Baker Mayfield throws for 3 TDs, Bucs take over 1st in NFC South with 28-13 win over Raiders
MLB NOTESLISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition. Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury . In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute. Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.” Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1. Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute. The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerA Florida man was arrested Wednesday and charged with a plot to "reboot" the U.S. government by planting a bomb at the New York Stock Exchange this week and detonating it with a remote-controlled device, according to the FBI. Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, of Coral Springs, Florida, was charged with an attempt to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce. The FBI began investigating Yener in February based on a tip that he was storing "bombmaking schematics" in a storage unit. They found bomb-making sketches, many watches with timers, electronic circuit boards and other electronics that could be used for building explosive devices, according to the FBI. He had also searched online for things related to bomb-making since 2017, according to the FBI. RELATED STORY | Court overturns actor Jussie Smollett's 2019 conviction in hate crime hoax case Yener also told undercover FBI agents that he wanted to detonate the bomb the week before Thanksgiving and that the stock exchange in lower Manhattan would be a popular site to target. "The Stock Exchange, we want to hit that, because it will wake people up," he told undercover FBI agents, according to court documents. Yener, who was described as "unhoused," wanted to bomb the stock exchange in order to "reboot" the U.S. government, explaining that it would be "like a small nuke went off," killing everyone inside the building, according to court documents. In the last month, he had rewired two-way radios so that they could work as remote triggers for an explosive device and planned to wear a disguise when planting the explosives, according to court documents. Yener had his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon and will be detained while he awaits a trial. He was known to post videos on a YouTube channel about making explosives and fireworks from household items, and had a history of making threats, according to court documents. He was fired last year from a restaurant in Coconut Creek, Florida, after his former supervisor said he threatened to "go Parkland shooter in this place." He was also part of a small group that tried to join the far-right anti-government group the " Boogaloo Bois " and extremist group the Proud Boys but was denied membership because he said he wanted "to pursue martyrdom," according to court documents. The news was first reported by the website CourtWatch. Calls to telephone numbers listed for Harun Abdul-Malik Yener in public records rang unanswered and a lawyer was not listed in court records.
Mail disruption could hurt donations to healthcare foundation and affect its ability to support future healthcare advancements in Southern Alberta. Sandy, grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter Sandy, grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter whose story is featured in their 2024 holiday appeal. Sandy had a medical emergency in 2023 that resulted in her being rushed to Rockyview General Hospital. She spent 15 critical days in Rockyview's Intensive Care Unit due to kidney failure and medication toxicity. Photo credit: Dana Pugh Canada Post strike threatens to impact healthcare charity, and patients, this holiday season Donor gifts to Calgary Health Foundation help ensure Calgary remains a world-class hub of medical care and continues to attract the best healthcare professionals, purchase the latest cutting-edge equipment and technology, and offer superior programs so patients can heal faster and enjoy more firsts with their families. Photo credit: iStock The appeal, which features the emotional story about the impact Foundation donors have had on one grateful Calgarian, is waiting at Canada Post processing centres to be mailed out to over 40,000 households this season. Sandy, a grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter whose story is featured in the appeal, had a medical emergency in 2023 that resulted in her being rushed to Rockyview General Hospital. Sandy spent 15 critical days in Rockyview's Intensive Care Unit due to kidney failure and medication toxicity. "I almost didn't make it,” Sandy remembers. "Thankfully, I had an incredible healthcare team looking after me. Caring and concerned community members were a huge part of the reason the team was able to save my life.” Last year, Calgary Health Foundation's holiday appeal brought in over $250,000, an amount that accounts for a significant portion of its year-end fundraising. Without knowing how long the strike will last or what impact it will have on its operations, the Foundation is preparing for a substantial drop in donations. "As a registered charity committed to championing healthcare in Southern Alberta, we rely on the support of donors to bring to life the projects we commit to. The recent mail interruption limits our donors' ability to give back to medical innovation and ensure we can continue to offer more healthcare firsts to patients. While this disruption affects traditional ways of giving, we still have many ways for donors to give. We encourage everyone to please call us, visit our website, or reach out for alternative ways to contribute.” Murray Sigler, President & CEO, Calgary Health Foundation. Calgary Health Foundation is currently committed to projects and programs advancing healthcare in the areas of, but not limited to, women's health initiatives, endoscopic spine and breast cancer surgery, interventional radiology, minimally invasive heart surgery, Parkinson's disease, Indigenous healthcare, mental health impatient treatment, and eating disorder programming. Donor gifts to Calgary Health Foundation help ensure Calgary remains a world-class hub of medical care and continues to attract the best healthcare professionals, purchase the latest cutting-edge