The Transportation Security Administration has some reminders for those heading to airports during the holidays. “People seem to forget some of the more common and routine steps that they need to take when packing for a flight or when they are going through a checkpoint, perhaps because they’re focused on being at their destination and not focusing on what needs to happen before getting there,” said TSA officer Christopher Kirchein of John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Travelers sometimes ignore the advice that we give them,” said TeaNeisha Barker, a TSA uniformed adviser. “We are providing guidance so that they get through the checkpoint as simply and conveniently as possible. Not every airport has the same technology, so listen to the guidance we are offering.” “Passengers forget that knives and other weapons are not allowed through our checkpoints. It’s shocking to see so many people with knives,” said TSA officer Aisha Hicks of Philadelphia International Airport. “Weapons of any kind are prohibited through a TSA checkpoint.” TSA officers shared this list of the common things that travelers forget and should remember when coming to a security checkpoint. Ten things that travelers need to remember when preparing to go through the security screening process: • Remember that you cannot bring bottles of water, energy drinks, juice, coffee, soda or any filled insulated reusable container through a security checkpoint. However, they can finish their beverage and bring the empty bottle or container with them. • Remember to bring your ID to the checkpoint. • Remember when TSA officers remind you to remove everything from your pockets that it does not only mean metallic items such as keys and mobile phones, but it means everything, including non-metallic items such as tissues, lip balm, breath mints, etc. • Remember that you cannot bring a firearm through a checkpoint. Instead, pack your unloaded firearm in a locked hard-sided case and declare it at your airline check-in counter and the airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the plane where nobody has access to it. • Remember that you need to remove your shoes when getting screened and then end up barefoot on the floor. It’s probably a good idea to wear socks. • Remember that children 12 and under are allowed to travel through a TSA PreCheck screening lane with a parent who has TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass. In addition, don’t forget that children up to the age of 18 can also come into the TSA PreCheck lane with their parent if they are on the same airline reservation as their parent. • Remember that passengers that appear 12 and under or 75 and older do not need to remove their shoes and light jacket. • Remember, if you are putting a lock on your luggage, make sure it is a TSA compatible lock so that if TSA officers need to open your luggage, they can unlock it and relock it. If the lock is not TSA compliant, TSA officers who need to open your luggage will cut off the lock, rendering it useless. • Remember that you can bring medications through a security checkpoint, even liquid medication. Just let the TSA officer know that you have liquid medication with you so it can be screened separately. • Remember to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license sooner rather than later because REAL ID goes into effect on May 7.

The Transportation Security Administration has some reminders for those heading to airports during the holidays. “People seem to forget some of the more common and routine steps that they need to take when packing for a flight or when they are going through a checkpoint, perhaps because they’re focused on being at their destination and not focusing on what needs to happen before getting there,” said TSA officer Christopher Kirchein of John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Travelers sometimes ignore the advice that we give them,” said TeaNeisha Barker, a TSA uniformed adviser. “We are providing guidance so that they get through the checkpoint as simply and conveniently as possible. Not every airport has the same technology, so listen to the guidance we are offering.” “Passengers forget that knives and other weapons are not allowed through our checkpoints. It’s shocking to see so many people with knives,” said TSA officer Aisha Hicks of Philadelphia International Airport. “Weapons of any kind are prohibited through a TSA checkpoint.” TSA officers shared this list of the common things that travelers forget and should remember when coming to a security checkpoint. Ten things that travelers need to remember when preparing to go through the security screening process: • Remember that you cannot bring bottles of water, energy drinks, juice, coffee, soda or any filled insulated reusable container through a security checkpoint. However, they can finish their beverage and bring the empty bottle or container with them. • Remember to bring your ID to the checkpoint. • Remember when TSA officers remind you to remove everything from your pockets that it does not only mean metallic items such as keys and mobile phones, but it means everything, including non-metallic items such as tissues, lip balm, breath mints, etc. • Remember that you cannot bring a firearm through a checkpoint. Instead, pack your unloaded firearm in a locked hard-sided case and declare it at your airline check-in counter and the airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the plane where nobody has access to it. • Remember that you need to remove your shoes when getting screened and then end up barefoot on the floor. It’s probably a good idea to wear socks. • Remember that children 12 and under are allowed to travel through a TSA PreCheck screening lane with a parent who has TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass. In addition, don’t forget that children up to the age of 18 can also come into the TSA PreCheck lane with their parent if they are on the same airline reservation as their parent. • Remember that passengers that appear 12 and under or 75 and older do not need to remove their shoes and light jacket. • Remember, if you are putting a lock on your luggage, make sure it is a TSA compatible lock so that if TSA officers need to open your luggage, they can unlock it and relock it. If the lock is not TSA compliant, TSA officers who need to open your luggage will cut off the lock, rendering it useless. • Remember that you can bring medications through a security checkpoint, even liquid medication. Just let the TSA officer know that you have liquid medication with you so it can be screened separately. • Remember to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license sooner rather than later because REAL ID goes into effect on May 7.

