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10jili. com BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An Argentine court on Tuesday dropped aggravated sexual assault charges against two professional French rugby players accused of raping a woman after playing a match in the country earlier this year. The judge in Mendoza, some 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) west of the capital, Buenos Aires, dismissed the case against the 21-year-old athletes, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jégou, citing insufficient evidence. “The facts under investigation do not constitute a crime," the court said. The explosive case began in July, when a 39-year-old Argentine woman filed a police complaint alleging that she was beaten, choked and repeatedly raped by the rugby players in their Mendoza hotel room. The rugby players have admitted to having sex with the plaintiff — whom they met at during an alcohol-fueled club night after their July 7 victory against Argentina’s Pumas — but insisted that the encounter was consensual. They were held in preventive custody, then placed under house arrest, for a month. The defense said the dismissal reinforced their faith in the justice system. “I think it will be a turning point,” Germán Hnatow, an attorney representing one of the two players, told Radio Mitre Mendoza, a local radio station. "There are many false accusations in terms of sexual crimes, in terms of gender violence, which cause harm.” The plaintiff can appeal the ruling. She has not said whether she intends to and her defense lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Over the past few months, the case slowly unraveled as the defense punched holes in the woman’s description of events. Citing questionable evidence presented before the court — including WhatsApp voice messages the plaintiff sent to her friend joking and boasting about the rough sex she had with them — the prosecution in September approved the athletes' return to France under certain conditions . The plaintiff's lawyer has explained any inconsistencies in her account as the result of her “shock and extreme stress.” She underwent physical examinations as part of the investigation and was found to have an acute bleeding ulcer and other injuries that she claimed were related to her assault. Dragging on for several months, the investigation has stunned the French rugby world. The French Rugby Federation expressed its “relief and satisfaction" with the judge's decision. It said the athletes, who had been suspended due to the seriousness of the allegations, would be eligible to return to the national team “if their sporting performances allow for it.” It wasn't the only scandal to hit the touring French team during its stay in Argentina. The federation separately fined and suspended French fullback Melvyn Jaminet for 34 weeks over a racist outburst that he posted on social media. The federation said that this close shave with the law served as a reminder “of the need to create new conditions to prevent and avoid risky behavior in high-level rugby, in order to train responsible and exemplary players.” Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

VICTORIA - British Columbia Premier David Eby says his fellow premiers and the federal government have hatched a game plan to fight U.S. tariffs, with conservative premiers lobbying Republican counterparts, left-leaning provincial leaders courting the Democrats, and Ottawa focusing on president-elect Donald Trump. The premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about using their political diversity and connections to thwart the prospect of Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, Eby said Thursday in a year-end interview. He said it was discussed that conservative premiers Danielle Smith in Alberta, Doug Ford in Ontario and Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston are well-placed to lobby Republican governors and business leaders. Eby said as a New Democrat he will likely have more in common with Democrat governors and business leaders from the West Coast states. “I can easily have conversations with governors and businesses down the West Coast of the U.S., where we have close relationships and our politics are very similar,” he said. “Premier Smith can have conversations with Republican governors. That would be more challenging for me, and (she) would have more connections potentially with the Trump administration than an NDP administration in B.C. would.” He said a meeting last week between the premiers and Trudeau discussed Canada’s diversity of representation, and how it could bring leverage and advantages in tariff talks. “It’s interesting, there was a lot of talk about what unity means in terms of Canada’s response to the tariffs,” he said. “There’s obviously a diversity of views around the Council of the Federation table of all the premiers. Certainly, mine is not the same as Premier Smith’s or Premier Ford’s or Premier Houston’s, and that diversity of views is actually potentially a significant strength for us as we enter into these discussions.” Eby also said he was prepared to appear on American’s right-leaning Fox News TV network, as did premiers Ford and Smith. “Anything that I can do to support the national effort to protect the families in Canada from the impact of tariffs and also families in the U.S. from those unjustified tariffs,” he said. “Absolutely, if I thought it was helpful.