equipment and technology, and offer superior programs so patients can heal faster and enjoy more firsts with their families. Donors can still give the gift of health this holiday season through on-line, phone and in-person donations. Donations received by December 31 st will be issued a 2024 tax receipt. To donate, go to givehealth.ca/holidayhelp . -30- FAST FACTS About Calgary Health Foundation Calgary Health Foundation is a community-based charity raising funds to advance healthcare across our city. We find opportunities to invest in excellence across the entire healthcare system and offer more firsts for care providers and patients, all to enhance outcomes and improve lives . calgaryhealthfoundation.ca How people can give to heath Attachments Sandy, grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter Canada Post strike threatens to impact healthcare charity, and patients, this holiday season CONTACT: Shannon MacMillan Director, Communications | Calgary Health Foundation 403.472.9573 [email protected]'Unbelievable' Odegaard transforms Arsenal and gets Saka smiling again
A timeline of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the search for his killer NEW YORK (AP) — The search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer has stretched into a fifth day — and beyond New York City. Police say it appears the man left the city on a bus soon after Wednesday's shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. The suspect is seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Police believe that words found written on ammunition at the shooting scene, including “deny," “defend” and "depose,” suggest a motive driven by anger toward the healthcare company. The words mimic a phrase used by insurance industry critics. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” Europe's economy needs help. Political chaos in France and Germany means it may be slower in coming BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe's economy has enough difficulties, from tepid growth to trade tensions with the U.S. Dealing with those woes is only getting harder due to the political chaos in the two biggest European countries, France and Germany. Neither has a government backed by a functioning majority, and France could take a while yet to sort things out. But some problems aren't going to wait, such as what to do about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's America First stance on trade and how to fund stronger defense against Putin's Russia. ‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend and $600 million globally “Moana 2” remains at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it pulled in another record haul. According to studio estimates Sunday, the animated Disney film added $52 million, bringing its domestic total to $300 million. That surpasses the take for the original “Moana” and brings the sequel's global tally to a staggering $600 million. It also puts the film in this year's top five at the box office. “Wicked” came in second place for the weekend with $34.9 million and “Gladiator II” was third with $12.5 million. The 10th anniversary re-release of Christopher Nolan's “Interstellar” also earned an impressive $4.4 million even though it played in only 165 theaters. Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Executive of Tyler Perry Studios dies when plane he was piloting crashes in Florida ATLANTA (AP) — The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios has died when the small plane he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The studio confirmed on Saturday that Steve Mensch, its 62-year-old president and general manager, had died Friday. The crash happened in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Photos from the scene show the plane having come to rest upside down on a road. Mensch helped advocate for Georgia’s film tax credit of more than $1 billion a year. Perry hired Mensch to run his namesake studio in 2016. Mensch died as Perry released his war drama, “The Six Triple Eight." The film was shot at the Atlanta studio. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The biggest shake-up in the advertising agency landscape in decades is upon us as Omnicom announces the acquisition of IPG. Omnicom boss John Wren with IPG counterpart Philippe Krakowsky / Omnicom It’s now official. After overnight leaks, Omnicom has today confirmed that it has agreed to acquire its fellow New York-based holding company Interpublic in a deal that would create the world’s largest advertising agency business. In a joint statement, the two companies said their boards had unanimously approved the takeover of IPG (valued at $10.9bn at the close of trading on Friday) by its larger competitor (Omnicom was worth $20.2bn at Friday’s close). The combined group will have net revenue of more than $20bn. This would make it the biggest advertising holding company in the world in revenue terms, shifting the balance of power to the US from Europe, where London-based WPP and Paris-based Publicis Groupe have been battling for supremacy. Just last week, Publicis was touting the news that it was finally about to usurp WPP and become number one holding company by the end of 2024. “This strategic acquisition creates significant value for both sets of shareholders by combining world-class, highly complementary data and technology platforms enabling new offerings to better serve our clients and drive growth,” said John Wren, chairman & chief executive of Omnicom. “This combination represents a tremendous strategic opportunity for our stakeholders, amplifying our investments in platform capabilities and talent as part of a more expansive network,” added Philippe Krakowsky, Interpublic’s chief exec. Wren will remain chairman & chief exec of Omnicom. Phil Angelastro will remain EVP & chief finance officer of Omnicom. Philippe Krakowsky and Daryl Simm will serve as co-presidents and chief operating officers of Omnicom. Krakowsky will also be co-chair of the Integration Committee post-merger Omnicom’s flagship agencies include BBDO, DDB, TBWA, OMD and PHD while IPG counts McCann, FCB, MullenLowe and IPG Mediabrands among its marquee shops. Despite sharing similarly storied histories, their recent fortunes have been