love 1
Internally displaced people walk among the tents in a camp in Tabqa City, Raqqa governorate, northern Syria, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Thousands of Kurdish families displaced from Aleppo and Tel Rifaat have ended up in temporary shelters and on the streets in Kurdish-controlled areas of Tabqa City. (Associated Press Photo/Hogir El Abdo) BEIRUT — Syrian insurgents swept into the central city of Hama on Thursday and government forces withdrew, dealing another major blow to Syrian President Bashar Assad days after insurgents captured much of Aleppo, the country’s largest city. The stunning weeklong offensive appeared likely to continue, with insurgents setting their sights on Homs, the country’s third-largest city. Homs, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Hama, is the gate to the capital, Damascus, Assad’s seat of power and the coastal region that is a base of support for him. The offensive is being led by the jihadi group HTS and an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Their sudden capture of Aleppo, an ancient business hub in the north, was a stunning prize for Assad’s opponents and reignited the Syrian civil war that had been largely a stalemate for the past few years. Hama is one of the few cities that has remained mostly under government control in the conflict, which broke out in March 2011 following a popular uprising. By sunset, dozens of jubilant fighters were seen shooting in the air in celebration in live footage from Hama’s Assi Square. The square was the scene of massive anti-government protests in the early days of the uprising in 2011, before security forces stormed it and got the city under control. READ: After Aleppo, Syrian insurgents advance to a nearby province The Syrian Army on Thursday said it redeployed from Hama and took positions outside the city to protect civilians. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the de facto leader of the Syrian insurgency, announced in a video message that fighters had reached Hama in a “conquering that is not vengeful, but one of mercy and compassion.” Al-Golani is the leader of the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which previously served as al-Qaida’s branch in Syria and is considered a terrorist group by the United Nations as well as countries including the U.S. The group that was known as the Nusra Front in the early years of Syria’s conflict changed its name and said in recent years that it cut ties with al-Qaida. Al-Golani publicly toured Aleppo on Wednesday and spoke about Hama on Thursday from an undisclosed location in what appeared to be a video filmed with a mobile phone. “This is a massive win for the rebels and a strategic blow for the (Syrian) regime,” Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups. She said the question is whether the opposition will be able to reach Homs and take over the area, which she said would be a game-changer. “I think then we are going to have to pause and consider whether or not this regime can actually survive this war,” she added. Internally displaced people sit in a camp in Tabqa City, Raqqa governorate, northern Syria, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Thousands of Kurdish families displaced from Aleppo and Tel Rifaat have ended up in temporary shelters and on the streets in Kurdish-controlled areas of Tabqa City. (Associated Press Photo/Hogir El Abdo) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country supports the opposition fighters, reiterated during a telephone call with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres that the Syrian government should urgently engage with its people “for a comprehensive political solution.” Guterres said in a statement later that after 14 years of war in Syria, “it is high time” for all parties to engage seriously in talks to resolve the conflict in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.” That resolution, which was adopted unanimously in December 2015, endorsed a road map to peace in Syria. The measure called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights — an opposition war monitor — said after fierce battles inside Hama, opposition gunmen now control the police headquarters in the city as well as the sprawling air base and the central prison from where hundreds of detainees were set free. “The process leading to the fall of the regime has started,” the Observatory’s chief, Rami Abdurrahman, told Associated Press. READ: Insurgents breach Syria’s largest city for the first time since 2016 Aleppo’s takeover by Syrian insurgents marked the first opposition attack on the city since 2016, when a brutal Russian air campaign retook it for Assad after rebel forces had initially seized it. Military intervention by Russia, Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah, and other militant groups has allowed Assad to remain in power. The latest flare-up in Syria’s long civil war comes as Assad’s main regional and international backers, Russia and Iran, are preoccupied with their own wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine. This time, there appeared to be little to no help from his allies. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the renewed fighting, which began with the surprise opposition offensive Nov. 27. Hama is a major intersection in Syria that links that country’s center with the north as well as the east and west. It is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of the capital. Hama province also borders the coastal province of Latakia, a main base of popular support for Assad. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The city is known for the 1982 massacre of Hama, one of the most notorious in the modern Middle East, when security forces under Assad’s late father, Hafez Assad, killed thousands to crush a Muslim Brotherhood uprising.