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Tim Houston’s first name was John.Suspect in killing UnitedHealthcare CEO rants outside courthouseA Barbadian scientist has been honoured among the Hemisphere’s brightest minds by the Organisation of American States (OAS). Dr Cardinal Warde was the lone Caribbean scientist among seven distinguished individuals from the Americas, awarded the prestigious Science, Technology and Innovation Award of the Americas during the VII Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Science and Technology, (REMYCT). The ceremony celebrated trailblazers from Barbados, Canada, Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Uruguay and the United States for their exceptional contributions to science and technology, as well as their commitment to fostering cooperation and development across OAS member states. The other awardees were Dr Alejandro Adem of Canada, president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); Dr Pablo Zamora of Chile, president of Fundación Chile; Dr Rosibel Ochoa of Honduras, Associate Vice Chancellor at UC Riverside; Dr Arturo Reyes Sandoval of Mexico, director of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN); Dr Natacha DePaola of the United States, professor of biomedical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), and director of the Illinois Tech Digital Medical Engineering and Technology Research and Education Centre and Dr Henry Cohen of Uruguay, head of the Department of Gastroenterology at the Hospital of the University of the Republic, and director of the ECHO Project. In her congratulatory message, OAS executive secretary for integral development, Kim Osborne, spoke of the importance of ensuring the contributions from the Americas to global science and innovation does not go unnoticed. “Each of you in your own way have made your mark on the world of science, technology, and innovation, today the OAS simply wants to say thank you for enriching our work with your time and expertise,” she said. A Champion for Caribbean Science Dr Warde, 79, a professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was recognised for his groundbreaking work in optoelectronics and his leadership in advancing science education in the Caribbean. As president of the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology, and Innovation (CADSTI) and Interim Executive Director of the Caribbean Science Foundation, Dr Warde has dedicated his career to equipping the next generation of scientists and engineers with tools for success. Born in Christ Church, Warde showed an early passion for science, converting his father’s carpentry shop into a makeshift chemistry lab. After excelling at Harrison College, he pursued higher education in the United States, earning his doctorate in physics from Yale University in 1974. Pioneering Research and Innovations At MIT, where he has served since 1974, Dr Warde is a leading expert in materials and systems for optical information processing and displays. His research spans diverse fields, including optical computing, wireless communication and holography. He has developed innovative optical neural network processors and light modulators that have advanced brain-like computing and high-resolution imaging technologies. Beyond academia, Dr Warde founded multiple successful technology ventures, including Optron Systems and Radiant Images, Inc., specialising in optoelectronic systems and displays. His inventions have earned him 12 patents, underscoring his impact on the tech industry. Advocacy for Education and Development Dr Warde is equally celebrated for his contributions to education policy in the Caribbean. He has worked tirelessly as a scientific advisor to the Government of Barbados and other regional entities to enhance STEM opportunities for Caribbean youth. Through the Caribbean Science Foundation, Dr Warde oversees the Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), a rigorous summer initiative that prepares gifted students for careers in science and engineering. He also established the Rosetta Irene Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund, supporting higher education for students from English-speaking Caribbean countries. Global Recognition Dr Warde’s accolades include the Barbados Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and the Caribbean American Heritage Award. He is also a Fellow of The Optical Society and holds honorary doctorates from the University of the West Indies and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. As a scientist, educator, and advocate, Dr Warde exemplifies the power of innovation and collaboration. His recognition by the OAS highlights the vital contributions of Caribbean professionals to global science and technology. The OAS Science and Technology Awards , established in 1972 as the “Bernardo Houssay” Award, honor the legacy of the esteemed Argentine Nobel laureate whose work on diabetes transformed global health. Since then, the award has celebrated outstanding achievements in fields like Biological Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Applied Technological Research. (PR) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Thursday, after a groundswell of support for Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, denied she is behind a campaign on Capitol Hill to tank his nomination and seek the job herself. “I don’t have a campaign against Pete,” she told RealClearPolitics White House correspondent Philip Wegmann, adding that he deserved to have a Senate confirmation hearing. Inside the Pete Hegseth Confirmation Battle with Matt Boyle “I just want to make sure the process is able to play out and that we’re thoroughly vetting him. I do believe that Pete deserves to have a hearing. All the rumblings out there are absolutely false. My role as a senator is to make sure that we are putting to bed any rumors, any anonymous whatever,” she claimed. She claimed that if there were allegations against the current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, “we would have gone through that process as well.” Ernst’s denial comes as she and close ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) expressed doubt about Hegseth, driving up speculation he would have to withdraw. Ernst and Graham also previously worked together to pressure Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to drop his holds on promotions on generals due to the Biden Pentagon’s abortion policy paying for troops to travel for abortions. But while she has denied any campaign against Hegseth, the Federalist reported she has repeatedly called Trump, nagging for him to replace Hegseth. And Democrats close to her have been publicly promoting her to replace him. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee with Ernst, told reporters, “I’d start off with a very, very favorable inclination” to confirm her, according to the Washington Examiner’s Senate reporter, Ramsey Touchberry. And Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who also sits on the committee with Ernst, called her someone with “independent judgment and integrity and high degree of insight ... on military and foreign affair issues.” He added, “I think she’d have significant bipartisan support.” Even some Republican senators, such as Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), another member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, floated Ernst as a possibility to replace Hegseth, but then later backtracked as support began to build up for him. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), another committee Republican, also at first expressed reluctance over Hegseth, but has more recently struck a positive tone. With a slim majority of 53-47 in the upcoming Congress, Hegseth can lose only three Republican senators if all Democrats vote against him and Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) — a fellow veteran who strongly supports Hegseth — casts the deciding vote. Ernst only tepidly pushed back against a rumor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could replace Hegseth as the nominee, saying, “I do think he would be a good candidate for this position. But as I’ve told reporters, as they ask me in the hallway, Hegseth is the nominee, and the president will determine who that nominee is.” She echoed Graham’s tepid defense in saying all the allegations against Hegseth have been anonymous. “I mean, people need to really come forward if they have information,” she told the Post . “They need to be willing to put their name to it.” On Friday, Breitbart News reported exclusively that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird — a potential primary contender to Ernst — called for all of Trump’s nominees to be confirmed. Follow Breitbart News’s Kristina Wong on “X” , Truth Social , or on Facebook .

Canada's Jonathan David scores milestone goal in Lille win over Brest in FrancePresident-elect Donald Trump has nominated Warren Stephens, a billionaire investment banker, as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. The 67-year-old billionaire, who is well-known for his substantial fortune and conservative political beliefs, will now assume one of the most prominent diplomatic positions globally. A Legacy of Business Success Stephens is the chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Stephens Inc., a Little Rock, Arkansas-based financial services company. The privately held company has been in business for more than 80 years and is among the biggest investment banks in the United States. Stephens Inc. became a significant force in the financial industry under his direction. The company is known for its cautious business methods and provides services in capital markets, wealth management, and investment banking. Stephens is among the richest persons in Arkansas, with an estimated net worth of over $3 billion. He is well-known in the financial community and a major Republican Party supporter thanks to his business savvy and conservative political contributions. A New Role as Diplomat Stephens is in a crucial diplomatic position as a result of his recent nomination to the position in the UK. In order to improve political, economic, and cultural relations between the two countries, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom has historically served as a crucial intermediary. Stephens will live in Winfield House, the opulent American embassy building in London with a view of Regents Park, in his capacity as ambassador. Stephens has always wanted to work for the US government, and this appointment is the result of that desire. On his Truth Social platform, President-elect Trump announced the news, emphasizing Stephens' background and commitment. “I am pleased to announce that Warren A. Stephens, one of the most successful businessmen in the country, has been nominated to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s,” Trump said in his statement. “Warren has built a wonderful financial services firm and selflessly given back to his community as a philanthropist.” Trump called Stephens a “top diplomat” and expressed excitement about his role in bolstering U.S.-U.K. ties in his statement, which also commended Stephens’ long-held goal of full-time public service. A Family Legacy of Business and Community Engagement Stephens was born in 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas, into a family with a strong business background. Stephens Inc. was founded by his father, Jackson T. Stephens, a well-known businessman. Mary Amerine Stephens, his mother, was a housewife. Warren Stephens received his economics degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia after attending Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, Alabama. He met Harriet Calhoun, his future wife, on a blind date at Wake Forest University, where he received his MBA in 1981. Miles, John, and Laura, the couple's three children, share their father's employment at Stephens Inc. The family has a long history of generosity in Little Rock, where they have supported local groups and causes. Political Ties and Speculation There had been conjecture prior to the nomination that Trump might name New York Jets owner Woody Johnson as U.K. Ambassador once more, the Daily Mail noted. Johnson was viewed as a potential contender for a second term and held the position during Trump's first presidency. But in the end, Stephens made the choice. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.