contrasting. Omnicom reported 6.5% organic growth year-over-year in its Q3 figures , but IPG’s revenues have been flat, and it is selling off the digital agencies Huge (already gone) and R/GA (on the way – unless this deal offers a buzzer-beater reprieve) in order to improve its balance sheet . “I don’t think there will be too much surprise IPG is being sold given both its operational and share price performance and recent sales of agencies,” wrote the analyst Ian Whittaker. Haven’t we seen this movie before? Omnicom was close to a similarly transformative deal a decade ago when it agreed to a stunning $35bn mega-merger with Publicis Groupe. Announced in July 2013 with a celebratory photo call between then-Publicis chief executive Maurice Levy and Omnicom counterpart Wren in front of the Arc De Triomphe, the so-called “merger of equals” ultimately descended into a power struggle, and the deal collapsed in May 2014. Advertisement It’s a cautionary tale that while the Omnicom-IPG merger has been announced, replete with the customary shot of new partners Wren and Krakowsky together, there will still be much to unpack behind the scenes before any agreement becomes official. The two parties say they expect the deal to close in “the second half of 2025”. What hurdles could stand in the way? As the breakdown of the Publicis Omnicom merger demonstrated, deals of this scale are not straightforward to complete no matter the initial willingness of the parties involved. Holding companies are rife with internal politics, with individual agency brands effectively competing with each other for self-preservation as their behemoth parent companies are squeezed by budget-cutting clients or encroaching tech giants. This has given rise over the last decade to the age of holding company reinvention or – to put it less euphemistically – rationalization. At IPG, this has most recently manifested itself in R/GA being put up for sale and Huge being offloaded to private equity firm AEA Investors last week. “Putting more and more separate branded businesses into big silos is not an option in a deal of this kind,” says Matt Lacey of Waypoint Partners. “Therefore, we are likely to see significant consolidation of agency brands over the next few years, akin to what WPP has been doing .” Advertisement Omnicom and IPG will no longer merely need to work out how to get their own houses in order, but each other’s. This will mean settling issues such as the conflicts of interest that will inevitably arise from their agencies sharing clients in the same categories and the political minefield of who gets the top jobs. ( The battle to choose the CFO was said to be one of the stumbling blocks in the Publicis-Omnicom negotiations ). Perhaps, though, this is where having a clear senior partner will make the process easier than the always fanciful notion that a “merger of equals” could be achievable à la the doomed Publicis Omnicom Group. Both firms being headquartered in the same city may help with the practical challenges that any such merger presents (people, corporate structure, tax, offices, culture etc), but the US dominance may add to the deal’s difficulty. As Whittaker says: “Don’t assume this deal will get regulatory approval ... the Republicans view the advertising/agency industry not as a friend and the new administration [looks] as though it will continue, or accelerate, the Biden administration actions.” How will rivals react? Having gone to the trouble of recruiting Snoop Dogg to celebrate becoming the holding company top dog, the team at Publicis Groupe will not be thrilled at such news dropping this hot only a matter of days later. Until this point, the industry-leading growth of the Arthur Sadoun-led firm had undoubtedly been the holding company story of the year. Expect Publicis now to push the narrative that it has grown to outstrip its competition without having to buy any of them. Catch up on the most important stories of the day, curated by our editorial team. Stay up to date with a curated digest of the most important marketing stories and expert insights from our global team. Learn how to pitch to our editors and get published on The Drum. Curiously, a report did surface on the financial blog Betaville last week suggesting Publicis was lining up a bid for IPG though that rumor was ultimately unsubstantiated. Will this trigger a wave of consolidation across the marcomms space? Many eyes will turn to WPP, likely dethroned either by Publicis, this new entity or both as the world’s biggest holding company after years at the top, in expectation of a response. But perhaps some of the most interesting activity will be a rung down from the super-sized holdcos. As The Drum columnist and Green Square partner Barry Dudley puts it: “The Vivendi break up feels like one can become four, as an undervalued group spins itself out. While Omnicom and IPG coming together is more 1 + 1 equals 1.75.”Accel Entertainment Announces the Successful Closure of Its Acquisition of Fairmount Holdings, Fairmount Park, Inc. D/b/a FanDuel Sportsbook & Racetrack in Collinsville, Illinois, Broadening Accel’s Reach Into the Locals Gaming MarketLONDON (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. Brian Melley, The Associated Press
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), UNITAR and its International Training Centres for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL Global Network) announced the launch of the UNITAR-certified Sport Safety and Security Training and Advanced Education Programme, designed specifically for professionals from Asian football federations, leagues, and clubs. The programme was launched during an online event attended by over 60 safety and security professionals from Asian football stakeholders, alongside senior representatives from the United Nations and the ICSS. The programme aims to enhance the expertise, processes, and resources of safety and security professionals across the region. Participants will gain access to an international network of peers, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to address emerging challenges effectively. The training programme comprises 13 interlinked courses, each averaging 15 hours, and is delivered entirely online to accommodate