A former Penticton support worker who claimed discrimination for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine has had her complaint against the B.C. General Employees' Union dismissed by the Labour Relations Board. According to the Nov. 22 decision, Amie Harbor claimed that her employer had constructively dismissed her for failing to disclose her vaccination status, and alleged that the union had provided bad faith and discriminatory representation when she filed a grievance with them. Harbor started work for Thomspon Community Services (TCS) in 2018 and stopped in 2021 after the public health order requiring vaccinations against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic went into effect. Ahead of the order coming into effect, Harbor declined to share her vaccination status with her employer and had informed them that she was seeking an accommodation due to her "strongly and conscientiously held political beliefs" that align with those of the BC Libertarian Party. To support her request, she attached a letter of support from Keith MacIntyre, the party's leader. According to the Labour Relations Board's decision, Harbor's employer then informed her that before it could make an accommodation assessment, needed her to disclose her vaccination status. TCS also requested evidence of more long-term involvement with the BC Libertarians, asking for any membership receipts or documentation. "In terms of the letter of this date from Mr. MacIntyre, we have received several very similar letters and will require more substantive evidence of your long-term political belief and participation with the British Columbia Libertarian Party," TCS was quoted as saying. TCS also noted in its reply to Harbor's accommodation request that she should notify the union of her request and also asked how her case was different from a BC Human Rights Tribunal case heard already that year. Harbor did not provide any of that information, and once the deadline arrived, was placed on an unpaid leave due to failing to meet the requirements of the provincial health order. A year later, Harbor went to the union to ask about filing a grievance over the issue. The union then contacted TCS, which informed both them and Harbor that it remained willing to end the leave should the public health order be lifted or if Harbor discloses her vaccination status for TCS to do an assessment. A month after that, Harbor officially filed a grievance claiming that TCS had constructively dismissed her from employment, discriminated against her, psychologically harassed and terminated without cause. All of the claims were denied by TCS, and the union initially forwarded the case to arbitration, before deciding otherwise. A staff representative then informed Harbor that the union had decided against going to arbitration after further review and multiple other arbitrations that had found ineligibility to work under a public health order offering just cause for termination. Harbor then appealed the decision not to go to arbitration to the Union's Area Grievance Appeal Committee, which finally dismissed the appeal in February of 2024. The provincial appeal committee declined to hear a further appeal of the area committee's decision. As a result, Harbor brought forward a complaint against the union, claiming that they had made representations and responded to her grievance based on "a pre-determined, discriminatory position regarding employees and vaccine choice." To back up her argument, she pointed to publications made by the union in advance of the public health order taking effect which had sections pointing out accommodations could be applied for on a medical basis, which Harbor argued disregarded political beliefs. The Labour Relations Board rejected Harbors arguments, stating that the staff representative had explicitly considered her accommodation request for her political beliefs, and came to the decision not to advance the grievance to arbitration due to a lack of compelling evidence of success. "Similarly, the GAC considered the issue of the applicant’s request for an exemption due to her political belief in its decision dated February 1, 2024," reads the Board's decision. "Again, there is no indication in the GAC’s response to the Applicant that it relied on a view that there could be, or should be, no exemptions for pollical beliefs." The board also noted that Harbor had waited a year before filing the grievance, that Harbor had not disclosed her status to even begin the accommodation assessment, and that she had not provided any additional material as requested by TCS.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bucky Irving isn’t choosy. The rookie running back relishes any opportunity he gets to contribute to the success of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have rebounded from a tough stretch to climb back into a tie for first place in the NFC South. Irving leads NFL rookies in rushing with 732 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry while sharing the workload with starter Rachaad White and third-stringer Sean Tucker, who have combined to ease some of the burden on quarterback Baker Mayfield. A fourth-round draft pick out of Oregon, Irving is coming off rushing for a season-best 152 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 26-23 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. He had another 33 yards receiving, giving