Trump names billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain

RSS’s advocacy for three-child norm bid to hide failures of BJP govts: Maya

NHL-worst Blackhawks fire coach Luke RichardsonTHE cost of a family Christmas dinner has jumped by an inflation-busting 6.5 per cent, figures show. Rising prices of turkey and the trimmings have pushed up the average festive feast to £32.57 for a family of four. Spuds saw the biggest annual rise on the Yuletide table — a stonking 16.2 per cent higher than last year, and now making up £1.65 of the total. Cauliflower is 14.6 per cent more expensive at £1.18. Parsnips are up 12.7 per cent at 71p, and carrots are up 11.4 per cent at 49p. The average frozen turkey is 8.5 per cent more expensive than last year at £13.08, according to market research analysts Kantar. READ MORE ON INFLATION Some items rose in price less dramatically, with Christmas puddings up 4.4 per cent at £3.32, gravy granules up the same to £2.14 and Brussels sprouts up 1.1 per cent to 89p. And revellers can raise a glass to toast the fact that sparkling wine remained the same price at an average £6.40 of the total. Vegetable prices have been affected by wet weather ­earlier this year. And potato farmers in particular have been hard hit by rising energy costs as spuds are kept refrigerated once harvested. Most read in Money Shoppers hoping for bargains are expected to cash in on last-minute super­market promotions — with big chains expected to rake in a record £13billion over the festive period. Fraser McKevitt, of Kantar, said: “Monday December 23 is likely to be the single busiest day for the supermarkets this year, although there are clear signs that shoppers are already stocking up their cupboards. “Sales of assorted sweet biscuits and biscuits for cheese both doubled in November compared with the month before, while eight per cent of us bought a Christmas pudding.”