participants’ schedules and pacing. Participants can enrol in individual courses or complete the entire programme to earn a higher-level certification and internationally recognised academic credits. Certified by UNITAR – the United Nations Institute for Training and Research – and delivered through its CIFAL Global Network and the ICSS, the programme meets the highest training standards, equipping participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills. Commenting on the roll out of the programme, ICSS CEO Massimiliano Montanari, said: “The programme represents both a training opportunity and a way to empower the community of safety and security professionals who daily work to safeguard football competitions in Asia.” Julio Andrade, Associate Director, CIFAL Global Network, UNITAR, emphasised that after home and school, sport is the main third area of development for minors: “In this area people develop physically, socially and psychologically. For this reason, the world of sport, particularly football, has a great responsibility in terms of contributing to the promotion of the SDGs and leading the way in ensuring that sport is played in safe and sustainable environments,” Shin Man Gil, AFC Deputy General Secretary (Competition and Football Events), pointed out that “the Confederation is duty-bound to ensure that safety and security remains at the forefront of the AFC’s competitions and events, in order to safeguard the Asian football community. This landmark programme has been designed not only to address the stadium and security needs and priorities of Asian football but also enables us to take proactive measures to refine our risk management strategies and protocols.” Related Story Arab Ministerial Contact Committee urges support for inclusive, 'peaceful' Syria transition More than 1,000 attend Arab Nurses and Midwives ConferenceWalmart’s Black Friday sale is live–We found the best deals to save up to $600
At least 6 dead in political protests in Pakistan’s capitalRALEIGH, N.C. -- CNN wants a court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson that attacks its report that he made explicit posts on a pornography website’s message board. The network says Robinson presented no evidence that the network believed its story was false or aired it recklessly. The September report says Robinson, who ran unsuccessfully for governor this month, left statements over a decade ago on the message board in which, in part, he referred to himself as a “black NAZI" and said he enjoyed transgender pornography. The report also says he preferred Adolf Hitler to then-President Barack Obama and slammed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as “worse than a maggot.” Robinson, who was seeking to become the state's first Black governor, said he didn’t write those posts and sued in October, just before early in-person voting was to begin. While filing a dismissal motion Thursday in Raleigh federal court, attorneys for CNN said Robinson’s arguments suggesting he was the likely victim of a computer hacking operation that created fake messages would require a series of events that is not just “implausible, it is ridiculous.” Generally speaking, a public official claiming defamation must show a defendant knew a statement it made was false or did so with reckless disregard for the truth. “Robinson did not and cannot plausibly allege facts that show that CNN published the Article with actual malice,” attorney Mark Nebrig wrote in a memo backing the dismissal motion, adding that the lawsuit “does not include a single allegation demonstrating that CNN doubted the veracity of its reporting.” For Robinson, who already had a history of inflammatory comments about topics like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights , the CNN story nearly led to the collapse of his campaign. After the report's airing, most of his top campaign staff quit, advertising from the Republican Governors Association stopped and fellow Republicans distanced themselves from him, including President-elect Donald Trump. Robinson lost to Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein by nearly 15 points and will leave office at year-end. Robinson's lawsuit was initially filed in state court. It says, in part, that CNN chose to run its report based on data from the website NudeAfrica, which had been hacked several years ago and ran on vulnerable, outdated software. His suit claims the network did nothing to verify the posts. He's seeking monetary damages. Thursday's memo highlights the network's story, including a section where the CNN journalists showed how they connected Robinson to a username on the NudeAfrica site. As the CNN story said previously, the memo says the network matched details of the account on the message board to other online accounts held by Robinson by comparing usernames, an email address and his full name. The details discussed by the account holder matched Robinson’s length of marriage, where he lived at the time, and that both Robinson and the account holder had mothers who worked at a historically Black university, the memo says. CNN also said it found matches of figures of speech used by both the NudeAfrica account holder and in Robinson’s social media posts. “This is hardly a case where, as Robinson alleges, CNN ‘disregarded or deliberately avoided the truth’ rather than investigate,” Nebrig said, adding later that the network “had no reason to seriously doubt that Robinson was the author” of the posts. Robinson's attorneys didn't immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment. The lawsuit says anyone could have used Robinson's breached data to create accounts on the internet. His state lawsuit also sued Louis Love Money, a former porn shop worker who alleged in a music video and a media interview that for several years starting in the 1990s, Robinson frequented a porn shop where Money was working and that Robinson purchased porn videos from him. Robinson said that was untrue. Money filed his own dismissal motion in the state lawsuit. But since then, CNN moved the lawsuit to federal court, saying that it's the proper venue for a North Carolina resident like Robinson and a Georgia-based company like CNN and that the claims against Money are unrelated.
