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LEDUC COUNTY, ALTA. — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase Alberta's oil and gas export volumes to the U.S. But Smith says her government is not interested in directly subsidizing a cross-border pipeline project, preferring instead to find ways to "de-risk" a potential private sector investment. Canada's main oil-and-gas producing province is keen to expand its pipeline access to the U.S. in the wake of Donald Trump's presidential election victory. In his first presidential term, Trump supported TC Energy Corp.'s Keystone XL pipeline project, which would have carried oil from Alberta to the U.S. but was scuttled when President Joe Biden revoked its permit on environmental grounds. TC Energy is no longer the owner of the Keystone pipeline network, having spun it off into a separate company called South Bow Corp., but some industry watchers have questioned whether the project could be revived. Smith says there are many ways to boost Alberta's oil and gas exports to the U.S., including expanding the capacity of existing pipelines. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:TRP; TSX:SOBO) The Canadian Press
Two-hundred and fifty minor hockey teams from six countries around the world are taking to the ice for the 24th annual Bell Capital Cup. Open to youth hockey teams ages 9 to 13 from across the world, more than 4,500 kids will play games held at various rinks across Ottawa and Quebec until New Year's Eve. For Isaac Charpy, it's about redemption after his team from Almonte lost in the finals of last year's event. While he has his eyes on the prize, he knows that it's still about having fun. "I like hockey the best out of any sport, and I would play hockey all day, every day if I could." Most of the young players who took to the ice Friday morning are stepping into familiar territory having played in previous years. "I was in here last year and we have so much fun," said Beckett Last on the U11 Kemptville Royals. "Just love the tournament all together." It's an event that has grown in size and culture according to general manager Mark Sluban. Teams from around the world are playing in the tournament such as Chinese Taipei, Korea, Austria, and the reigning division A champions from Slovenia. "It's an overall experience. Win or lose, everybody here that come out to Ottawa has a great time," said Sluban. "We have the best awards, we have the best trophies for player of the game," he added. "We go all out, we give them the full on experience with the live music and then all that stuff off the ice that you don't get when you go to minor hockey tournaments." The Bell Capital Cup on display inside Bell Sensplex as tournament kicks off. Friday Dec. 27, 2024. (Josh Marano/CTV News Ottawa) This is also the first year that the Bell Capital Cup has welcomed sledge hockey players, something Sluban says is important for growing the game as well as emphasizing inclusivity. The championship matches will take place on Dec. 30 and 31. The full schedule of Bell Capital Cup events can be found on its website. CTV News is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada These Walking Pads Will Help You Get 10,000 Steps Every Day (And They're On Sale In The Name Of Boxing Day) 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Home If You're Headed Somewhere Warm On Vacation, Don't Forget To Pack These 16 Things Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals 11 Bestselling Coffee Makers And Espresso Machines You Can Get On Sale Right Now Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day Ottawa Top Stories FREEZING RAIN WARNING | Freezing rain expected in Ottawa Saturday morning ahead of warm spell Police watchdog investigating after officer shot crowd control gun at Ottawa man Seeking solutions to the troubles facing downtown Ottawa Fan activities surrounding the World Juniors in Ottawa 24th annual Bell Capital Cup returns to arenas across Ottawa Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect What's open and closed in Ottawa over the holidays Teenage phenom Gavin McKenna scores, Canada tops Finland 4-0 in world junior opener CTVNews.ca Top Stories Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Missing dog returned to family home and rang the doorbell After a nearly weeklong search, Athena, a four-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix, found her way home to her Florida family in time for Christmas Eve and even rang the doorbell. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. 'Home Alone' director Chris Columbus explains how the McCallisters were able to afford that house Audiences have wondered for years how the family in 'Home Alone' was able to afford their beautiful Chicago-area home and now we know. Trump says Microsoft's Bill Gates has asked to visit him in Florida Donald Trump said Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has asked to visit him at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Friday night. B.C. man charged with dangerous driving after elderly Good Samaritan killed in crash A man is facing multiple charges of dangerous driving following a collision that led to the death of an 80-year-old Good Samaritan on Vancouver Island, B.C. Halifax Thunderbirds player Tyson Bell suspended, cited for assault in Colorado The Halifax Thunderbirds has suspended player Tyson Bell following an alleged assault in Colorado. Atlantic One dead in two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B. One person has died following a two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B., Friday. 'Nobody should have to go through that': N.B. family grieving father, daughter killed in crash A New Brunswick family is grieving the loss of a father and daughter in a crash. Halifax business owners hope tax holiday will prevent post-Christmas sales slump Time will tell if the federal government's tax holiday will pay off, but businesses hope to see an increase in sales during the slow winter months. Toronto Toronto's New Year's Eve festivities: Road closures and Union Station access restrictions to manage crowds The City of Toronto is taking steps to ensure New Year’s Eve revelers enjoy the festivities and get home safely. 1 arrested, 1 outstanding after armed robbery at Ancaster cannabis dispensary Police in Hamilton are looking for a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a cannabis dispensary in Ancaster. Pedestrian taken to the hospital after being struck by TTC bus driver at Islington Station A female pedestrian was taken to the hospital after being hit by the driver of a TTC bus on Friday afternoon, say paramedics. Montreal Montreal SPCA at full capacity amid spike in pet surrenders The holiday season is typically a slow period for the Montreal SPCA, but this year is different. The animal shelter says the tough economic climate has taken a toll on its operation, leaving it at full capacity. Tugboats, crews try to refloat ship stuck in St. Lawrence River near Montreal A team of tugboats is being deployed to refloat a ship that has been stuck in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Montreal since Christmas Eve. Avian flu cases are concerning Quebec health officials Avian flu is raising red flags across several provinces, including in Quebec. While it poses a low risk to humans right now, experts are concerned that could change. Northern Ontario Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. Five-vehicle crash closes Hwy. 11 in New Liskeard A collision involving five vehicles closed Highway 11 in both directions Friday morning between Golf Course Drive in New Liskeard and Highway 66 in Kenogami. Windsor VIDEO | Vehicle flipped on its roof in west Windsor collision A dramatic collision on Windsor's west side left one van overturned on its roof earlier this afternoon. Essex residents get second chance for holiday garbage pickup after calendar misprint Essex residents in the town’s north end will see garbage trucks return Monday, December 30 after a calendar misprint caused confusion about holiday trash collection. Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP On Dec. 25 at 9:00 p.m., police received a call to the eastbound lanes of the 401 near the 65 km marker. There the victim was stopped by three people in two suspect vehicles, one with flashing red and blue lights in the windshield. London Garage fire causes $125,000 in damages near Tillsonburg A garage was fully involved by the time responders arrived, with heat from the detached building compromising the residence next to it. Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP On Dec. 25 at 9:00 p.m., police received a call to the eastbound lanes of the 401 near the 65 km marker. There the victim was stopped by three people in two suspect vehicles, one with flashing red and blue lights in the windshield. Wortley Village business pillar to rise again as 'homage to what it was' Residents and merchants are hopeful 2025 will bring good fortune to Wortley Village in the wake of two devastating fires. Kitchener Fire rips through former Peter Hay Knife Company building in Cambridge Emergency responders were called to a fire in Cambridge on Thursday as flames ripped through the building that formerly belonged to the Peter Hay Knife Company. Influx of dogs in need, Waterloo Region dog rescue says A not-for-profit dog rescue in Waterloo Region is putting out a call for help around the holidays. Chicopee Ski Resort opens, celebrates 90th anniversary The slopes are officially open for the season at Chicopee Ski Resort in Kitchener. Barrie Snowy conditions bring near-perfect start to ski season with thousands of visitors A snowy December, topped off by a heavy snowfall just before Christmas, delivered nearly perfect conditions for ski resorts across central Ontario during one of their busiest weeks of the year. 'No excuse,' Driver caught speeding 160km/h in posted 80 zone: OPP Provincial police issued a reminder to motorists to slow down after a driver was stopped for allegedly travelling double the posted speed limit though Kawartha Lakes on Friday afternoon. Are your bins still at the curb? Here are the changes to curbside collection Curbside collection is delayed by one day this week due to the holidays. Winnipeg Downtown Winnipeg a hub for research, baking and milling at Cereals Canada High above on the tenth floor of a downtown Winnipeg office space, baking bread is a normal routine. Thousands of hockey players descend on Winnipeg for annual holiday competition Around 2,500 players, 170 teams, and a few Winnipeg Jets have taken over the Hockey for All Centre to mark an annual tournament over the holidays. Winnipeg police arrest fifth person in drug trafficking investigation; sixth suspect still at large The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) has made a fifth arrest in a drug trafficking investigation but is still searching for a sixth suspect. Calgary 'This is not our alignment': Year-end interview with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek reveals fissures between city and province on Green Line A year-end interview between CTV News anchor Tara Nelson and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Edmonton 'She's very good at politics': Analyst says Alberta's 2024 bills designed for Smith leadership success For one political expert, 2024 was all about the base in Alberta. Cell phone scam costs Edmontonians $600K: EPS Edmonton police are warning residents about a cell phone scam that has so far defrauded victims of more than $600,000. 'Like panning for gold': Christmas bird count invites community to help with avian research Armed with binoculars and birdwatching apps, dozens of locals could be seen out and about in the capital region Friday for an annual tradition aimed at understanding wild bird populations. Regina 'Something that connected us all': For 53 years, Sask. family celebrates holidays with street hockey game For over 50 years, Stephen Lentzos and his family have celebrated Christmas Day with a street hockey game. Regina police launch homicide investigation after injured man dies at scene Regina police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man found gravely injured Thursday evening. Travel not recommended for parts of Saskatchewan under risk of freezing rain Travel advisories are in effect for parts of south and central Saskatchewan on Friday, with icy roadways and the risk of freezing rain making for dangerous driving conditions. Saskatoon The thrill is gone from Boxing Week shopping, Saskatoon residents say Christmas has come and gone for most people, but the shopping hype continues as some get out of the house to take in the post-Christmas scene. Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Prince Albert man facing weapons charges after Christmas Day of armed robberies Police in Prince Albert, Sask, are reporting a harrowing Christmas Day story involving three armed robberies, two suspect chases and the shooting of a taxi driver. Vancouver B.C. man who flipped 14 homes in four years is fined $2M for tax evasion A serial property flipper in British Columbia has been convicted of tax evasion and fined more than $2 million for failing to report nearly $7.5 million in earnings. 79-year-old man assaulted on B.C. ferry, Sunshine Coast RCMP say Mounties on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast are asking anyone who witnessed an assault aboard a Thursday afternoon BC Ferries sailing to contact them. B.C. court orders fraudster who owes $36.7M to pay from retirement funds The British Columbia Securities Commission says a man behind one of the province's largest investment frauds has been ordered by the B.C. Supreme Court to use two retirement accounts to pay off a multimillion-dollar fine. Vancouver Island 2nd earthquake in 3 days reported off Vancouver Island coast A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Vancouver Island's west coast early Friday morning, less than 48 hours after a 4.8-magnitude quake in roughly the same location on Christmas Day. 79-year-old man assaulted on B.C. ferry, Sunshine Coast RCMP say Mounties on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast are asking anyone who witnessed an assault aboard a Thursday afternoon BC Ferries sailing to contact them. B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. Kelowna B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. B.C. man charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences after CBSA investigation A resident of B.C.'s Interior has been charged with weapon and drug trafficking offences after an investigation launched by border agents at Vancouver International Airport earlier this year. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Stay Connected
Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as he's named Time's Person of the Year
Iraq has been marred by decades of turmoil and violence, transitioning from monarchies and authoritarian regimes to efforts at democracy. Its political history includes a monarchy under British influence, a republic dominated by Ba'athist rule and Saddam Hussein's authoritarianism, and post-2003 attempts to establish democracy after the US-led invasion, which faced significant setbacks, including the rise of ISIS. As Iraq looks to rebuild, it faces significant challenges. Over a million people remain displaced, and three million need aid. The government also struggles to reintegrate liberated Sunni communities into the political system and to merge powerful Shiite militias, formed during the fight against ISIS, into the national security forces. Iraq was established in 1921 by Britain on territory seized from Ottoman Turkey during World War I. Britain governed Iraq under a League of Nations mandate and set up a Hashemite monarchy under its protection. On October 3, 1932, Iraq gained independence as a kingdom. BY Toibah Kirmani Britain reoccupied Iraq during World War II in 1941. This was in response to a coup led by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani, who sought to align Iraq with the Axis powers. The British quickly defeated Iraqi forces, reasserted control, and reinstated the pro-British monarchy under King Faisal II. The British faced resistance in imposing King Faisal as Iraq's ruler, as Iraqis—despite their diversity as Kurds, Turkmens, Shias, Sunnis, Christians, and Jews—were strongly independent and nationalistic. Many resented Western influence, particularly the British, and saw the monarchy as a symbol of imperial control. On July 14, 1958, Brigadier General Abdul Karim Qasim led a coup that overthrew the British-backed Hashemite monarchy, ending the reign of King Faisal II and declaring Iraq a republic. Qasim’s government adopted a neutral stance in global politics but leaned toward socialist policies, distancing Iraq from Western alliances like the Baghdad Pact. BY Outlook Web Desk However, Qasim's rule faced growing opposition due to his refusal to join the United Arab Republic, internal instability, and dissatisfaction among various groups. In February 1963, he was overthrown and executed in a coup led by his former ally, Abdul Salam Arif, who capitalised on mounting discontent and military unrest Abdul Salam Arif’s rule was marked by political instability, and power struggles. He died in a helicopter crash in 1966 and was succeeded by his brother, General Abdul Rahman Arif. Many political leaders took charge after him but all faced the same power dynamics. Saddam Hussein, a key figure in the party, steadily consolidated power behind the scenes and officially became president in 1979, marking the start of his authoritarian rule. Saddam Hussein ruled as a ruthless dictator, he used secret police to crush opposition, cultivated a personality cult, and aimed to position Iraq as the leader of the Arab world and dominate the Persian Gulf region. On September 22, 1980, Saddam Hussein led Iraq in an invasion of Iran, targeting the oil-rich border area of Khuzestan and making initial gains, including the capture of Khorramshahr. However, strong Iranian resistance, bolstered by revolutionary militias, stalled Iraq’s progress, leading to an Iranian counteroffensive in 1981 and turning the conflict into an eight-year, brutal war with no clear winner. BY Chinki Sinha On August 2, 1990, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait, accusing it of exceeding OPEC oil quotas and stealing from a shared oil field. The invasion, met with global condemnation, prompted a UN embargo and a demand for Iraq's withdrawal. When Iraq refused, a US-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm in January 1991, forcing Iraqi troops to retreat after a 43-day campaign. Civilian deaths resulting from the conflict are estimated at between 100,000 and 200,000. Saddam Hussein's rule grew increasingly oppressive under UN sanctions with the country suffering under UN sanctions, including trade bans, restrictions on weapons, and frozen assets. He refused to cooperate with efforts to disarm Iraq, leading to a US-led invasion in March 2003 after claims that he was in possession of dangerous weapons. Baghdad fell quickly on April 9, and Saddam went into hiding. He was caught by US forces on December 13, 2003. After Saddam Hussein's fall, the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) took control of Iraq, aiming to rebuild the country and maintain security. However, their efforts were disrupted by a growing insurgency involving former Ba'athists and groups like al-Qaeda in Iraq, targeting coalition forces, civilians, and infrastructure. In June 2004, power was transferred to an interim Iraqi government, and elections in January 2005 led to the formation of a Transitional National Assembly. Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani became president, and a draft constitution was approved later that year, though Sunni Arabs opposed it. BY Anjali Rawat Saddam Hussein was executed on December 30, 2006, by an Iraqi court. Shortly after, U.S. President George W. Bush launched a controversial plan, known as the "surge," to deploy over 20,000 additional U.S. troops to curb escalating violence. However, American support for the Iraq War had reached an all-time low, and Iraqis were exhausted by the ongoing conflict. By 2007, violence in Iraq began to decrease, allowing U.S. troops to start withdrawing. In 2008, Iraq and the U.S. agreed on a timetable for troop withdrawal, with combat forces leaving by August 2010 and all troops out by December 2011. The last U.S. forces departed in December 2011, marking the official end of the U.S. mission in Iraq. Politically, Iraq faced turmoil following the 2010 elections, which resulted in a power struggle between Prime Minister Maliki and his rival Allawi. After months of deadlock, a power-sharing agreement was reached in November 2010, but it quickly fell apart due to factional infighting. Maliki retained control over security forces, and protests erupted in early 2011 over issues like unemployment, corruption, and poor public services, with government forces responding harshly to demonstrators. BY Nayanika Sengupta In 2013-2014, the situation worsened. Sunni extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which later evolved into ISIS , took advantage of the political vacuum by 2014, launched a rapid offensive across northern and western Iraq. This prompted the Iraqi government to seek international assistance, including airstrikes from the U.S. and a coalition of countries, to combat ISIS. The war against ISIS became the central focus. It resulted in heavy casualties, widespread destruction, and the displacement of millions of Iraqis. By 2017, Iraqi forces, with the help of international support, largely defeated ISIS, although the group still posed a threat in some areas. Maliki was replaced by Haider al-Abadi as Prime Minister in 2014, but Iraq continued to struggle with political instability, corruption, and sectarianism, even after the fall of ISIS. But the situation in Iraq remained fragile, and in 2019, mass