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No. 12 Oklahoma pulls away late vs. Prairie View A&MHANSON: What Trump nominees have not done — and will not doWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia. The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine's situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. Currently Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace its battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military, the official added. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it's going to stay in the fight with Russia. White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett in a statement said the administration will continue sending Ukraine weaponry but believes “manpower is the most vital need" Ukraine has at the moment. “So, we’re also ready to ramp up our training capacity if they take appropriate steps to fill out their ranks,” Savett said. The Ukrainians have said they need about 160,000 additional troops to keep up with its battlefield needs, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including the National Guard and other units. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals as well that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region . The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops , who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land seized in a Ukrainian incursion this year. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. “There are no easy answers to Ukraine’s serious manpower shortage, but lowering the draft age would help,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "These are obviously difficult decisions for a government and society that has already endured so much due to Russia’s invasion.” Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military. In April, Ukraine’s parliament passed a series of laws, including one lowering its draft-eligible age for men from 27 to 25, aimed at broadening the universe of men who could be called on to join the grinding war. Those laws also did away with some draft exemptions and created an online registry for recruits. They were expected to add about 50,000 troops, far short of what Zelenskyy said at the time was needed. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that he has no plans to lower the mobilization age. A senior Ukrainian official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ukraine does not have enough equipment to match the scale of its ongoing mobilization efforts. The official said Ukrainian officials see the push to the lower the draft age as part of an effort by some Western partners to deflect attention from their own delays in providing equipment or belated decisions. The official cited as an example the delay in giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Ukrainians do not see lowering the draft age to recruit more soldiers as a substitute for countering Russia’s advantage in equipment and weaponry, the official said. Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s own problems with adequate troop levels and planning early in the war prevented Moscow from taking full advantage of its edge. But the tide has shifted and the U.S. says the Ukrainian shortage can no longer be overlooked. Some Ukrainians have expressed worry that further lowering the minimum conscription age and taking more young adults out of the workforce could backfire by further harming the war-ravaged economy. The senior Biden administration official added that the administration believes that Ukraine can also optimize its current force by more aggressively dealing with soldiers who desert or go absent without leave. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.

Undefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level MediaWhy 'Wheel of Fortune' Fans Are Doubting Ryan Seacrest's Hosting Ability

No. 22 Xavier aims to keep its perfect record intact Monday night in Fort Myers, Fla., when it takes on South Carolina in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Musketeers (5-0) are coming off an 80-55 victory on Wednesday over Siena, while the Gamecocks (3-2) beat Mercer on Thursday 84-72. Against Mercer, South Carolina sank a season-best 12 3-pointers -- tied for the fourth-most in a single game under third-year coach Lamont Paris. Jamarii Thomas, a senior transfer from Norfolk State, had 19 points and swished 4 of 5 shots from behind the arc. "Thomas got some good, clean looks," Paris said. "It was good to see those guys make their shots. Hopefully it gets those guys going in the right direction." On the season, the Gamecocks are making 7.8 3-pointers per game and shooting 32.5 percent from deep. Senior guard Jacobi Wright makes a team-best 1.8 3-pointers per game and shoots 37.5 percent from behind the arc. At 13.0 ppg, he is second on the team behind Collin Murray-Boyles (15.8). Xavier is allowing eight makes from deep per game and is letting opponents shoot 38.5 percent from behind the arc, which ranks 337th in the country. And despite an undefeated record so far for the Musketeers, third-year coach Sean Miller is worried about his players developing bad habits. "We have a virus that everybody is looking at the stat sheet, trying to get as many points as they possibly can," Miller said after the win over Siena. "They want to win, but they really want to win and score. We need a couple of guys that are willing to rebound, defend, make the extra pass, play at a high level defensively and understand what makes a team great." Marcus Foster did a decent job of doing a little bit of everything for Xavier against Siena, piling up 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. It was the first double-digit scoring outing for Foster -- a grad transfer from Furman -- in a Xavier uniform. Since 2008, Xavier is 25-11 against teams from the Southeastern Conference, but it hasn't played South Carolina in that stretch. --Field Level Media

CARSON, California (AP) — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their sixth MLS Cup title, with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday in the single-match final. PUBLICIDAD After scoring twice in the first 13 minutes of the final with goals from their star forwards, and holding off a late surge from the New York team, the Galaxy maintained their lead during a goalless second half to lift the league's biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. PUBLICIDAD What are the merits of the Galaxy title? The Galaxy changed everything this season with a new high-performance lineup that finished second in the Western Conference and then advanced through the playoffs with an impressive total of 18 goals in five games to win another crown. The Galaxy won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaker midfielder from Barcelona who impressively led their offense throughout the season, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the Western Conference final. Puig watched the game in a suit, but his teammates had not forgotten about him: after his replacement, Gastón Brugman, assisted in LA's first goal with an excellent pass, Paintsil lifted Puig's shirt to the fans during the celebration. Brugman was named the Most Valuable Player of the MLS Cup after a dominant performance in the midfield. The Uruguayan had not started a match for the Galaxy since October 5, only playing as a substitute in the postseason before the final. The Galaxy goalkeeper, John McCarthy , made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons. After Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz received the MLS Cup named after him for his constant financial support to the league during its unstable years, Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida took the trophy to a stage full of his teammates for a celebration amidst fireworks and confetti. The Galaxy extended their lead over DC United (4) for the most MLS Cup championships in the league's history. The Red Bulls remain one of the three original MLS franchises that have never won the title, along with FC Dallas and New England Revolution. With the youngest roster in the league, the Red Bulls were on the verge of becoming the team with the lowest ranking to win the MLS playoff tournament in the first year under German coach Sandro Schwarz. LA Galaxy will not play in the Club World Cup The United States will host the first 32-team Club World Cup in 2025. At some point it was thought that the spot of the host country would go to the champion of this year's MLS Cup, the most important tournament in US soccer, but FIFA under Gianni Infantino decided to invite Lionel Messi's Inter Miami after they finished the regular season with the most points. Although FIFA has not explained the reasons for inviting Inter Miami, it is assumed that it is because of Messi's popularity. The measure has been widely criticized in the United States and in world soccer.Cibus director Gerhard Prante sells $4,439 worth of stock