Musk heads to US Congress to discuss slashing government costsTorrents of water seen leaking into the stands at new Everton stadium AGAIN just months before Toffees are due to move in Merseyside club have been at Goodison Park since 1892 but leave next summer Their new Bramley Moore Dock Stadium has been plagued by flooding issues SOCCER A-Z: Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube. New episodes every Wednesday By SAM LAWLEY Published: 15:54 EST, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 16:28 EST, 5 December 2024 e-mail 65 shares 10 View comments Shocking footage has emerged of water gushing into the stands of the new Everton stadium just months before the club are due to move there. The Toffees have played at the iconic Goodison Park since 1892, with the ground hosting an FA Cup final as well as a semi-final at the 1966 World Cup in that time. But the Merseyside team are due to move their home to the purpose-built Bramley Moore Dock Stadium at the start of the 2025-26 season. The new 52,888 seater stadium is set to be complete by the end of the year and at least three test events will follow in the early months of 2025. Meanwhile, the site of Goodison will be redeveloped to include some social housing, a community health centre and education hub, while the area currently occupied by the playing surface will remain as a garden. As work progresses with the shiny new venue, an alarming clip of torrents of water leaking into the stadium has emerged on X. Everton's new stadium appears to have become flooded once again months before they move in A jaw-dropping clip sees water rushing at a pace down the stands after some rainfall Those filming believe the leak is coming from the top corner of the stand at the building site Some people filmed themselves entering the ground from the concourse area but were almost drenched by the water before they could even see the pitch as it raced down the stairs. As they panned to show the rest of the stand, the stream could be seen in every direction moving at a ferocious pace down the newly-installed seats and the stairs. Those filming eventually discovered where the leak was coming from, with water seemingly getting in from the top corner of the stand. This marks the second time in just two months that leaks have caused chaos at Everton's new stadium with similar scenes going viral on X in October. Everton explained to Mail Sport then that the internal drainage in the stadium had yet to be installed. Meanwhile, fans' concerns could be eased by the fact that the stadium has been built to withstand floods for up to 100 years. Colin Chong, the project's development director said in 2021: 'In 60 years time, the climate could be a completely different climate to what we have today. 'We have a number of consultants who forecast what the potential climate could be in 60 or 100 years, and take into account global warming and other stuff. It's a bit of a dark art, having said that you have to plan ahead.' Build an ironic stadium you said? pic.twitter.com/qNy5FKYvdd — Jimmy the Moonlight (@James_LFC6) December 5, 2024 The Toffees are due to move from their home at Goodison Park after more than 130 years The Bramley Moore Dock Stadium will be their new home from the start of the 2025-26 season Video appeared on social media in October showing one of the stands drenched amid downpour He added: 'We are actually probably building one of the most complex projects in one of the most difficult locations. Read More EXCLUSIVE Everton's new stadium considered for Ashes Test as Australia's rugby league side head on tour 'It's in a world heritage site, it's in a floodplain, it's in a docklands environment which is used to control the Leeds-Liverpool canal there - and we literally have to raise the footprint of the stadium by over a metre to create a new level if you want to call it that, where hopefully the experts will have got it right. 'The rest of Liverpool could flood but the football stadium should be ok!' Everton will hope to be a Premier League side when they eventually move into their new home, having not been a second-tier team for 70 years. Their 4-0 win over Wolves on Wednesday night will allow Sean Dyche to breathe a little easier, with the Toffees moving up to 15th. Everton Share or comment on this article: Torrents of water seen leaking into the stands at new Everton stadium AGAIN just months before Toffees are due to move in e-mail 65 shares Add commentThe Cleveland Browns have cut wide receiver Kadarius Toney after he had an ugly day against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Not only did Toney have an ugly muff of a punt that the Steelers recovered at the end of the game, but he got called for a taunting penalty that set the Browns back when they would have had great field position. All of those things led to Toney’s release from the team. He had just been elevated from the practice squad and the Browns had worked him into packages and as a returner. Now, it seems that has been nixed after Toney’s actions. Toney’s career has been rocky from the start. A first-round pick by the New York Giants out of Florida, he was traded after just a season with the team. The Kansas City Chiefs acquired him, but even then, they could not get much out of Toney, who never saw his skills translate from the college level to the NFL. He has just 82 receptions for 762 yards to