full blown lie among many lies,” he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings.” McGregor’s lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. “You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” attorney Remy Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.” The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor’s arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked “happy, happy, happy.” McGregor said he was “beyond petrified” when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor’s friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.

After multiple winters of futility, the San Francisco Giants have found a free agent willing to take gobs of their money. Shortstop Willy Adames, formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Giants . The deal was first reported by ESPN. The deal, which has yet to be confirmed by the Giants, is the largest in franchise history and the first major move under the team’s new president of baseball operations, Buster Posey. Adames, ranked fifth on , was considered by some to be the market’s second-best offensive player behind only superstar slugger Juan Soto. In the past two offseasons, San Francisco, then under former POBO Farhan Zaidi, made spirited charges at the market's biggest fish. At every turn, the Giants struck out or were thwarted by fate. Aaron Judge used the Giants as leverage before returning to the Bronx. Shohei Ohtani considered San Francisco but always had his sights set on Los Angeles. And in December 2022, a pact with Carlos Correa was bizarrely scuttled at the 11th hour after a medical revealed issues with the shortstop’s ankle. He signed with the Minnesota Twins instead. But now, finally, the Giants have an offensive catalyst to try to build around. Adames, who finished 10th in NL MVP voting this season, represents an obvious fit for a team in dire need of firepower. The ebullient 29-year-old has clubbed 112 home runs since the start of 2022, tied with Corey Seager for the most by a shortstop over that span. Offensively, Adames’ 2024 season was one of his best, with career highs in home runs and RBI. He has always been a high-strikeout player, but he offers rare juice for a shortstop. The Giants will take any power they can get. In 2024, San Francisco finished middling or worse in most offensive categories. Finishing one game below .500, the club was competent but painfully forgettable and well off the torrid pace set by the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks in the NL West. That regrettable finish led to Zaidi’s ouster and the shocking entrance of Posey, a franchise legend and likely Hall of Famer who last played in 2021. Since taking over, the new head honcho has been vocal about his desire to reestablish a winning culture by the Bay. Adames, beloved and respected around baseball as a great clubhouse presence, will help with that goal. Still, this landmark contract registers as something of a surprise. Multiple reports earlier this offseason indicated that the Giants expected a reduction in payroll entering 2025. That said, even with Adames’ $26 million per year, San Francisco is approximately $26 million under its $206 million outlay from last season. For Adames, the deal is a big win. Most projections had his average annual value pegged correctly, but few predicted a seventh year. The total surpasses the seven-year, $177 million pact Dansby Swanson and the Cubs inked before the 2023 season, a contract that many saw as a potential comp here. Adames had voiced a willingness to move to other infield positions if needed, but that won’t be necessary at Oracle Park, as hot-corner wizard Matt Chapman recently agreed to an extension that will keep him in San Francisco through 2030. Whether Posey and the Giants are finished spending this winter remains to be seen. The club has a number of glaring needs, most notably a power-oriented corner outfielder and another starting pitcher to replace the departed Blake Snell. As currently constructed, the Giants remain behind Los Angeles and San Diego in the NL West picture. The Adames deal is good, but Posey and Co. should keep going.Natixis Advisors LLC Acquires 441 Shares of Glaukos Co. (NYSE:GKOS)

Amber Portwood has returned to social media following the demise of her most recent relationship, and she doesn’t seem to be doing well. Over the last several weeks, the Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star has opened up on TikTok live. In one of her more recent Live events, she’s made some seriously troubling claims against the father of her oldest child, Gary Shirley. MTV fans are worried about the reality TV star and her relationship with her children. Amber Portwood makes serious claims against Gary Shirley in TikTok Meltdown Amber Portwood took to TikTok Live in a rage earlier this week, and her main target was Gary Shirley. During the troubling live event, Portwood called Shirley a “pedophile” and pointed at their ages when they started dating. She was 15, and he was 18. Aside from calling Gary Shirley a “pedophile,” the mother of two went on to allege he raped her but didn’t elaborate further. The Ashley Reality Roundup Group theorizes that Portwood is suggesting the conception of their daughter was statutory rape because Portwood was just 17 at the time, and Shirley was 20. Portwood also suggested that Shirley has purposefully alienated her from her daughter. In the same TiKTok meltdown, Portwood insists that Leah Shirley’s attachment to Kristina Shirley, Gary’s wife, has little to do with an organic bond. She claims Gary “pushed” Leah to form a relationship with Kristina. Portwood insists her ex-fiance did so to “silence” her and keep her away from her child. Gary Shirley has not responded to Amber Portwood’s claims. The father of two has remained mostly quiet on social media recently. Still, he is attached to the upcoming season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter . Season 2B is set to premiere in late January. Why are Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley on bad terms? It is clear that the once-civil relationship Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley enjoyed is over. It’s unclear exactly what event completely unraveled their relationship, but it seems Portwood has taken claims that she’s a “deadbeat mom” to heart. Since her return to social media, Portwood has touched on her custody and child support situation several times. She insists that while her two children don’t live with her, she does support them financially. Portwood’s desire to defend herself appears to stem from rumors that Gary Shirley claims Portwood hasn’t paid child support in years. Gary has also taken swipes at Portwood recently, insisting she hasn’t seen her daughter. While Shirley and Portwood’s drama will likely play out in the upcoming season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter , Portwood has an unlikely ally who is staying away from reality TV. Us Weekly caught up with Andrew Glennon, the father of Portwood’s youngest child, earlier this month. Glennon insists that he personally witnessed Portwood paying Shirley support for Leah. He told the publication that he doesn’t believe Portwood would financially desert her daughter. He also seems skeptical that she’d ignore her. Glennon said Portwood is in regular communication with their shared child, James Glennon. Glennon and Portwood ended their relationship in 2019. Andrew Glennon now lives with James in California.Longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel dies at 78 after battle with cancer