Tyreek Hill's Wife Sent Three-Word Message to Dolphins Star on SundayPete Tychsen, President & Founder of Preservation Financial Group Interviewed on the Influential Entrepreneur Podcast Discussing Having a Retirement Income Plan in Writing 11-22-2024 09:54 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Authority Press Wire Image: https://authoritypresswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Headshot-PeteTychsen.jpg Pete Tychsen discusses having a retirement income plan in writing Listen to the interview on the Business Innovators Radio Network: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/pete-tychsen-president-and-founder-of-preservation-financial-group-discussing-having-a-retirement-income-plan-in-writing/ Pete Tychsen, the president and founder of Preservation Financial Group. They discuss the importance of having a retirement income plan in writing, emphasizing that while knowledge is powerful, it needs to be put into action to be truly effective. Pete shares a compelling analogy about climbing Mount Everest, illustrating that the goal of a retirement plan isn't just about reaching financial milestones, but also about ensuring a safe and secure return to stability in one's financial life. A written retirement income plan is essential for ensuring financial stability throughout retirement, extending beyond merely reaching retirement age. This concept is emphasized in the podcast episode featuring Pete Tychsen, president and founder of Preservation Financial Group. Below are several key points that underscore the significance of having a structured and documented approach to retirement income planning. Many individuals concentrate on accumulating wealth for retirement, but the real challenge lies in effectively distributing that wealth once retirement begins. As Pete Tychsen points out, the goal is not just to reach retirement but to navigate through it successfully. This requires a clear plan that outlines how to draw from various income sources without risking running out of money. A written retirement income plan helps individuals understand their income needs during retirement. It provides a detailed analysis of various income sources, such as Social Security, pensions, and personal savings. By documenting this information, retirees can better assess how much they can withdraw each year while ensuring their funds last throughout their retirement years. A critical aspect of a retirement income plan is assessing risk tolerance. As discussed in the episode, many individuals may not realize how much risk they are taking with their investments as they approach retirement. For instance, Bob and Mary, a couple mentioned in the podcast, were shocked to learn that 74% of their assets were exposed to stock market risk, despite their comfort level being only an 8-10% loss. A written plan allows for a thorough review of investment strategies and helps align them with the retiree's risk tolerance, ensuring they are not overly exposed to market fluctuations. Pete shared: "I take the Boring and the Complex and make it simpler for a more Worry-Free Retirement." The concept of "creating paychecks for life" is central to a successful retirement income plan. This involves determining which accounts to draw from first and how to structure withdrawals to maintain a steady income stream. Without a written plan, retirees may find themselves unsure of how to manage their finances, leading to unnecessary stress and potential financial instability. A retirement income plan is not a one-time task; it requires regular reviews and adjustments. As Pete emphasizes, life circumstances, market conditions, and personal needs can change, making it essential to revisit the plan periodically. This ongoing evaluation ensures that the plan remains relevant and effective in meeting the retiree's financial goals. Ultimately, having a written retirement income plan provides peace of mind. Knowing that there is a structured approach to managing retirement funds allows individuals to focus on enjoying their retirement rather than worrying about financial uncertainties. As Pete states, once a plan is in place and tested, retirees can rest assured that their money will last as long as they need it. Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/j7tYaTOiy0I?rel=0&modestbranding=0&rel=0&showinfo=1&controls=1&autohide=2&showinfo=0?ecver=2 Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/j7tYaTOiy0I About Pete Tychsen Pete Tychsen is the President and founder of Preservation Financial Group in Tallahassee. Pete has been helping local residents plan their retirement since 1996 and focuses on the areas of IRA/401(k) distribution, tax strategies, asset protection, and income planning. Pete's approach has helped his clients: * Avoid needless taxation on IRAs/ retirement accounts * Protect their principal and create a secure retirement income * Avoid unnecessary risks with their retirement assets * Use Retirement Plans to build a lasting legacy for children and grandchildren Pete regularly