him a rookie-leading 1,017 total yards from scrimmage through 12 games. The Bucs (6-6) on Sunday host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10), who have an outstanding newcomer of their own with Brock Bowers on the verge of breaking the league's record for catches by a rookie tight end. Bowers leads all players, regardless of position, with 84 receptions. He's fourth with 884 yards receiving and second behind Irving among rookies with 895 total yards from scrimmage. “I don’t really like taking all the credit. It’s those guys up front,” Irving said, deferring to Tampa Bay’s improved offensive line. “I think I have to do something special for those guys for Christmas because they’re getting the job done.” The Bucs are eighth in the NFL in rushing at 137.2 yards per game. They’ve gained 100-plus yards on the ground in nine of 12 games after only doing it nine times in 34 games over the past two seasons. Irving, whose ability to make defenders miss and accelerate in the open field, has provided a spark to an offense that sputtered without injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin during a four-game losing streak. It doesn’t seem to bother the rookie that he still sits behind White on the depth chart. The starter had a 38-yard run in overtime to set up the winning field goal last week. Coach Todd Bowles continues to stress that the Bucs, tied with Atlanta for the NFC South lead, need both Irving and White to be successful. “In our room, all our success is one,” said Irving, who in the past two weeks became the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to string together consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. “If I’m having success,’’ Irving added, “everybody in the room is having success.” Tampa Bay’s porous secondary figures to be tested by Bowers, the first tight end to lead the league in catches after Week 13 since Todd Christenson in 1986. The first-round draft pick out of Georgia needs three receptions to break Sam LaPorta’s season record (86 in 2023) for catches by a tight end. He’s 116 yards away from joining Mike Ditka (1,076 in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) as the only rookie tight ends to finish with 1,000-plus yards receiving. “I thought he was one of the best tight ends coming out in a long time – not just this draft, but in a long time,” Bowles said. “He’s living up to expectations. He can play wideout, he can play tight end, he can do some fullback, he can run jet sweeps,” the Bucs coach added. “They do a lot of things with him and he’s a very talented guy.” The last time the Raiders went against Mayfield was two seasons ago when he came off a plane to play for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite having minimal time with the playbook and just one brief practice, Mayfield rallied the Rams to a 17-16 victory on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was the team’s linebackers coach at the time. “He plays the game kind of like Brett Favre, who I played against in (the) league,” Pierce said. “He’s very fiery. He’ll do whatever it takes to make a play. The play’s never dead with him. You’ve got to keep your eyes on him and then stay in coverage, so that’ll be a challenge.” Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell didn’t look as though he had missed nearly six weeks because of a broken thumb when he almost led Las Vegas to a victory at Kansas City last week. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 19-17 loss to the Chiefs. But O’Connell had a hard time looking at the positives given how close the Raiders came to beating the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. “Definitely some good plays, but it just stinks more than anything,” O’Connell said. “It was just a really hard loss. Even sometimes when you have a game right after, it’s easier to move on. But we had a longer week this week and so kind of really got to sit in it and it’s no fun.” AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Morning Joe hosts agreed to Trump meeting over fears of Joe Scarborough intern death probe, report claims‘Dictatorial’ father of Sara Sharif said daughter ‘brings smile to my face’None
As the festive season approaches, many of us look forward to celebrations filled with good company and, inevitably, a few drinks. But while a night out can — and should — be fun, it often comes with the dreaded morning-after effects. The good news? Eating the right food and drinking responsibly doesn’t have to be complicated. The secret to handling the demands of party season and drinking responsibly often starts with what you eat, but when you’re socialising, it’s hard to predict what kind of food will be on offer. Will it be a full meal or just a few nibbles? Planning ahead by fueling your body with the right foods before heading out is key to keeping your energy stable and supporting your body if consuming alcohol. The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) advises adults aged 18+ to limit alcohol intake to reduce long-term health risks: women should have no more than two standard drinks a day and 10 per week, while men should stick to three per day and no more than 15 per week, with at least two alcohol-free days each week. For occasions exceeding daily limits, women should cap intake at four standard drinks and men at five. A standard drink contains 10g of alcohol, but typical pours often exceed this amount. The