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria falloutDrivers who convert to electric cars to bank in on cash boost in new election promise as Fine Gael target votes

Sale clip high-flying Bristol’s wings with statement thrashingWill Donald Trump Reduce Crime? Criminologists' Verdicts

'Keir Starmer needs to deliver or the populists will pounce'2K's Mafia: The Old Country and Borderlands 4 to receive fresh trailers at The Game Awards

Voting closed Saturday evening in most polling centers throughout Ghana, bringing to an end the presidential and legislative elections poised to be a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. The capital, Accra, was almost a ghost town for much of the day. Even vibrant Oxford Street, one of the city's commercial hubs, saw little activity on the day that Ghanaians went to the polls to elect a new president and 276 legislators. Some 18.7 million people are registered to vote in the West African country hit by one of the worst economic crises in a generation. However, the two main candidates offer little hope for change for the nation. Early results were expected late on Saturday. The first official results will be released by Tuesday. Ghana used to be a poster child for democracy in the region. At a time when coups threatened democracy in West Africa, Ghana has emerged as a beacon of democratic stability with a history of peaceful elections. It had also been an economic powerhouse, priding itself on its economic development. But in recent years, it has struggled with a profound economic crisis, including surging inflation and a lack of jobs. According to an opinion poll released earlier this year by Afrobarometer, a research group, 82 per cent of Ghanaians feel their country is headed in the wrong direction Although 12 candidates are running to become Ghana’s next president, Saturday’s election — like previous ones since the return of multiparty politics in 1992 — has emerged as a two-horse race. Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia is the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, or NPP, which has struggled to resolve the economic crisis. He faces off against former President John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the main opposition party National Democratic Congress, or NDC. He was voted out in 2016 after failing to deliver on promises for the economy. Election officials count the ballots after polls closed in the general elections in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Opinion polls point at a potential comeback for Mahama. A local research company, Global InfoAnalytics says he is projected to get 52.2 per cent of the vote, followed by Bawumia, with 41.4 per cent. After voting in the town of Bole in northern Ghana, Mahama praised the smooth election process and expressed confidence in his own victory. “In other elections, it had not been clear," he told reporters. “But (during) this election everyone sees where it is heading.” The NDC prides itself as a social democratic party, while the ruling NPP tags itself as leaning to the right. But in fact, analysts and voters said, the programs of their presidential candidates do not differ in a significant way. Members of parliament will also be elected Saturday. The ruling NPP party and the main opposition NDC each have 137 members in the 275-member legislature, with one independent member who has been voting mostly along with the ruling party. One more constituency will be added in this election, bringing the number of deputies to 276. In their final campaign rallies Thursday, both candidates made a last push to pitch their political parties as the answer to Ghana’s economic woes. Bawumia, 61, an Oxford-educated economist and former deputy governor of the country’s central bank, promised to build on the outgoing administration’s efforts and stabilize the economy. Mahama, 65, on the other hand, restated his promise to “reset” the country on various fronts. “We need to reset our democracy, governance, economy, finances, agriculture, infrastructure, environment, health sector, and all that we hold dear as a people,” the former president said. Election officials count the ballots after polls closed in the general elections in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Across the the capital, Accra, the mood for the election has been upbeat in posters and billboards with bikers displaying stunts, political rallies on the streets, election jingles and songs blasting from public speakers. But the concern for many is also palpable for the key thing at stake: The country’s ailing economy, which has been challenged on various fronts in recent years. The country defaulted on most of its foreign debt last year as it faced a worsening economic crisis that spiked the price of fuel, food and other essential items. The inflation rate had hit 54 per cent by the end of last year and though it’s been coming down since then, not many Ghanaians can still tell the difference when they go to the market. Ebenezer Kotey Dsane, a 69-year-old driver said he voted for Mahama because “he is a good man” who “set up much infrastructure when he was in office.” “The current regime hasn't done much,” he said, pointing to the La General Hospital in Accra, one of the capital's main medical facilities, pulled down in July 2020 by the current government with a pledge to reconstruct it. “Until today, nothing has happened.” Some chose not to vote at all. Ruth Mensah, 42, an unemployed resident of Nima, a working-class suburb in Accra, said she decided not to cast a ballot. “I don’t see how voting will bring about a change to my life,” she said. Patricia Seyram Hagbevor, 20, a first-time voter and student at Accra Technical University said she wished for a change. She didn't disclose whom she voted for, but said she “hoped for a change for the better that will help develop our future.” The chronic challenge of illegal gold mining — known locally as galamsey — has also been a major issue in the campaign and a source of concern for voters, triggering protests and criticism against the outgoing government. Ghana is Africa’s top gold producer and the world’s sixth largest, but the commodity has been increasingly mined illegally as people become more desperate to find jobs in an economy that has been crumbling. The mining has polluted rivers and other parts of the environment despite government actions to clamp down on the practice. __ Pronczuk reported from Dakar, Senegal.'Shocking' bodycam video released of New York officers fatally beating prisoner