conducts seminars on a variety of financial topics to groups including Executives, Educators, Government and State employees - as well as to the general public. Pete is author of Retire Worry-Free: Your Guide to A Simpler, Safer Retirement. Pete is an FSU Alumni and lives in the Tallahassee area with his wife LeAnne and their five children, Andrew, Anna, Arden, Christopher, and Sarah. When not working to help secure the financial future of retirees, Pete enjoys involvement at his church, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family. Investment advisory services are offered through Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC (Preservation Financial Group), a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance products and services are offered through Preservation Financial Group. Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC (DBA Preservation Financial Group) and Preservation Financial Group, are unaffiliated companies. Learn more: https://www.PFG12.com [ https://www.pfg12.com/ ] or https://www.preservationfinancialgroup.com [ https://www.preservationfinancialgroup.com/ ] Recent news and interviews: * Pete Tychsen, President and Founder of Preservation Financial Group Interviewed on the Influential Entrepreneur Podcast Discussing a Balanced Retirement Strategy: https://authoritypresswire.com/pete-tychsen-president-and-founder-of-preservation-financial-group-interviewed-on-the-influential-entrepreneur-podcast-discussing-a-balanced-retirement-strategy/ Disclosure : Pete Tychsen, an Investment Advisory Representative (IAR), offers advisory servicesthrough Gibbs Wealth Management (GWM), an SEC registered investment advisor. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements.Preservation Financial GroupandGWM are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through GWM but are offered and sold independently by Preservation Financial Group, Pete Tychsen, License #A269903 (FL), #3000456732 (AL), #446503 (GA), #2426336 (TN), #402223 (NC, SC, & OR). Media Contact Company Name: Marketing Huddle, LLC Contact Person: Mike Saunders, MBA Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=pete-tychsen-president-founder-of-preservation-financial-group-interviewed-on-the-influential-entrepreneur-podcast-discussing-having-a-retirement-income-plan-in-writing ] Phone: 7202323112 Country: United States Website: https://www.AuthorityPositioningCoach.com This release was published on openPR.

The U.S. Justice Department told a federal judge that Google illegally dominated online advertising technology in seeking a second antitrust win against the company. The closing arguments in Alexandria cap a 15-day trial held in September in which prosecutors sought to show Google monopolized markets for publisher ad servers and advertiser ad networks and tried to dominate the market for ad exchanges, which sit between buyers and sellers. “Google rigged the rules of the road,” said DOJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum, who asked the judge to hold Google accountable for anti-competitive conduct and added that Google is "once, twice, three times a monopolist." Another DOJ lawyer, Julia Tarver Wood, compared the case to the Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities and said U.S. Judge Leonie Brinkema had to decide whether to adopt the DOJ or Google version of the state of the ad market. Google lawyer Karen Dunn said the DOJ had not met its legal burden and was asking Brinkema to overrule key precedents. "The law simply does not support what the plaintiffs are arguing in this case," Dunn said. She argued the DOJ was ignoring Google's legitimate business decisions and the robust quality of the online advertising market. The company argues the government had cherry-picked a narrow slice of the online market and did not account for aggressive competition. Shares of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, were up 1.4% in afternoon trading. Publishers testified at the trial that they could not switch away from Google, even when it rolled out features they disliked, since there was no other way to access the huge advertising demand within Google's ad network. In 2017, News Corp estimated losing at least $9 million in ad revenue that year if it had switched away, one witness said. If Brinkema finds that Google broke the law, she would consider prosecutors' request to make Google at least sell off Google Ad Manager, a platform that includes the company's publisher ad server and its ad exchange. Google offered to sell the ad exchange this year to end a European Union antitrust investigation, but European publishers rejected the proposal as insufficient, Reuters first reported in September. Analysts view the ad tech case as a smaller financial risk than the case in which a judge ruled Google maintains an illegal monopoly in online search, and in which prosecutors have argued the company must be forced to sell its Chrome browser.TORONTO — With Jan. 27 marking 500 days out from the 2026 World Cup kickoff, some 50-plus staff are fleshing out the Canadian end of the tournament at FIFA’s Toronto office. The office has been around for a