protests erupted due to widespread anger over widespread corruption and unemployment. People, especially young Iraqis, took to the streets demanding better jobs, healthcare, and an end to the corrupt political system controlled by parties with ties to Iran. The protests grew larger and turned into a movement against the government, which responded violently, killing hundreds of protesters. In response, Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned, but many of the protesters’ demands for real change and reforms were not fully met, leaving many Iraqis frustrated and disillusioned. The mounting pressure forced the Prime Minister to eventually resign. After Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned in December 2019, Iraq faced months of political deadlock until Mustafa al-Kadhimi became prime minister in May 2020. He aimed to tackle corruption, improve security, and prepare for early elections, which were held in October 2021. However, the elections led to further political gridlock, reflecting Iraq's ongoing struggles with instability and governance. Currently, over one million people in Iraq remain internally displaced and 3 million are in need of humanitarian assistance.What are wall mounted parts bins? Their Features and Applications
Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials following some underwhelming displays away from home, and the Gunners manager got exactly what he asked for. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners had failed to win or score in their two away games in the competition so far this season, but they made a blistering start in the Portuguese capital and took the lead after only seven minutes. Declan Rice fed overlapping full-back Jurrien Timber, who curled a low cross in behind the home defence for Martinelli to finish at the far post. Arsenal doubled their lead in the 20th minute thanks to a glorious ball over the top from Thomas Partey. Saka escaped the clutches of his marker Maximiliano Araujo to beat the offside trap and poke the ball past advancing goalkeeper Franco Israel for Havertz to tap home. It was a scintillating first-half display which completely overshadowed the presence of Viktor Gyokeres in Sporting’s attack. The prolific Sweden striker, formerly of Coventry, has been turning the heads of Europe’s top clubs with his 24 goals in 17 games this season – including a hat-trick against Manchester City earlier this month. But the only time he got a sniff of a run at goal after an optimistic long ball, he was marshalled out of harm’s way by Gabriel. David Raya was forced into one save, tipping a fierce Geovany Quenda drive over the crossbar. But Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. Former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards fired over, as did Gyokeres, with Arsenal temporarily on the back foot. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved, and Gyokeres’ miserable night was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.EastEnders’ Shona McGarty teases soap return to save Bianca and Sonia from killer psycho Reiss for 40th anniversaryKathmandu, Nov 24 (PTI) A court in Nepal on Sunday extended by 15 days the remand of Rabi Lamichhane, the former home minister and president of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, to continue investigating allegations of cooperative frauds and money laundering. The decision issued by Judge Himalal Belbase applies to Lamichhane and three others — former Deputy Inspector General of Police Chhabilal Joshi, Leela Pachhai, and Ram Bahadur Khanal. Lamichhane, who was first arrested here on October 18, has already undergone multiple remand extensions, bringing the total detention period to 40 days. A Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) team arrested Lamichhane from his party’s office in Banasthali, Kathmandu, and transferred him to Pokhara in Kaski district for investigation in a cooperative fraud case. A special parliamentary probe committee report alleged that former television journalist Lamichhane as the managing director of the Gorkha Media Network was involved in diverting funds from multiple cooperatives, including Rs 30 million, into personal accounts. The investigation follows a parliamentary special probe committee’s findings a couple of months ago, which implicated Lamichhane in financial irregularities while managing Galaxy 4K Television before he quit the media company to join politics in 2022. During Sunday’s court hearing, government attorneys and legal representatives for the victims argued for the remand extension, citing incomplete document analysis and pending evidence collection. However, Lamichhane’s legal team maintained the allegations lacked concrete evidence, opposing the extension. Earlier, police took Lamichhane to Butwal to investigate his alleged involvement in the fund misappropriation from the Butwal-based Suryadarsan Cooperative. In the meantime, district courts in Kathmandu and Chitwan issued arrest warrants against Lamichhane and others on charges of diverting deposits from Kathmandu-based Sworna Laxmi Cooperative and Chitwan-based Sahara Cooperative. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
A top-5 college basketball showdown kicks off the night session at the 2024 Maui Invitational , with the 4th-ranked Auburn Tigers taking on the No. 5 Iowa State Cyclones. The game is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET (4 p.m. HT) with TV coverage on ESPNU and streaming on-demand . How to watch: Live streams of the Auburn vs. Iowa State game are available with offers from FuboTV (free trial) , SlingTV (low intro rate) and DirecTV Stream (free trial) . For a limited time, FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month after the free trial period. With $30 offer, plans start at $49.99. #4 Auburn Tigers (4-0) vs. #5 Iowa State Cyclones (3-0) Maui Invitational matchup at a glance When: Monday, Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. ET (4 p.m. HT) Where: Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, Hawaii TV channel: ESPNU Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | SlingTV (low intro rate) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) Auburn has a signature win already and three other victories by at least 23 points over its first four contests of the 2024-’25 season. The schedule picks up for coach Bruce Pearl and his program in Maui with Monday’s matchup against Iowa State, followed by matchup against No. 11 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday night. Iowa State also plays ranked foes in its next two games, which are the Cyclones’ first two real challenges of the year. They head into Maui as 4.5-point underdogs to Auburn with their 3-0 record and wins over Mississippi Valley State (83-44), Kansas City (82-56) and IU-Indianapolis (87-52). RECOMMENDED • pennlive .com How to watch #16 Colorado Buffaloes vs. Kansas football: Time, TV channel, FREE live streams Nov. 23, 2024, 12:02 p.m. How to watch #8 Miami vs. Wake Forest football: Time, TV channel, FREE live streams Nov. 23, 2024, 7:00 a.m. Auburn Tigers vs. Iowa State Cyclones: Know your live streaming options FuboTV (free trial) - excellent viewer experience with huge library of live sports content; free trial lengths vary; monthly rate after free trial starts at $49.99 after current $30 discount offer. SlingTV (low intro rate) - discounted first month is best if you’ve run out of free trials or you’re in the market for 1+ month of TV DirecTV Stream (free trial) - not the same level of viewer experience as FuboTV, but the standard 7-day free trial is still the longest in streaming. The Tigers and Cyclones are set for a 9 p.m. ET start on ESPNU. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial) , DirecTV Stream (free trial) and SlingTV (low intro rate) .I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Marua Higgins looks barely recognisable in throwback photos from her pre-fame days. The 34-year-old reality star shot to fame in 2019 as a contestant on season five of ITV's dating show Love Island - where her no nonsense approach to romance won her an immediate fanbase. The Irish beauty is now winning over even more fans - including The Reverend Richard Coles - with an impressive stint inside the I'm A Celeb jungle. Maura has screamed her way through trials and wowed in the jungle waterfall shower - but resurfaced photographs may leave some fans struggling to recognise the woman they see on their TV screens today. Fans today will note Maura typically parts her hair and allows it to cascade over her shoulders. But back in the day, she was in favour of a heavy fringe and tied the rest of her hair back. On social media, the star has poked fun at her own past appearance - sharing a school yearbook image with the simple caption: "Oh". While other snaps showed her wearing simple clothes that are far removed from the glamorous outfits she sports these days. Since appearing on Love Island, Maura has been bombarded by rumours that she has gone under the knife in pursuit of beauty - an allegation she has strongly rejected. She previously told the Daily Mail: "I got my lips done three months after coming out of Love Island, and lip fillers last five to six months. I haven't had anything done since then; I just let it dissolve. "But people still assume I've had my lips done, Botox. People are even saying I've had my nose done when I've not actually had any work." She explained: "I had braces on for a long time, and since my teeth have moved, they've actually pushed my lips out slightly. I feel like I don't need it. If I were to get my lips done now with my straight teeth, it just wouldn't be a good look." TV fans were shocked to hear Maura confirm she turned 34 on Sunday as she tried to celebrate her latest year around the sun while in the I'm A Celeb camp. One shocked viewer wrote on X: "How is Maura Higgins 34!!! I thought she was 28 tops." Another typed: "Maura Higgins is 34??? Thought she was about 22/23." Another wrote: "Would never have thought Maura was 34. She looks much younger." And a further disbelieving fan wrote: "No way is Maura 34? She looks so much younger." While Maura was excited to turn 34 in the camp, she was not given an easy ride for her birthday. Instead, she had to take on a horrific trial alongside her fellow stars. All 12 contestants were crammed into the Fright Bus where they had to endure being covered in insects and gunk. The highlights of the encounter aired on I'm A Celeb on both Monday and Tuesday night. 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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, beating the incumbent prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face reformist Elena Lasconi in a Dec. 8. runoff after most local surveys predicted he would win less than 10% of the vote. Georgescu, 62, was ahead after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.95%. According to local media, Georgescu in the past has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and called Ukraine “an invented state.” He has also sparked controversy for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes. Lasconi, of the progressive Save Romania Union party, or USR, followed with 19.17%. She beat by a slim margin incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, who stood at 19.15%. Lasconi on Monday warned that Romania is now in “a historical confrontation between preserving Romania’s young democracy ... and those who want to return Romania to the Russian sphere of influence.” She added: “Let us be very clear, Calin Georgescu is an open admirer of Vladimir Putin. He is open against NATO and the European Union ... He is for Romania’s isolation, which he calls neutrality ... And without NATO we are at the mercy of Russia.” Georgescu on Monday denied charges of being an extremist as “false, totally fake” and said he is “completely dedicated” to the Romanian people. “We remain directly linked to European values, but we must find our (own) values,” he said. “I’m not an extremist, I’m not a fascist, I’m a Romanian who loves his country.” Many observers have attributed Georgescu’s success to his TikTok account , which has 3.7 million likes and 274,000 followers. He gained huge traction and popularity in recent weeks. It is the first time in Romania’s 35-year post-communist history that the country’s most powerful party, the PSD, doesn't have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race, underscoring voters’ anti-establishment sentiment. Ciolacu's shocking defeat prompted him to submit his resignation as party leader on Monday. After polls closed on Sunday, the Central Election Bureau said 9.4 million people — about 52.5% of eligible voters — had cast ballots. Georgescu won 43.3% of the vote in Romania's large diaspora, while Lasconi got 26.8%. Romania's president serves a five-year term in the European Union and NATO member country and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. According to his website, Georgescu holds a doctorate in pedology, a branch of soil science, and held positions in Romania’s environment ministry in the 1990s. Between 1999 and 2012, he was a representative for Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program. His campaign positions included supporting farmers, reducing import dependence and ramping up local energy and food production. Georgescu's rising popularity will be tested when he faces Lasconi, who may attract more moderate voters who initially choose other candidates. Lasconi, a former journalist, told The Associated Press ahead of the vote that she saw corruption as one of Romania's biggest problems and expressed support for increased defense spending and continued aid to Ukraine. If she wins the final vote, she will be the first female president in Romania's history. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister.