process of supporting yourself through this social time is a conversation naturopath and nutritionist Annaliese Jones is having with many of her clients as Christmas nears. We asked her to share her advice on how to make smarter choices before drinking this silly season. The pre-drinking game planTAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bucky Irving isn’t choosy. The rookie running back relishes any opportunity he gets to contribute to the success of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have rebounded from a tough stretch to climb back into a tie for first place in the NFC South. Irving leads NFL rookies in rushing with 732 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry while sharing the workload with starter Rachaad White and third-stringer Sean Tucker, who have combined to ease some of the burden on quarterback Baker Mayfield. A fourth-round draft pick out of Oregon, Irving is coming off rushing for a season-best 152 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 26-23 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. He had another 33 yards receiving, giving him a rookie-leading 1,017 total yards from scrimmage through 12 games. The Bucs (6-6) on Sunday host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10), who have an outstanding newcomer of their own with Brock Bowers on the verge of breaking the league's record for catches by a rookie tight end. Bowers leads all players, regardless of position, with 84 receptions. He's fourth with 884 yards receiving and second behind Irving among rookies with 895 total yards from scrimmage. “I don’t really like taking all the credit. It’s those guys up front,” Irving said, deferring to Tampa Bay’s improved offensive line. “I think I have to do something special for those guys for Christmas because they’re getting the job done.” The Bucs are eighth in the NFL in rushing at 137.2 yards per game. They’ve gained 100-plus yards on the ground in nine of 12 games after only doing it nine times in 34 games over the past two seasons. Irving, whose ability to make defenders miss and accelerate in the open field, has provided a spark to an offense that sputtered without injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin during a four-game losing streak. It doesn’t seem to bother the rookie that he still sits behind White on the depth chart. The starter had a 38-yard run in overtime to set up the winning field goal last week. Coach Todd Bowles continues to stress that the Bucs, tied with Atlanta for the NFC South lead, need both Irving and White to be successful. “In our room, all our success is one,” said Irving, who in the past two weeks became the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to string together consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. “If I’m having success,’’ Irving added, “everybody in the room is having success.” Bracing for a challenge Tampa Bay’s porous secondary figures to be tested by Bowers, the first tight end to lead the league in catches after Week 13 since Todd Christenson in 1986. The first-round draft pick out of Georgia needs three receptions to break Sam LaPorta’s season record (86 in 2023) for catches by a tight end. He’s 116 yards away from joining Mike Ditka (1,076 in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) as the only rookie tight ends to finish with 1,000-plus yards receiving. “I thought he was one of the best tight ends coming out in a long time – not just this draft, but in a long time,” Bowles said. “He’s living up to expectations. He can play wideout, he can play tight end, he can do some fullback, he can run jet sweeps,” the Bucs coach added. “They do a lot of things with him and he’s a very talented guy.” Getting ready for Baker The last time the Raiders went against Mayfield was two seasons ago when he came off a plane to play for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite having minimal time with the playbook and just one brief practice, Mayfield rallied the Rams to a 17-16 victory on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was the team’s linebackers coach at the time. “He plays the game kind of like Brett Favre, who I played against in (the) league,” Pierce said. “He’s very fiery. He’ll do whatever it takes to make a play. The play’s never dead with him. You’ve got to keep your eyes on him and then stay in coverage, so that’ll be a challenge.” Return to action Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell didn’t look as though he had missed nearly six weeks because of a broken thumb when he almost led Las Vegas to a victory at Kansas City last week. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 19-17 loss to the Chiefs. But O’Connell had a hard time looking at the positives given how close the Raiders came to beating the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. “Definitely some good plays, but it just stinks more than anything,” O’Connell said. “It was just a really hard loss. Even sometimes when you have a game right after, it’s easier to move on. But we had a longer week this week and so kind of really got to sit in it and it’s no fun.” AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Akila Selvaraj: Developing AI-driven solutions for industry challenges
How the NYPD can use surveillance cameras, facial recognition technology, and physical evidence including inscribed shell casings, a discarded water bottle, and a burner phone, to find the killer of a health care executive.Senior IPS officer says AI has huge potential to transform private security industry
Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.FORMER Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou admitted Tottenham fans had given him some rather 'direct feedback' as tensions seriously boiled over. The Spurs manager was jeered and heckled by a section of the club's fans after they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth - and he went over to confront them. 4 Ange Postecoglou confronted raging Spurs fans at full time Credit: AMAZON PRIME 4 He was seen engaging with irate punters 4 A steward stepped in 4 The fans weren't happy after a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth Credit: Getty It's been a poor run of form for Tottenham who have slipped to 10th in the table. Postecoglou 's side have won just one of their last six games in all competitions - that victory being the remarkable 4-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad. But that aside, it's been a run of results to forget. And the loss to Bournemouth proved all too much for some Tottenham fans. READ MORE CELTIC STORIES BUM NOTE Celtic hero O'Riley scores bizarre O.G. as ex-Rangers star celebrates wildly FREE BETS Deposit & Bet £10 to Get £60 in free bets for Scottish football at William Hill Videos circulating on social media show Postecoglou heading over to the packed away end at the Vitality Stadium after full time. Several boos can be heard while some rather X-rated insults are also hurled at the title-winning ex- Celtic boss. A number of shouts of "f*** off" can be heard while others are even more brutal in their nature. In one fan's video, a punter can be heard referring to him as "Poste-no-clue." Most read in Football BUM NOTE Celtic hero O'Riley scores bizarre O.G. as ex-Rangers star celebrates wildly HOWE DARE YOU Eddie Howe hits back at accusation that he BOTTLED taking Celtic job CLUB TOGETHER Rangers chief hints they could join multi-club group with Man Utd & City nod RIOT ACT EFL cult hero 'smashed up dressing room' after dream Celtic transfer collapsed TV cameras then captured the moment Postecoglou appeared to take issue with one fuming punter in particular. He could be seen approaching the stand and appearing to try and engage in conversation with a supporter. Ange Postecoglou's F-word rant caught on live TV as he tears into shellshocked Tottenham flops during drinks break A steward motions for Postecoglou to stop moving forward, a few more words are uttered. He then appears to engage with another fan before turning and walking away. Speaking to Amazon Prime after the game, Postecoglou explained: "No, I wasn't having a word. I mean they're pretty disappointed, rightly so, and look I got some pretty direct feedback as to how we're going." He would further expand on the heated scenes once he got into his post-match press conference and admitted he 'didn't like' what had been said to him. Postecoglou said: "I didn’t like what was being said because I’m a human being but you’ve for to cop it. I’ve been around long enough to know when things don’t go well you’ve got to understand the frustration and disappointment. "And they’re rightly disappointed because we let a game of football get away from us. But that’s OK. I’m OK with all that." The games don't get any easier with a huge London derby clash with in-form Chelsea on Sunday. After that, it's a game with almighty amount of intrigue. Read more on the Scottish Sun DECEMBER MISERY Scots face blizzards and travel chaos as weather map reveals 75mph storm WORLD WIDE WEB My dad played for Rangers and now I plan to follow in his footsteps at Ibrox Next Thursday, Postecoglou makes a dramatic return to Glasgow with Spurs taking on Rangers in a huge Europa League showdown at Ibrox. It'll be his first time back facing the Gers after dominating Scottish football as Celtic boss during his two-year stint in charge. Keep up to date with ALL t h e latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Biden says healthy women help US prosperity as he highlights White House initiative on their healthDiscovery Canyon football had not won a first-round playoff game since 2019. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Thunder came into the playoffs with high hopes, but came out empty-handed each time. That is, until last Saturday, when Discovery Canyon (9-2) defeated No. 8 Pueblo East 28-20. It was not only the Thunder’s first playoff win, but its first ever win over the Eagles in the playoffs after five previous meetings. “A lot of credit goes to the senior class and what they have been able to do together,” coach Shawn Mitchell said of the win and season overall. “They held each other accountable in the off-season and, even now, continue to hold each other to a high standard. This group has something special, something the senior class hasn’t had in a while.” This season looks very similar to last year, with two early losses followed by a streak of wins until the postseason. The Thunder are currently on an eight-game win streak. On Saturday, they face a familiar foe at undefeated No. 1 Thompson Valley (11-0), which Discovery Canyon lost to 21-17 on the road in the first round last year. This year's team vows for a different outcome. “I think this is the best matchup we could have hoped for,” coach Mitchell said. “They are still a good