this point in his career, and there is no guarantee that the 25-year-old wide receiver will get another chance after the Browns cut him. BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. More Pittsburgh Steelers News Big-bodied Pittsburgh Steelers WR could have huge role after George Pickens injury: ‘Keep watching’ Pittsburgh Steelers nearly traded for star Philadelphia Eagles cornerback WR upgrade? Pittsburgh Steelers could sign just-released Patriots WR after George Pickens injury Pittsburgh Steelers suffer huge blow with likely loss of star wide receiver for Eagles game Standout Pittsburgh Steelers safety goes down with hamstring injuryArgentine superstar Lionel Messi has been named Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward played a pivotal role in Inter Miami’s record-breaking regular season points total. The team was however eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs in November. Read Also: Iwobi nets brace in Fulham win over Brighton; Spurs lose At 37, Messi led the league in goal contributions, with 20 goals and 16 assists, despite injuries restricting him to just 19 regular-season games and two playoff appearances. The MVP award, determined by votes from players, club technical staff, and journalists, saw Messi secure 38.43% of the votes, surpassing Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández, who earned 33.7%. The honor, officially titled the Landon Donovan MLS MVP, has previously been awarded to notable players such as U.S. legend Landon Donovan, Ireland’s Robbie Keane, and Spain’s David Villa. Opinions Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate Now

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s federal police on Thursday formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Police said their sealed findings were being delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who decides either to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Bolsonaro told the website Metropoles that he was waiting for his lawyer to review the accusation, reportedly about 700 pages long. But he said he would fight the case and dismissed the investigation as being the result of “creativity.” The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were accused “to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news.” Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were accused, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. Other investigations produced formal accusations of Bolsonaro’s roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country’s voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030. Still, he has insisted that he will run in 2026, and many in his orbit were heartened by the recent U.S. election win of Donald Trump, despite his own swirling legal threats. But the far-reaching investigations already have weakened Bolsonaro’s status as a leader of Brazil’s right wing, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. “Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections,” Melo told the The Associated Press. “And if he is convicted he could also be jailed by then. To avoid being behind bars, he will have to convince Supreme Court justices that he has nothing to do with a plot that involves dozens of his aides. That’s a very tall order,” Melo said. A formal accusation of an attempted coup means the investigation has gathered indications of “a crime and its author,” said Eloísa Machado de Almeida, a law professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. She said she believed there was enough legal grounds for the prosecutor-general to file charges. Bolsonaro’s allies in Congress have been negotiating a bill to pardon individuals who stormed the Brazilian capital and rioted on Jan. 8, 2023 in a failed attempt to keep the former president in power. Analysts have speculated that lawmakers want to extend the legislation to cover the former president himself. However, efforts to push a broad amnesty bill may be “politically challenging” given recent attacks on the judiciary and details emerging in investigations, Machado said. On Tuesday, Federal Police arrested four military and a Federal Police officer, accused of plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as a means to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections. And last week, a man carried out a bomb attack in the capital Brasilia . He attempted to enter the Supreme Court and threw explosives outside, killing himself.Patriots' coaches enter bye week confident Drake Maye can be a franchise quarterback

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops stormed one of the last hospitals operating in northern Gaza on Friday, forcing many staff and patients outside to strip in winter weather , the territory’s health ministry said. The army denied claims it had entered or set fire to the complex and accused Hamas of using the facility for cover. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit multiple times over the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in surrounding neighborhoods, according to staff. The ministry said a strike on the hospital a day earlier killed five medical staff. Israel's military said it was conducting operations against Hamas infrastructure and militants in the area and had ordered people out of the hospital, but said it had not entered the complex as of Friday night. It repeated claims that Hamas militants operate inside Kamal Adwan but provided no evidence. Hospital officials have denied that. The Health Ministry said troops forced medical personnel and patients to assemble in the yard and remove their clothes. Some were led to an unknown location, while some patients were sent to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which was knocked out of operation after an Israel raid this week. Israeli troops during raids frequently carry out mass detentions, stripping men to their underwear for questioning in what the military says is a security measure as they search for Hamas fighters. The Associated Press doesn’t have access to Kamal Adwan, but armed plainclothes members of the Hamas-led police forces have been seen in other hospitals, maintaining security but also controlling access to parts of the facilities. The Health Ministry said Israeli troops also set fires in several parts of Kamal Adwan, including the lab and surgery department. It said 25 patients and 60 health workers remained in the hospital. The account could not be independently confirmed, and attempts to reach hospital staff were unsuccessful. “Fire is ablaze everywhere in the hospital,” an unidentified staff member said in an audio message posted on social media accounts of hospital director Hossam Abu Safiya. The staffer said some evacuated patients had been unhooked from oxygen. “There are currently patients who could die at any moment,” she said. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, denied the accusations. “While IDF troops were not in the hospital, a small fire broke out in an empty building inside the hospital that is under control,” he said Friday night. He said a preliminary investigation found “no connection” between military activity and the fire. The Israeli military heavily restricts the movements of Palestinians in Gaza and has barred foreign journalists from entering the territory throughout the war, making it difficult to verify information. “These actions put the lives of all of these people in even more danger than what they faced before,” U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay told journalists, and noted colleagues' reports of “significant damage” to the hospital. It should be protected as international law requires, she added. A largely isolated north Since October, Israel’s offensive has virtually sealed off the northern Gaza areas of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya and leveled large parts of them. Tens of thousands of Palestinians were forced out but thousands are believed to remain in the area, where Kamal Adwan and two other hospitals are located. Troops raided Kamal Adwan in October, and on Tuesday troops stormed and evacuated the Indonesian Hospital. The area has been cut off from food and other aid for months , raising fears of famine . The United Nations says Israeli troops allowed just four humanitarian deliveries to the area from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23. The Israeli rights group Physicians for Human Rights-Israel this week petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice, seeking a halt to military attacks on Kamal Adwan. It warned that forcibly evacuating the hospital would “abandon thousands of residents in northern Gaza.” Before the latest deaths Thursday, the group documented five other staffers killed by Israeli fire since October. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza vowing to destroy Hamas after the group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted some 250 others. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, around a third believed to be dead. Israel’s nearly 15-month-old campaign of bombardment and offensives has devastated the territory’s health sector. A year ago, it carried out raids on hospitals in northern Gaza, including Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and al-Awda Hospital, saying they served as bases for Hamas, though it presented little evidence. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 45,400 Palestinians, more than half women and children, and wounded more than 108,000 others, according to the Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Deaths from the cold in Gaza More than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have been driven from their homes, most now sheltering in sprawling tent camps in south and central Gaza. Children and adults, many barefoot, huddled Friday on the cold sand in tents whose plastic and cloth sheets whipped in the wind. Overnight temperatures can dip into the 40s Fahrenheit (below 10 Celsius), and sea spray from the Mediterranean can dampen tents just steps away. "I swear to God, their mother and I cover ourselves with one blanket and we cover (their five children) with three blankets that we got from neighbors. Sea waters drowned everything that was ours,” said Muhammad al-Sous, displaced from Beit Lahiya in the north. The children collect plastic bottles to make fires, and pile under the blankets when their only set of clothes is washed and dried in the wind. At least three babies in Gaza have died from exposure to cold in recent days , doctors there have said, and the Health Ministry said an adult — a nurse who worked at the European Hospital — also died this week. Khaled and Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Narions contributed to this report.