Takeovers, a title push and Lions: Why rugby fans have a reason to dreamANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector came "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. Hussein Malla, Associated Press "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. Khalil Hamra, Associated Press In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Hussein Malla, Associated Press Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. Matias Delacroix, Associated Press At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) Roni Rekomaa People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Christoph Reichwein Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) Jonas Ekströmer A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Petros Karadjias Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Christoph Reichwein People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Aurelien Morissard People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Aurelien Morissard People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Petros KaradjiasAren’t the holidays great? Food, family, and fun in extreme excess. Think about it. The joys of being up close and personal with people you love but maybe only see once a year. And now they’ve arrived from out of town, and you are forced to spend a lot of time with them, maybe even days. It can take the joy right out of the holiday. Imagine this: the presents have been unwrapped, the holiday meal is over, and you are now fighting about watching the football game or the Hallmark Christmas movie. And then somebody, who has maybe just chugged one too many eggs nogs, goes and mentions politics. Nancy Sorrells At this point, you have two choices: 1. Quickly grab a couch pillow, press it to your face, and silently scream into it, or 2. Suggest that everyone go outside for a hike. Of the two choices, I recommend the latter. There could not be a better place to explore the great outdoors at any time of year than the Rockingham County area, with about 150,000 acres of public land, including a national forest, a national park, two state forests, and many other local parks and public spaces. Here are three options for everyone in the family, from the youngest to the oldest and from the most mobile to the least mobile. Give one or all of them a try this season, and you might genuinely enjoy peace on earth, or at least peace within the family, while also working off the feasting excesses that accompany the season. The Crist Farms Trail in Bridgewater offers several places to sit and enjoy the view, such as this one looking west. Crist Farm Walking Trails (Bridgewater) Although years in the making, the Crist Farm Walking Trail, owned and developed by the Bridgewater Retirement Community, just opened in 2024. The 20-acre preserve offers winding walking trails, all repurposed from a farm purchased by the retirement community. The area is open to the public every day from dawn to dusk. Visitors will discover a main, paved, ADA-accessible 1.2-mile walking trail that loops through the entire preserve. Part of the path skirts a lovely stretch of forest, while most of the trail loops around a large open meadow. Benches are conveniently located along the way and offer several nice viewpoints for sitting and taking in the view. There is a small pond and even a labyrinth that should keep the kids busy for a dizzying few minutes. Gravel paths interconnect with the main paved path to add more walking areas. Depending on your energy, you could spend hours here and walk several miles or sit and enjoy gazing at the Valley’s hills and mountains. (The trails are open to all from dawn to dusk and are at 101 Bradford Way, Bridgewater. For information, directions, and a site map, visit https://brcliving.org/crist-farm-walking-trails/ Kaylor’s Knob Trail at Massanutten. Kaylor’s Knob Perhaps you are up for something a bit more challenging than a walking trail and with a little more “wow” factor. For you, I might suggest Kaylor’s Knob, a not quite four-mile out-and-back trek in the Massanutten Resort. As many of you know, Massanutten Mountain is the 50-mile-long chunk of erosion-resident sandstone that splits the Shenandoah Valley and the Shenandoah River into two pieces. The Shenandoah River, a north-flowing river, arises in Augusta and Rockingham counties. The South Fork begins in Augusta. The South, Middle, and North Rivers that finally merge together at Port Republic and becomes the South Fork of the Shenandoah that flows NORTH on the EAST side of Massanutten Mountain. The North Fork of the Shenandoah flows NORTH on the WEST side of Massanutten. The two forks join at the north end of Massanutten Mountain at Front Royal to become the Shenandoah River proper, then flows northward to Harpers Ferry, which joins with the Potomac and flows into Washington, D.C. But I digress. To reach this trail from Harrisonburg, simply take U.S. Highway 33 east, turn into Massanutten Ski Resort, and drive several miles up the