The states that saw the most active attacks against election certification two years ago certified the results of this year’s races without controversy this week, prompting the Arizona secretary of state to proclaim that “election denialism” is a thing of the past. Others said they weren’t so sure. Certification proceeded normally this year in part because Donald Trump won the presidential race, quieting his supporters after he had spent the campaign making unsubstantiated claims that he could lose only through widespread cheating . The statewide certification votes Tuesday in Nevada and New Mexico follow a vote Monday to certify the results in Arizona. In all three states, the certification process was tumultuous during the 2022 midterms when Democrats won most statewide offices. Those controversies followed attempts by Trump and his allies to halt or challenge certification in Michigan, Georgia and other battleground states in 2020, disrupting what until then had been a routine administrative process. This year, some who have been the most vocal in questioning the integrity of elections have instead been celebrating Trump’s victory. “The results are being accepted in the manner that they are, in part, because those who have been eroding trust or casting doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections have a result they feel good about,” said David Levine, a former local election official in Idaho who now advises on election administration issues. “Hopefully we can get back to a place where Americans can feel confident in the results even if it’s one they disagree with.” On Tuesday, Nevada and New Mexico certified their statewide results with little discussion. During Monday’s certification in Arizona, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes reflected on the lack of controversy this year. “I think the age of election denialism, for all intents and purposes, is dead,” he said. Sitting next to Fontes, state Attorney General Kris Mayes, a fellow Democrat, said she was more skeptical. Her Republican opponent in 2022 spent two years challenging his loss . “Do I think election denialism is dead? No, I don’t,” she said. “We’ll see over the next couple of election cycles what happens, but I don’t think we’re there yet.” Public confidence in elections has dropped since Trump challenged his loss in 2020 and made false claims of widespread fraud, particularly among Republicans . Some Republicans began targeting the certification process, when local and state boards certify the results after local election officials provide them with the final tally of votes. A firestorm erupted in Georgia over the summer when the state election board, with a new pro-Trump majority, attempted to politicize the certification process with changes later blocked by the courts. While certification battles did not surface after the Nov. 5 election , a vocal segment within the Republican Party remains deeply skeptical of election processes, particularly of the availability of mail ballots and the use of ballot scanners to tally votes. During a forum Monday on the social platform X led by the group Cause of America, the group's director expressed doubt about voting equipment. Shawn Smith, who also is a retired Air Force colonel, argued the certification process suppresses legitimate concerns and goes against “the sovereignty of the people.” Although not as widespread as four years ago, this sentiment did surface sporadically at the local level this month. In Washoe County, Nevada, which includes Reno and voted narrowly for Vice President Kamala Harris, the vote to certify the results was 3-1 with one abstention. Commissioner Jeanne Herman has consistently voted against certification and did not make a public comment about her vote this year. Commissioner Mike Clark, a staunch Trump supporter who had also previously voted against certification, said he would abstain and left before the vote. “I am not an election denier and clearly the person I wanted to win, won this state,” Clark said before leaving the meeting. “However, that does not mean that all the protocols were followed and that we can truly certify the election.” Such skepticism, whether in Nevada or elsewhere, leaves the door open to certification disputes during future elections. The questioning of election results isn't limited to Republicans. Even though Harris quickly conceded after losing all seven presidential battleground states , online posts among her supporters continue to raise concerns about her loss. One Reddit community that has amassed 23,000 members features a steady drumbeat of Democrats scrutinizing a result they can’t believe is real. Some posting in the group have issued calls to contact Harris and her running mate to ask them to demand a recount or otherwise object to the outcome. Among the battlegrounds, Michigan was among those where Trump and his allies pressed to halt certification of the 2020 election for Democrat Joe Biden amid false claims of fraud and manipulation. Two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers who initially opposed certification eventually relented. The state board of canvassers eventually voted to certify, even after one