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Snowfall records broken as Calgary transit detours remain in effectBack when he lived in Newtown, Alan Jones had a wall covered in photographs of himself with the Pick and Stick crew. There were football players, political allies, celebrities and billionaires; the “Moses of the airwaves” had cultivated a powerful fellowship over his first 20-odd years on air, and still had half his radio career to run. Yet even then, some in his orbit had misgivings about getting too close to Jones. “The last place you wanted to end up was on his wall,” said one. Being close to Jones was, as one former staffer put it, “an exhausting thing”. It was like being smiled upon by a capricious emperor. The anointed ones, who ranged from sports stars to musicians to prime ministers and premiers, were graced with favours and largesse. But they had to pay homage or risk it all. Jones’ warning that a failure to respond to a request would “be the end of our friendship”, was ominous indeed. This patronage was one of myriad ways Jones transformed himself from an everyday shock jock into The Man Who Ran Sydney. In the era when talkback was king and he had a 20 per cent audience share, he used his intellect, charisma and money to exploit the platform like no one else. “His power isn’t explained by the size of his audience,” says Chris Masters, author of . “It’s explained more by how he used it as leverage to advocate for his own interests and the interests of his powerful mates.” For decades, power protected Jones. He bullied his staff, bulldozed elected officials, and was perceived to favour handsome young men. Few were game to challenge him. Those who did paid the price. Jones was a man “drunk on power”, said one former staffer, and he “did not know when to stop”. But his grip loosened as society changed and Jones refused to change with it, as advertisers became reluctant to align themselves with his increasingly fringe views, and as movements such as #MeToo put the anatomy of power under the microscope. Last year, Jones faced his own reckoning. The chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont that he had used his power for sexual gratification, by groping and indecently assaulting young men, including one of his producers, without their consent. One of the men, who has since died, alleged that he “forces himself on young men and uses his power in a predatory way”. Another man, an employee, says he was groped by Jones. “He knew I wasn’t gay so it was about power dynamics,” he said. Police investigated. This week, with 26 offences involving nine alleged victims. He says he is innocent. The charges are before the courts. When one family contacted police a few years ago to raise allegations that Jones had indecently touched a relative, the officers were blunt. It would be the word of a social colossus against that of an ordinary person. Jones was not, the family recalled one of them saying, “Joe Blow from Bunnings”. Talkback radio used to be the only way ordinary people could speak directly to politicians, even if the microphone was controlled by the host. It was a win-win; listeners on so-called Struggle Street could get their problems addressed, politicians could talk directly to the people, and broadcasters were the powerbroker in the middle. “Forget the press gallery,” prime minister Paul Keating once said. “If you educate [broadcaster] John Laws, you educate Australia.” Articulate, relentless, merciless Jones outclassed all his rivals when he first fired up on air in 1985. He was an unlikely success story; a cross between a priest and a schoolmaster, who would sermonise and patronise in a voice so grating he was nicknamed The Parrot. Yet listeners loved it. “He played all the tabloid tricks,” says Masters. “Flatter your public, tell them ‘my listeners are my best researchers’. He ended up generating a kind of cultist following.” He slept three hours a day and seemed to devote the remaining 21 to work. He’d insist that his office reply to every letter. He’d often dictate them himself to his typist. In 1999, he wrote 3000 letters to government in eight months, the learnt under freedom of information laws. Almost 140 of those were to the prime minister, premier, and a handful of ministers. He expected recipients to reply promptly. Failure to do so risked an on-air dressing down. Premiers and prime ministers would put a staff member in charge of responding within 24 hours. They were dubbed the Minister for Alan Jones. The line between policy and personal blurred. Once, he was pulled over by NSW Police highway patrol on a trip to Canberra and didn’t realise he was crossing two lanes of the Hume to get to the kerb. He was almost hit by a truck. The next day, he wrote to then-police minister Paul Whelan, attempting to get the “cowboy” officer sacked. “I’m sick and tired of defending the police force when it’s peopled by yahoos like this,” he wrote. He would text politicians at all hours, furiously criticising their decisions and offering unsolicited advice about how those decisions would end in disaster. Once, he flamed a senior NSW minister for what he described as unforgivable ignorance. “Who the f--- do you think you are?” the radio broadcaster told the elected member of parliament. A response that pleased him could lead to benevolence. Another letter, obtained by under a similar FOI request 20 years later, involved a back-and-forth with then-Coalition sports minister Stuart Ayres about a sailing issue. Jones approved of Ayres’ actions. “That’s why you are a very good minister,” he wrote. “Is everything OK in the electorate? Yell out if I can help. With best wishes, Alan.” Many argue Jones, himself a failed political candidate for the Liberal Party, was only able to hold so much power because politicians surrendered it to him. Yet those who resisted grovelling found themselves in a bind. “It wasn’t that the ministers lacked courage,” said one former senior NSW Coalition minister. “It’s that you couldn’t convince a cabinet or party room to stand up to him too.” Taking on Jones about one thing meant the broadcaster would attack everything else that minister tried to do. “It subverted your ability to do other things,” he said. “It wasn’t worth the fight.” When Coalition premier Mike Baird backflipped on his plan to shut down greyhound racing after a sustained campaign by Jones, he was photographed arriving at Jones’ apartment at Circular Quay for a dinner of humble pie to win back support. Jones told his listeners the next day that the government would receive “full marks” from him if it reversed the ban. Jones would frequently shower praise on his long-time friend Tony Abbott: the broadcaster was one of two speakers at an event last year marking 10 years since Abbott became prime minister. When Abbott was in the top job, Jones would send him a weekly missive with about 30 dot points, offering advice, warnings, and tips on who was white-anting him, said one person close to him. Staff heard him dictate a sign-off: “Go for the jugular, Tony.” Abbott denies the story. “Mr Abbott ran his own political strategy and famously wrote his own speeches and personally signed off his own media releases,” said a spokesman. Politicians found their own ways of managing him. “There were certain techniques that worked with Alan, like going into the studio in person,” the former minister said. “It was harder for him to be mean to you if you were right in front of him. Colleagues used to say they would take a young male staffer with them [to put Jones in a good mood], like a burnt offering. Writing him a handwritten note; he’d write to you, and what I learnt was that you had to write back yourself, and give him answers to keep him [from speaking about the issue on radio].” The aim was to keep their issue off-air, said the politician. Being lauded could be as dangerous as being rubbished. “If you got praised by him, it was probably because you leaked to him, so your colleagues would be suspicious – and generally rightly so. Alan never did anything without a reason.” Jones might have left politicians so intimidated that they couldn’t