The atmosphere was festive at the Brar brothers' farm in South Surrey last Wednesday, as volunteers including Surrey Eagles hockey players packed hundreds of hampers for local families in need. With Christmas tunes playing in the background, the mood was jolly as the junior hockey team prepared carrots, potatoes, canned and dry goods, squash and much more, even playfully creating a tower of boxes that nearly reached the high ceilings of the farm facility. Farming brothers TJ and Ron Brar, who own the British Columbia Hockey League team as well as their farming business, reached out to their agricultural neighbours to help fill the hampers, including Evergreen Herbs, Heppell's Potatoes, North American Produce, Fresh Direct Produce, Windset Farms, RGR Produce, Little Potato Company and Sun Rich Foods. "We have such amazing fans around our rink, and giving back to them the way that they give back to us... they've been amazing. Giving back to people who may be struggling this Christmas season feels great," said Eagles winger Savek Brar, while packing the hampers. "It's a great team thing we're doing, and it's really important for us as an organization." His teammate Ryan Evenhuis agreed. "I think it's good to give back, because there's people who are less fortunate than us and they don't get a Christmas like us," he said, as his teammates packed hampers and also built a tower of boxes that nearly reached the ceiling. "I feel like it's a good thing ... to make someone else's Christmas a little bit better." Prior to the game starting at South Surrey Arena Friday (Dec. 20), the players and other volunteers handed out the fully stocked hampers — which also included tickets to a 2025 Eagles game — to those who showed up, who were very grateful, Ron Brar said. "It went fantastic! We helped a lot of people ... it was amazing," he said Monday (Dec. 23). "There was a real mixture — young families, older families, individuals — a real variety." While they were able to give away at least 100 hampers, 400 went to the Surrey Food Bank, Brar said, noting the location may have been harder to get to, for some, but the hampers and goods inside are still going to local people in need. Next year, they may look at publicizing it more, further in advance, or doing it in a different place, he added. Eagles won their Friday game vs. the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 4-1, with a nice break until their next game Jan. 3 vs. the Prince George Spruce Kings at home in South Surrey. The Dec. 20 game was also the team's "teddy toss" night, which was also a big success, Brar said, with numbers still being tallied. He wished the entire community a very merry Christmas and happy New Year, and extended wishes for "only the very best" for all in 2025.Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett to enter transfer portal
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No. 25 Illinois 87, Md.-Eastern Shore 40Ricks 1-4 2-2 4, Hutchins-Everett 8-15 0-0 17, Brown 5-12 3-4 18, Freeman 6-10 2-3 16, Smith 1-3 3-4 5, Lindsay 3-8 2-3 11, Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Dowuona 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-55 12-16 71. Brigham 4-6 0-0 9, Nicholson 6-9 3-6 15, Cotton 1-5 0-2 3, Franklin 3-5 0-0 7, Pierre 8-21 7-9 24, Houge 2-3 0-0 4, Ituka 1-1 1-1 3, Niagu 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-51 11-18 65. Halftime_James Madison 40-29. 3-Point Goals_James Madison 11-27 (Brown 5-9, Lindsay 3-7, Freeman 2-3, Hutchins-Everett 1-3, Williams 0-1, Ricks 0-2, Smith 0-2), Jacksonville St. 4-17 (Brigham 1-1, Franklin 1-3, Cotton 1-4, Pierre 1-8, Niagu 0-1). Rebounds_James Madison 29 (Smith 9), Jacksonville St. 29 (Nicholson 8). Assists_James Madison 15 (Brown 4), Jacksonville St. 15 (Pierre 7). Total Fouls_James Madison 14, Jacksonville St. 15.
TEHRAN – The foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Russia convened in Qatar on Saturday for high-level talks addressing the volatile situation in Syria. The meeting, part of the Astana peace process, came amid a surge of hostilities in the northwest of the country, where terrorists have recently seized significant territory. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized the necessity of political dialogue and regional cooperation during the discussions. Araghchi has traveled to Qatar to take part in the Doha Forum 2024 and the meeting of the Astana process on the sidelines of the event. Speaking to reporters after the session, Araghchi highlighted that the focus was on creating pathways to de-escalate tensions, restore territorial integrity, and ensure Syria’s sovereignty. “This was a highly productive meeting,” Araghchi stated, noting that it included the participation of United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. "We agreed unanimously that hostilities must end immediately and that Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected in line with UN resolutions." The top Iranian diplomat underlined that political negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition groups should begin as a matter of priority. "The initiation of political dialogue is critical to achieving long-term peace and stability," he said. The trilateral discussions occurred against the backdrop of intensified clashes in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. On November 27, the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a major offensive, capturing strategic areas. Syrian government forces have since been engaged in fierce battles to regain control. Syria has been engulfed in foreign-backed conflict since 2011, with Western nations and Washington’s regional allies supporting terrorist groups to destabilize the country. In the meeting, participants voiced collective concern about the humanitarian crisis and reiterated their commitment to finding a political solution to the conflict. They also discussed the need for ongoing consultations with key stakeholders, including the Syrian government and other regional powers. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, separately stated that he, along with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts, are calling for “an end to hostile activities” in Syria, where opposition fighters have made a rapid advance in a major challenge to President Bashar al-Assad. Araghchi’s diplomatic mission in Doha extended beyond the Astana talks. He met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s Emir, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar to discuss pressing regional crises, including the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and the fragile situation in Lebanon. In another significant meeting, Araghchi conferred with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, focusing on Syrian affairs. Continuing his diplomatic meetings, Araghchi also had a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The Iranian Foreign Minister also held discussions with Hamas leadership, including Mohammad Ismail Darwish, Chairman of the Political Council of the Palestinian Resistance Movement. These talks centered on developments in Palestine and the broader implications for regional stability. Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to supporting Syria during a visit to Damascus, where he met with President Bashar al-Assad. “Iran remains steadfast in its support for the Syrian government, its armed forces, and its people in their fight against terrorism,” he said, emphasizing Tehran’s dedication to maintaining regional security. While in Baghdad, Araghchi also highlighted Iran’s readiness to assist Iraq in combating terrorism and strengthening its institutions. He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to stabilize the region and align political strategies among neighboring countries. Araghchi concluded his remarks by reiterating Iran's commitment to advancing dialogue and fostering cooperation. "We will continue consultations with the Syrian government, and other nations involved, to ensure progress in peace-building efforts. The Astana process remains a vital framework for addressing Syria’s challenges," he said. The Astana talks, also known as the Astana format, were founded in 2017, with 21 meetings held to date. The Astana format includes Russia, Iran, and Turkey as guarantor countries in the process of resolving the Syrian crisis, alongside representatives of the Syrian government and opposition, the United Nations, and observer countries: Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.