year, although it took six months to get it to where it is now — a fully functioning space with more than a little character. The entrance features a display of 14 official match balls dating back to the 1970 World Cup. A giant 2026 cut-out in the shape of the FIFA World Cup trophy provides a unique photo op. Maple Leaf motifs decorate the converted factory, which is getting busier by the day. Peter Montopoli, chief tournament officer for the Canadian end, says the staff numbers will soon reach 80, with another 600 to 700 involved during the event itself. A lot has happened since Montopoli, then Canada Soccer’s general secretary, and Victor Montagliani, then Canada Soccer’s incoming president, hashed out the idea of bidding for the men’s World Cup at a 2011 dinner at a Vancouver restaurant with Walter Sieber, director-general of sports at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and a man plugged into the world governing body of soccer. “When we announced in May 2012 ... it wasn’t actually accepted very well by a few journalists in this city, who kind of laughed at it and scoffed at it,” said Montagliani, who still keeps one of those negative articles in his desk. Montagliani, now president of CONCACAF and a FIFA vice-president, looks forward to the 2026 tournament — an expanded 48-team, 104-game colossus co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico — and its legacy. He calls it a “seminal moment ... that I think is going to push the game to the next level.” “What I see is (that) ’26, quite frankly, is really the beginning of the next era for the game in our country. It’s not the culmination of it,” Montagliani told a media roundtable Monday. “Hosting a World Cup is like nothing any of us (know). I don’t even think I know what it’s going to be like. And I’ve put on a few of these things. And I still don’t know. I think I’m underestimate the impact this (tournament) is going to be. And if I’m underestimating, the person on the street is underestimating it too.” Staff at the Toronto office are working on everything from stadium and venue operations, and safety and security to commercial, legal, finance and government relations. They work in conjunction with FIFA offices in Miami and Mexico as well as the FIFA head office in Zurich. Canada and Mexico, which has three host cities to Canada’s two, will each host 13 matches with the U.S. staging the remaining 78 across its 11 host cities. Toronto and Vancouver will each host five opening-round matches plus a round-of-32 knockout match. Vancouver will also stage a round-of-16 game. FIFA plans to open a tournament office in Vancouver in the second quarter of 2025. Both Canadian offices will be walking distance to their local venues: Toronto’s BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium. Montopoli and his staff have a detailed timeline, covering everything from the tournament draw to unveiling of mascots, official songs and posters. FIFA is encouraging fans interested in tournament tickets to register via FIFA.com. Hospitality packages are already open and other packages are expected next September, with single-game tickets to follow after the draw in early December 2025. There is much to be done, starting with the two Canadian host stadiums. A ring of permanent suites is under construction at B.C. Place. BMO Field will get an additional 17,750 seats, bringing total capacity to around 45,735 seats, with the north and south ends expanded. Not all the new seats will be permanent, but some of the new suites at BMO Field will be. Montopoli says his staff are working with the City of Toronto, which owns the stadium, and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which manages the facility, to decide what upgrades will permanent. “They’re still in discussion with that, because they still have to work through the economics of it” he said. Improvements include new video boards. And while some of the expanded BMO stands will be temporary, the additions will be proper seats not benches. Montagliani says every stadium among the 16 host cities is getting upgrades, even AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the US$1.2-billion-dollar home of the Dallas Cowboys. Vancouver has already announced its tournament training facilities will be at Killarney Park and Memorial South Park once upgrades are complete. While Toronto has yet to confirm its training venues, with fields at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park one option, Montopoli says they will be finalized in the first quarter of 2025. FIFA’s Miami-based tournament traffic lead is currently visiting the city, a “world-class expert” who has done World Cups, Olympic Games and the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto, said Montopoli. “She’s fully aware of everything, Toronto’s transport issues,” he added. Fans can expect a much different landscape around the stadiums than normal, with an expanded secure zone. “This is not the Grey Cup. This is the World Cup and it’s going to be completely different from an operational logistical standpoint, logistical standpoint, than anything we’ve ever experienced,” Montagliani said. And while holding a tournament in 16 host cities and three countries is vastly different from the 2022 tournament in Qatar, which had all eight stadiums in and around the capital of Doha, Montagliani says a lot of FIFA’s World Cup blueprint can be transferred. “A venue is a venue is a venue,” he said. Teams will have their own base camps during the group stage with nearby cities grouped in clusters. Toronto, for example, is linked to Philadelphia, Boston and New York, while Vancouver is grouped with Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. — Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