Moss made his announcement on social media Monday. Moss started the Trojans ' bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” Moss wrote. “Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.” Moss, who was born in Los Angeles and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed with the Trojans after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 64.4% of his passes this season for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After a spectacular 378-yard performance to beat LSU in the Trojans' season opener, Moss didn't play poorly as a starter, but he also wasn't a difference-maker while USC stumbled to a 4-5 record. Moss threw seven interceptions in his final five starts before losing the job to Maiava. The Trojans went 1-4 in that stretch under Moss, who plays as a more traditional pocket passer while Maiava has the mobility usually favored for quarterbacks in Riley's spread offense. “Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level,” Moss wrote. Moss has already graduated from USC, putting him in the portal as a graduate student. USC (6-6) is headed to a lower-tier bowl game again to finish this season, its third under Riley. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

All 18 holes are grassed in and other amenities are progressing at Trout National, a collaboration between Tiger Woods and baseball star Mike Trout. Courtesy Trout National In recent months, status reports involving Tiger Woods have focused largely on his latest round of rehab. Here’s a more uplifting update. It concerns Trout National-The Reserve, Woods’ collaboration with baseball star Mike Trout . If you keep up with golf headlines, you’re likely familiar with the outline of the project, a private destination golf club in Trout’s hometown of Vineland in southern New Jersey, featuring a championship course by Woods’ golf architecture firm, TGR Design . In the nearly two years since word of Trout National first got out, details about the property have been kept on the down-low. But as work progresses, a clearer picture of the club has taken shape. The course itself was finished in October, and, thanks to a stretch of forgiving weather, all 18 holes are now fully grassed. They make up a brawny par-72 layout that tips out 7,455 yards, with a routing that takes advantage of the rumpled terrain of what used to be a silica sand mining site. The course design is meant to bring out imaginative shot-making, with many greens accessible by the ground game and runoffs around them that allow for creative recoveries. “It’s going to be challenging,” says Tyler Trout, Mike’s brother, who heads the club’s development team. “But I don’t see people losing a lot of balls around here.” As the turf takes deeper root, construction continues on a slate of Trout-inspired amenities. In a cap-tip to baseball, a comfort station called the Dugout is nearing completion behind the 14th and 16th teeing areas. True to its name, its design mirrors that of dugouts in MLB stadiums, with stadium seating as a perch to watch shots from ground level and a digital scoreboard displaying scores from players around the course. A more expansive stopping point, meanwhile, is already finished. A full food-and-beverage hangout (it’s called Aaron’s, in honor of Mike’s late brother-in-law, who enjoyed a life-of-the-party reputation) is set between the 6th and 11th holes in a location that golfers pass several times throughout a round and boasts wrap-around terraces, fire pits, outdoor cooking and an indoor-outdoor bar that is meant to be a place where members and their guests can kick back, spectate and, if the spirit moves them, treat their friends in other groups to light-hearted heckles. Trout National is situated within easy striking distance of Philadelphia and Atlantic City, in a region that is home to some of the country’s most storied courses, but it aims to strike a classic-contemporary balance by appealing to golfers with a course designed for purists in a setting free of stuffiness or starch. “It’s going to have a feel that has been growing in golf over the past decade or so,” Trout says. “It’s pure golf. You don’t see any houses. But the culture and vibe are more modern and relaxed.” In keeping with that ethos, the golf offerings will include a fully lit short course, the Bullpen; a 30,000-square-foot under-the-lights putting course and short-game area; and a performance center with three hitting bays, one of which will double as a fitting station, along with high-tech training tools such as TrackMan, Force Plate by Swing Catalyst and an indoor putting lab. Anchoring the club will be an expansive clubhouse, designed in the style of a stately manor, with slate roofs, limestone walls and timber accents, and amenities such as a spa, a 2,500-bottle wine cellar, a barber shop, a bowling alley and a fitness center designed by Trout. Like all the other infrastructure at Trout National, which includes a helipad, and five cottages and two lodges for those staying overnight, the clubhouse is scheduled to be completed before the club’s grand opening in April, 2026. Prior to that, member play is expected to begin in 2025, though the exact timing for that has not yet been determined. According to Tyler Trout, membership ranks will be kept small, and composed of athletes, young business professionals, entrepreneurs, and “other avid golfers who enjoy the game the way we’re going to be doing it.” Among those avid golfers is Mike Trout, who doesn’t keep a handicap but can shoot in the 60s when his game is sharp. He hasn’t been playing lately, though. Like Woods, he has been sidelined by injuries this season, but that hasn’t kept off the course entirely. In a get-together this past summer that made a splash on social media, Trout joined Woods for a walking tour of Trout National, where the two talked through details as the course pushed toward completion. Rehab is not their only shared pursuit. Latest In Travel Golf.com Editor A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.

American taxpayers tied to potential funding of $7.5B loan