football team. They are tough, the number one team. We know they bring a formidable defense but we bring a great offense. We’ve learned some good things about our team and what we need to do to win against good football teams.” After the Thunder’s loss to the then No. 3 Eagles, the team learned that it doesn’t matter what Thompson Valley is ranked. Discovery Canyon kept Thompson Valley close in a hard fought game and is ready to do it again. “Our team's composure is one of the best in the state,” starting quarterback Hayden Jones said, “We've been in all situations. We've been up, we've been down. This team cares about winning. From an offensive perspective we have to take care of the ball but also find a way to stay on the field.” The seniors, 25 in total, make up most of the starters, including Jones who in his second season at Discovery Canyon has thrown for 1,131 yards and 19 touchdowns and has rushed for 980 yards. “When he took over the starting position in week four of 2023, there was a significant change in energy,” Mitchell said. “He elevated everyone's play. Brought something special to that position. He has been a catalyst for our offenses’ production. He's a leader that leads by example.” Another senior, Jude Suhajda, has been with the team since freshman year and has anchored both the defensive and offensive lines. He has 69 total tackles, five sacks, and 17 tackles for loss so far this season. Since Suhajda became a starter as a sophomore, he has watched the team grow and evolve and says this year's team is special. “The culture on the team has been different than before,” Suhajda, who is also a Thunder three-sport athlete, said. “We are connected as a group unit of seniors. The team is in a much different place. We just need to take care of business.”Juan Soto introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year deal NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. He said at his introductory news conference on Thursday that the Mets “showed me a lot of love." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, Soto was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. University trustees approved terms of a five-year deal for him Thursday morning before he held his introductory news conference on campus. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.” Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Hojlund scores twice for Manchester United to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Europa League Rasmus Hojlund scored twice after coming off the bench and Manchester United rallied to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League. The Denmark striker netted in the 88th minute after collecting Bruno Fernandes’ pass off a free kick to seal the victory. Ahead of the late games, United moved to fifth place with 12 points from six games. Hojlund came on in the 56th to replace Marcus Rashford and scored an equalizer six minutes later. In the Conference League a youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the third-tier competition. NFL world reacts with excitement, surprise, questions after Bill Belichick is hired to coach UNC Bill Belichick is already the most decorated coach in NFL history. His next challenge is college football after he agreed to a five-year deal to coach at North Carolina. The reaction around the NFL ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. Others caution that the players he brings into UNC should prepare to have their limits tested.
Watch for the HBO Original comedy special “James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome,” set to debut on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. According to the website, this is Acaster’s first HBO special in which the comedian explores his love/hate relationship with standup — while he welcomes a heckle or two by relinquishing control of his set and accepting a healthy dose of audience interference – a/k/a heckling. With a keen eye and unparalleled wit, Acaster shares hilarious “meta-analysis” of his own material, along with stories from his childhood that spurred him to pursue a career in comedy – from his participation in his grandmother’s spinning wheel workshop at school to his impersonation of Prince Charles at age six. HOW TO WATCH AND STREAM THE SPECIAL The presentation is set to debut Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. If you don’t have a cable subscription to HBO, the special is available to stream on Max. If you’re not already a subscriber to Max, the cheapest way to see the special is via a one-month subscription for just $9.99. A LITTLE SNEAK PEEK MORE ON THE SHOW In front of a live audience at the Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton, England, Acaster unleashes his infectious energy as he delves into what initially drew him to the stage and what keeps him there. “Performing in the round, in a theatre I went to growing up, with the audience chipping in whenever they felt like it, meant this was the most I’ve enjoyed filming a special, and I’m delighted it’s coming to HBO,” said Acaster. “Also I jumped onto the stage via a trampoline and I don’t want that to go unacknowledged.” Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president, HBO Programming, Late Night & Specials, notes, “We’re longtime fans of James and are so thrilled to work with him. This special is a bold concept — not many comedians would allow hecklers at their shows; fewer still would openly encourage them to interrupt a live taping of their set, but James has never been one to approach his comedy in a traditional way. Filmed in his hometown somewhere in the middle of England, HECKLERS WELCOME is a hilarious and brilliantly strange hour where James examines his complicated relationship with comedy.” A LITTLE ABOUT ACASTER A master at what he does best, Acaster has received critical acclaim from around the world, including a record-breaking five consecutive nominations for Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals from 2012-2016. In 2017, he toured the country with a three-show trilogy, “Recognise,” “Represent,” and “Reset,” performing consecutively over three nights in each venue. In 2019 he completed a long tour of his successful show “Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999′′ around the UK, Australia, and America. Acaster is also a Sunday Times bestselling author, with “Classic Scrapes,” “Perfect Sound Whatever,” and his most recent book, “James Acaster’s Guide to Quitting Social Media.” He also has three hit podcasts: “Off Menu,” which he co-hosts with Ed Gamble, “Perfect Sounds,” and his latest release, “Springleaf,” which he wrote and stars.COLLEGE FB NOTES
Urfan Sharif told social workers that his daughter Sara “brings a smile to my face” before he went on to murder her, new documents show. Sharif, who was convicted of Sara’s murder on Wednesday, also described her as “one of the best kids” when visited by social workers in February 2015. But staff at Surrey County Council had previously recorded that they did not “trust” Sharif, and described his parenting style as “quite dictatorial”. Sharif was found guilty of murdering his daughter in August last year along with her stepmother, Beinash Batool. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, was convicted of causing or allowing her death following a trial at the Old Bailey. Documents previously released to the media from three separate sets of family court proceedings – which were allowed to be published following the verdicts – showed that concerns were raised by Surrey County Council about Sara’s care within a week of her birth in 2013, with Sharif and Sara’s mother, Olga, known to social services as early as 2010. But new documents, released on Thursday, show that in 2014, a social worker said engagements with the parents “causes the local authority not to trust” Sharif. The same year, the council applied for Sara to be taken into emergency care, telling a family court it had “significant concerns” about the children returning to Sharif, “given the history of allegations of physical abuse of the children and domestic abuse with Mr Sharif as the perpetrator”. As part of that application, the council told the court that in 2013, Sharif was assessed as having “repeatedly overlooked” the needs of Sara and her siblings, and said “there is no evidence to suggest that this assessment of Mr Sharif would be any different now”. The report added that “there is evidence to suggest Mr Sharif poses a risk” to Sara, and that she was at “immediate risk of harm”. As part of the same set of proceedings, a report by a social worker said: “Mr Sharif described Sara as ‘one of the best kids, she is very good and brings a smile to my face. She gives hugs and kisses, she plays with you, she understands what you say to her and knows what she needs when going out. She has very good hygiene and is not a messy eater.” Urfan Sharif will be sentenced for Sara’s murder on Tuesday (Surrey Police/PA) Despite the council’s concerns, Sara remained in contact with her father, and later moved to his home in Woking in 2019. Having previously said in 2015 that there is “no violence in our home”, Sharif later admitted to jurors at his trial that he hit Sara with a cricket bat as she was bound with packaging tape, repeatedly throttled her with his bare hands, and battered her over the head with a mobile phone, in a campaign of abuse. He will be sentenced alongside Batool and Malik on Tuesday. Following the guilty verdicts, Rachael Wardell, executive director for children, families and lifelong learning at Surrey County Council, said: “Sara’s death is incredibly distressing and we share in the profound horror at the terrible details that have emerged during the trial. “We cannot begin to comprehend the suffering that poor Sara endured at the hands of members of her family who should have loved, protected, and cared for her. “The focus of the trial has been on the evidence needed to secure the convictions of those responsible for Sara’s death. This means that until the independent safeguarding review concludes, a complete picture cannot be understood or commented upon. “What is clear from the evidence we’ve heard in court is that the perpetrators went to extreme lengths to conceal the truth from everyone. “We are resolute in our commitment to protecting children, and we are determined to play a full and active part in the forthcoming review alongside partner agencies, to thoroughly understand the wider circumstances surrounding Sara’s tragic death.”‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Misses $40,000 Win After Disney Disaster
Biden says healthy women help US prosperity as he highlights White House initiative on their healthHouse blocks release of Matt Gaetz ethics report‘Dictatorial’ father of Sara Sharif said daughter ‘brings smile to my face’