mountain to the Massanutten overlook. Park, walk across the road, to the west, and take the blue-blazed Kaylor’s Knob trail. I should add that either before you hike or at the end, make sure to take in the easterly view from the parking lot, which is a cool look across at the resort’s ski slopes. This trail provides a nice hike to a small summit with some pretty views, especially in the winter. The trek is not quite two miles to Kaylor’s Knob Summit and follows the ridgeline, presenting occasional views both west and east. There is nothing too strenuous about this trail. While there are a few ups and downs — the total elevation change is only about 500 feet — overall, the trail is slightly uphill to the summit and slightly downhill back to the parking lot (for the most part). The trail is very rocky in places, however, which means that the going can be a little slow to prevent turning an ankle among the sharp, pointy rocks. You will know that you have reached the summit when you spot a trio of trees with a sign hanging on the middle one stating: Kaylor’s Knob 2980 ft. At that point, stop and take a quick break, then turn around and head back down the ridge to the car. Directions to trailhead: From Harrisonburg, go east on U.S. Highway 33 for about 10 miles. Turn left at the Exxon on SR 644, Resort Drive. Follow this road and turn left on Massanutten Drive. You will reach a guard house. If the building is staffed, let the guard know that you are hiking, and you will get a free guest pass. After about 3 miles, take a right on Del Webb Drive. Follow Del Webb Drive for about two miles until you begin driving up to the ridge, where parking is on the left. Trailhead is across the road. The High Knob Fire Tower, in western Rockingham County on the West Virginia line, is the only stone fire tower in Virginia. The 360-degree view from the top of the tower is spectacular. High Knob Fire Tower If you are up for a little more adventure, then might I suggest that you take on the challenge of the spectacular High Knob Fire Tower. At about 3 miles roundtrip, this hike is actually shorter than the Kaylor’s Knob hike but is slightly more strenuous. The steady climb, however, brings the reward of an out-of-this-world view. For this adventure, U.S. Highway 33 is still the key to getting there, but instead of heading east as you did for Kaylor’s Knob, you have to take the road west and actually cross over into West Virginia. The trail starts on the top of Shenandoah Mountain in West Virginia. Look for a wide, flat parking area on your left. The trailhead is a little tricky to locate but is on the east side of the parking lot and immediately heads straight down, then levels out and rolls through some pretty evergreen shrubs, mostly Mountain Laurel and Fetterbush. In about .8 miles, the trail intersects with the High Knob trail coming from the Brandywine Campground below. At the trail intersection, turn left and start climbing. This is a steep climb for about a .1 mile, then levels out and turns right to become part of a fire road for another .1 mile before heading up and left again for the final ascent to the top. After another .1 mile of climbing, the trail merges with the fire road again, and then it is another .3 miles to the top. (Note that through here, you must make sure to respect and avoid the posted private property.) The beautiful stone fire tower comes into view once you are within a few hundred yards of the summit. Climb the steps to the tower and take in the 360-degree panorama. Try and figure out the landmarks in the valleys below that you can see from the tower. According to the excellent historical write-up about the tower on the Friends of Shenandoah Mountain website, planning began in 1939. It was built by crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps and World War I veterans. They used native stone that they found on the mountaintop. It is the only stone fire tower in the region. It was complete and used for fire watching by Forest Service firewatcher Gerald Fawley in the 1940 fire season. By the 1970s, the whole National Forest Service fire-watching system had changed, and most of the fire towers were decommissioned, and many were torn down. Luckily, High Knob was saved from demolition, restored, and made a national landmark. It is Virginia’s only stone fire tower and the only one intact on National Forest lands east of the Mississippi. The restoration, a joint project between the state preservation offices of Virginia and West Virginia, the James Madison University fraternities and sororities, and the WV Department of Transportation, was completed in 2003 at the cost of just under $40,000. The elevation at the fire tower is about 4,200 feet and the total elevation climb for the hike is about 600 feet. On a clear day, the views from the tower extend east to Shenandoah National Park and west to Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. For information and directions to the parking area, visit visitharrisonburgva.com .