sleep before an interview, but no one was more attuned to the vagaries of his mood than those who worked for him. The former teacher and rugby union coach was an exacting boss. One producer remembers sitting in the car park before work in the wee hours of the morning, wondering if he could face it all again that day. “I don’t think he ever said hello to me in all the years I worked for him,” he said. “Every day started with incredible tension.” For their first six months, Jones would put a new producer to a kind of loyalty test involving verbal abuse and the rubbishing of their work. “It was routine humiliation,” said one. Once, when Jones was dissatisfied with the performance of his staff, he made them write to the finance department to say they didn’t deserve to be paid for their day’s work. Another time, Jones found some faxes that had not been replied to, and made staff cancel leave to write back. “The way he blew up at people was a craft,” said another former producer, who – like many people interviewed for this story – spoke on the condition of anonymity because he still feared Jones’ impact on his career. “He never swore, but it was an articulate spray that was like being lashed by lightning. It was personal, it was cruel, it was demeaning. But it wasn’t someone losing control. The sprays were directed at staff, at salespeople, at CEOs. There was no one at 2GB that Jones felt he couldn’t stand over.” Jones was the station’s money-spinner. “What he wanted, he got,” says Mike Carlton, who worked with Jones at 2UE before the breakfast presenter jumped ship to 2GB. “He would just send in his manager, ‘Alan wants this, Alan wants this done’, and management would cave because they were desperate to keep him on side.” Working for Jones was intense. Yet Jones kept staff loyal, partly with occasional explosions of generosity. A Christmas card with $500 inside. Tickets to Wimbledon. A lavish dinner. There was also the sense that, beyond the bullying, the program was doing some good. “A lot of the stuff he pointed out related to stupid government policy, and a lot of it ended up benefiting people who deserved a result,” said a former producer. “That’s where it gets a little bit tricky; without an aggressive champion, they would never have got the result they deserved.” Many wondered what drove him so relentlessly. It wasn’t money for its own sake; those close to him estimate he has given away millions over the years. He would pay friends’ children’s school fees, give them money to buy their first property, cover their health bills. He still pays for the reunions of school football teams he coached in the 1960s. “He’d give it to people who were broke, who needed money for legal fees,” said one person who worked with Jones. He would also allow people to stay in his opulent homes, in Sydney, the Southern Highlands, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The guest list raised eyebrows; one former producer recalls dropping some briefs over and meeting the “procession of [male] athletes who would stay there”, he says. “Many of them were emotionally needy; quite a few had come from broken homes, and didn’t have supportive family relationships. There was a bit of a theme going through that. Part of it was he didn’t want to be alone.” Jones’ sexuality was scuttlebutt for decades, raised publicly only in double entendre. Jones never commented, not even after being arrested in a London public toilet – that was also a gay beat – for “outraging public decency” (he was cleared). He once told this masthead’s David Leser that he didn’t “believe people should be asked to [comment] in relation to their private lives”. But many, like Masters, believe Jones’ sexuality may be key to understanding his accumulation of power. He grew up in Queensland when homosexuality was illegal, and moved in worlds in which it was spurned, such as schoolboys’ boarding houses when he was a teacher, and rugby union when he was a coach. “There were good reasons for him to don the mask,” says Masters. “We’ve seen this in other powerful men from that era, the power base was built around them as a protective screen. It’s the manipulations – where to go, who you know, who can pull strings – that keeps you safe.” As his power grew, Jones became complacent. His staff and his acolytes were afraid to challenge him. He didn’t verify information he’d been given before presenting it on air, and got things wrong. The end began with his 2012 attacks on Julia Gillard – who stood opposite his good friend Abbott in the parliamentary chamber – when he said she should be tied in a chaff bag and dumped at sea. Within a week of reporting Jones’ comments to a Young Liberal dinner that Gillard’s father, who had passed away not long before, had “died of shame”, around 70 advertisers backed away from his show and Mercedes-Benz confiscated Jones’ $250,000 sponsored car. The editor who published ’s story, Neil Breen – who is now a television reporter for Nine, owner of this masthead – paid the price for challenging Jones. “From that day on, it always had an effect on my career,” he said. It angered some of Jones’ supporters at News Limited. It prompted Jones to run interference when Breen worked in radio. It disrupted relationships that still haven’t recovered. “You were just up against forces,” he said. “He was a significant foe.” Jones’ final, self-inflicted blow came in 2019, when he told then-prime minister Scott Morrison to “shove a sock” down the throat of New Zealand’s then-prime minister, Jacinda Ardern. The condemnation was swift and significant, and advertisers – whose business covered his $4 million salary – fled. Jones was already on thin ice due to his alliances with fringe politicians such as then-MP Craig Kelly, and a mammoth defamation payout for blaming a family for the deadly Grantham floods. He resigned from 2GB in 2021. Without his platform, Jones’ power rapidly dwindled. Even if he had stayed on air, his influence may not have protected him from the indecent assault allegations. Over the past decade, abuse of power accusations have all but ended the careers of other once-untouchable men even if they are eventually cleared, like the late cardinal George Pell. The world has changed. Power is a less effective cocoon. While speaking up still requires enormous courage, victims are no longer stigmatised. Where allegations of predatory behaviour were once stifled, police now take so-called silent crimes seriously. Where stars were once allowed to behave as they wanted as long as they brought in money, companies must now actively protect their workers. “There’s been a very important shift in how we operate as a society,” says academic and former journalist Catharine Lumby, who once had a piece critiquing Jones pulled when she wrote for , which was owned by Jones’ good friend Kerry Packer. “The avenues of survivors of assault and harassment are more educated; there’s been a sea change in attitudes.” Those who knew Jones say he would have stayed in front of a microphone until he died if he could have, holding on to the power that kept him safe and the busyness that kept him from introspection. The haunted, brilliant, flawed man “was scared of what came next”, says a former staffer. “He didn’t want any time to look in the mirror. He wanted to fill every day so there was no time for self-reflection.”
ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament as well as the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three games in South America. Here are some of the key issues that need to be answered over the next decade: Where will games be played? Saudi Arabia proposes 15 stadiums — eight still on paper — in five cities: Eight in the capital Riyadh, four in the Red Sea port city Jeddah, and one each in Abha, Al Khobar and Neom, the planned futuristic mega-project. Each would have at least 40,000 seats for World Cup games. The opening game and final are set for a 92,000-seat venue planned in Riyadh. Some designs are vivid . In Neom, the stadium is planned 350 meters (yards) above street level and one near Riyadh is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff with a retractable wall of LED screens. Saudi Arabia aims to host all 104 games, though there has been speculation that some games could be played in neighboring or nearby countries. When will the World Cup be played? Surely not in the traditional World Cup period of June-July, when temperatures in Saudi Arabia routinely exceed 40 Celsius (104 degrees). FIFA moved the Qatar-hosted World Cup to November-December 2022, though those dates were not loved by most European clubs and leagues whose seasons were interrupted. Also, that slot is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. January 2034 could be a possibility even though that would be just before the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The International Olympic Committee has signaled it won’t be opposed to back-to-back major events. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Saudi World Cup bid official Hammad Albalawi said the precise dates of the tournament are up the world soccer body. “That’s a decision by FIFA. We stand ready to be part of this conversation. But ultimately it’s a FIFA decision together with the confederations,” Albalawi said. Will stadiums be segregated for men and women? Giving more rights and freedoms to women in a traditionally conservative society is fundamental to Saudi messaging around the modernization program known as Vision 2030. The kingdom decided in 2017 to let women attend sports events, initially in major cities and in family zones separate from men-only sections. By 2034, at the promised pace of social reforms, female fans should not be restricted. Saudi Arabia launched a women’s professional soccer league in 2022 with players joining from clubs in Europe. They face no restrictions playing in shorts and with hair uncovered. Will alcohol be allowed at the venues or hotels? The Saudi prohibition of alcohol is clear and understood before FIFA signs any sponsor deals for 2034. But will there be any exceptions? The alcohol issue was problematic for the World Cup in Qatar because the expectation was created that beer sales would be allowed at stadiums even before Qatar won its bid in 2010. One year later, FIFA extended a long-time deal to have Budweiser as the official World Cup beer through 2022. Qatar then backtracked on that promise three days before the first game, causing confusion and the sense of a promise broken. In Qatar, alcohol was served only at luxury suites at the stadiums. Visitors could also have a drink in some hotel bars. But Saudi Arabia has even stricter rules on alcohol — and there is no indication that will change. Albalawi noted that Saudi Arabia has successfully hosted dozens of sports events where alcohol wasn't served. “We’re creating a safe and secure family environment for fans to bring their families into our stadiums,” he said. How will workers rights be protected? Saudi promises to reform and enforce labor laws, and fully respect migrant workers, have been accepted by FIFA but face broad skepticism from rights groups and trade unions. A formal complaint is being investigated by the U.N.-backed International Labor Organization. Protecting the migrant workers needed to build stadiums and other tournament projects — a decade after it was a defining issue for Qatar — looms as a signature challenge for Saudi Arabia. Would Israel be allowed to play if it qualified for the 2034 World Cup? Saudi-Israeli relations had been improving when FIFA all but gave the 2034 World Cup to the kingdom on Oct. 4 last year. Three days later Hamas attacked Israel and diplomacy got more complicated. Any soccer federation bidding to host a FIFA tournament accepts a basic principle that whichever team qualifies is welcome. That did not stop Indonesia putting up barriers last year to Israel coming for the men’s Under-20 World Cup. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel which had qualified through a European tournament nine months before the issue flared. FIFA moved the entire tournament to Argentina and the Israeli team reached the semifinals. Israel played at the 1970 World Cup but has never advanced through qualifying in Europe, where it has been a member of UEFA for 30 years. Europe should have 16 places in the 48-team World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Where will the final of the 2030 World Cup be played? Most of the attention at the FIFA Congress on Wednesday was on the Saudi decision, but the soccer body and its members also formally approved the hosts of the 2030 World Cup — the most spread out and longest ever. One game each in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the original host in 1930, will be played from June 8-9. The tournament resumes four days later for the other 101 games shared between Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Six countries, three continents, multiple languages and currencies. Fans traveling on planes, trains, automobiles and boats across about 14 kilometers (10 miles) of water between Spain and Morocco. The final is due on July 21, 2030 and a decision on where it will be played could cause some tension between the host countries. Morocco wants it in the world’s biggest soccer venue — the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. Spain, meanwhile, has proposed to host the final in either of the remodeled home stadiums of club giants Real Madrid or Barcelona. ___ Associated Press writer Baraa Anwer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report.PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday she's suing a Saudi Arabian agribusiness for allegedly violating a public nuisance law, contending that its groundwater pumping threatens the public health, safety and infrastructure of local communities in a rural western county. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday she's suing a Saudi Arabian agribusiness for allegedly violating a public nuisance law, contending that its groundwater pumping threatens the public health, safety and infrastructure of local communities in a rural western county. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday she’s suing a Saudi Arabian agribusiness for allegedly violating a public nuisance law, contending that its groundwater pumping threatens the public health, safety and infrastructure of local communities in a rural western county. The complaint filed in Maricopa County Superior Court alleges that the pumping at a Fondomonte Arizona, LLC. alfalfa farm has had widespread effects in the Ranegras Plain Basin of La Paz County, harming everyone who depends on basin water by drawing down supplies, drying up wells and causing the ground to crack and sink in some areas. The lawsuit is the latest action by Arizona against foreign companies that use huge amounts of groundwater to grow thirsty forage crops for export because of climate challenges in other countries. Rural Arizona is especially attractive to international businesses because it has no groundwater pumping regulations. The lawsuit alleges that since 2014, Fondomonte has extracted huge amounts of water that accelerated depletion of the basin’s aquifer. The company is a subsidiary of Saudi dairy giant Almarai Co. “We find the allegations of the Attorney General totally unfounded, and we will defend any potential action against Fondomonte and our rights vigorously before the competent authorities,” Fondomonte said in a statement Wednesday. “The company has invested significantly to bring the latest conservation technology and applies environmentally sustainable practices on these long-established farms,” it said. “Fondomonte has continued to develop responsibly during its time farming in the state and the company complies with all state regulations. ” Years of drought have increased pressure on water users across the West, particularly in states like Arizona, which relies heavily on the dwindling Colorado River. The drought has also made groundwater — long used by farmers and rural residents without restriction — even more important for users across the state. Mayes told reporters Wednesday that the Arizona Legislature has done nothing to fix the groundwater problem despite knowing about the problem for years. “While laws regulating groundwater pumping could have prevented this situation, the legislature’s inaction has allowed the crisis to grow,” Mayes said. “When the legislature fails to protect our most basic resources, the attorney general must step in.” La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, a Republican, commended Mayes, a Democrat, for attempting to address what she described as her community’s “most challenging” concern. “I know that my constituents will be thrilled over this, that somebody is actually paying attention to the real problems here,” Irwin said during Wednesday’s news briefing via a video conference call. Mayes’ lawsuit alleges that Fondomonte’s actions are a public nuisance under a state statute that prohibits activity that injures health, obstructs property use, or interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by a community. Mayes called the company’s groundwater pumping “unsustainable” and said it caused “devastating consequences” for people in the area. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “Arizona law is clear: no company has the right to endanger an entire community’s health and safety for its own gain,” she said. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin the company from further groundwater pumping it says is “excessive” and require that an abatement fund be established. Arizona officials have been targeting Fondomonte for more than a year over its use of groundwater to grow forage crops, by not renewing or canceling the company’s leases in Butler Valley in western Arizona. Some residents there had complained that the company’s pumping was threatening their wells. ___ Gabriel Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Advertisement Advertisement
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