Republican member abstained. This year, the state board voted unanimously on Nov. 22 in favor of certifying and praised the state’s election workers. In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger certified his state’s results on Nov. 22. Four years ago, the Republican state official was facing immense pressure from Trump and his allies to investigate their unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Also certifying results Tuesday, and doing so unanimously, was the state Board of Elections in North Carolina. It was the only presidential battleground state won by Trump in 2020 — and the only one where he and his allies didn't make claims of fraud. ___ Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ken Ritter in Las Vegas, Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report. Christina A. Cassidy, The Associated PressThe benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq continued their upward trend on Tuesday, driven by a rally in technology stocks, while market participants considered President-elect Donald Trump's tariff proposals. The Federal Reserve's recent minutes revealed a division among officials regarding future interest rate cuts. U.S. short-term interest-rate futures reduced earlier losses following this revelation. The discussions from the Fed's November meeting suggested a wait-and-see approach in offering monetary policy guidance. Trump's announcement of a 25% conditional tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, which may challenge an existing trade agreement, further intensified trade tensions. An additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports was also proposed, escalating the threat of a trade conflict. Shares of Ford and General Motors declined significantly, reflecting worries about increased production costs and potential revenue dips. Market analyst Robert Pavlik remarked on the current investor uncertainty. Major indices showed mixed results with the Dow Jones experiencing a slight decline, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted gains, supported by tech giants like Microsoft and Apple. Financial and automotive sectors faced challenges amid complex trade and regulatory landscapes. (With inputs from agencies.)Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney general
Canada’s Farm Show (CFS) in Regina, Sask. is shaking things up in 2025. The event, usually held in June, is now moving to Mar. 18 to 20. The show is built on three pillars: education, innovation, and collaboration with programming emphasizing seminars, hands-on experiences, and cutting-edge technology. Roberta Engel, acting President and CEO of the Regina Exhibition Association Limited said CFS is all about advancing agriculture while celebrating the people who power it. “Moving the show to March aligns with farmers’ seeding cycles, ensuring they get an early look at the tools and technologies they need,” she said. “Our goal is to create an inspiring and valuable experience for attendees and exhibitors alike.” With 80 per cent of spaces sold, returning exhibitors include Bourgault Industries, Brandt Group of Companies, Dutch Industries, Degelman Industries, Farm Credit Canada (FCC), Nick’s Service, Prairie Ram, Ritchie Brothers, Thunderstruck Ag, and Viterra. Several first-time participants are Apache Sprayers, Condie Seed, AG Access, DyMark Industries, FP Genetics, among others. The trade-show floor will include product showcases and launches happening throughout the three days. A CFS Kick-Off Party will feature award winning country artist Jelly Roll on Mar. 16. CFS will be offering a VIP Program for the concert before the week begins. The entertainment continues throughout the show at the Young’s Equipment Farmhouse Lounge, opening daily at 11:00 a.m. Monday will see Farm Management Canada host their Bridging the Gap Farm Transition Workshop and the annual Welcome Reception. On Tuesday, March 18, CFS will celebrate farmers with the Regina Pats’ Thank You Farmers Game where the Pats will take on the Swift Current Broncos. Each day of the show will feature a theme. Opening day on Mar. 18 is Farmer Appreciation Day which starts with breakfast at 9:00 a.m., followed by industry leaders and speaker panels and safety programming. The day concludes with a Thank You Farmers Tailgate Party. Day 2 is Innovation Day on Mar. 19 which spotlights advancements shaping agriculture’s future. The 2025 Innovator Recognition Program will honour four individuals in the categories of emerging, lifetime, farmer, and community Innovators. Cultivator, powered by Conexus, returns with a new session designed to help farmers integrate new technologies and practices into their operations. This year will include back-to-basics learning sessions, providing insights to evaluate and adopt the right innovations for each farming operation. Mar. 20 is Young Farmer Day which supports the next generation of agriculture leaders. CFS is home for the Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers Program the Launch Your Career in Ag and Think AG. Show Passes are available now, with single-day and three-day options. – alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com On X: @farmnewsNOW