28 Products That’ll Make Decking The Halls Easy And Fun This Holiday Season

Sony is reportedly in the early stages of developing a new PlayStation handheld device which would likely play PS4 and PS5 games natively. The report arrives courtesy of the ever-reliable , which posited a portable console, while years away, was being discussed privately, as a means to expand Sony’s reach into a new market. The PlayStation Portal, a cloud-based streaming handheld, is reportedly being used as a building block for Sony’s future plans. In fact, was told the device was originally meant to function as a standalone gaming handheld, much like the Steam Deck, before plans were changed. Sony is seemingly looking to revisit this intent in a new handheld device, with the aim for this to be “more accessible and appealing to a wider audience.” notes Sony has been aiming to expand PlayStation’s appeal for several years now, as it aims to make its games more widely accessible, beyond the PS5 ecosystem. Should Sony release a new PlayStation handheld device, it will likely be in contention with Microsoft – the company is – as well as Nintendo, which will announce a Nintendo Switch successor within the next six months, and Valve’s Steam Deck PC handheld. The handheld gaming market is heating up In the last few years, the race to create new gaming handhelds that allow a freedom for users has heated up significantly. What’s worth noting is Sony was formerly an expert in the gaming handheld market. The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was a very early experiment with the technology, and proved to be wildly popular in its era, thanks to robust developer support. It’s estimated the console sold around 80 million units in its ten-year life cycle, making it the 12th best-selling console of all time. Sadly, Sony’s followup device, the PlayStation Vita, fared much worse, selling an estimated 10-15 million units in its life cycle. While many factors influenced this lack of popularity, it’s commonly put down to a lack of developer support, with few major titles releasing on the console. Following this release, Sony largely abandoned its handheld gaming ambitions, instead focussing on launching home consoles for the next decade. Now, it appears the ambition and desire for dedicated handheld gaming devices may have returned – and Sony may once again dip its toes into the market. While believes a potential new PlayStation handheld device isn’t a sure thing, and Sony may choose to leave the idea behind should the market prove volatile, we’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for more updates.Last week, South Korea experienced a titanic political shift when President Yoon Suk-yeol imposed martial law late on Tuesday night. The move lasted just over six hours before it was lifted, making it one of the shortest-lived martial law declarations in modern political history. It was lucky because it started late at night and ended early in the morning. Had it occurred during the day, the outcome could have been very different. While it may be easy to criticise such actions from the outside, as the global media have done, Thailand, with its long history of political malfunction, martial law and coups, should reflect on the lessons from South Korea's situation. Of late, rumours of another possible coup have hit Thai social media and spread fast. If those rumours are true, Thai leaders can learn a few things from how Korea's military, politicians, and people responded. This extraordinary political blip shows the importance of democratic principles, the role of the military, and the responsibilities of lawmakers in protecting their country's governance. In South Korea, after martial law was declared, troops were sent to surround the National Assembly and ordered to arrest key lawmakers, according to reports. Their mission was to prevent MPs from entering the building. Lawmakers resisted and tried to enter the parliament to hold a parliamentary session. Remarkably, the soldiers chose to step aside and allow them in. There was limited resistance at first, but then people's power prevailed, and there was no bloodshed. This act is significant for Thais. Even under martial law, the Korean military respected democratic institutions. The MPs used this critical moment in the early morning to vote on a resolution demanding that Mr Yoon rescind his declaration of martial law. This was a powerful and glorious moment for the country. The military's decision not to interfere further strengthened South Korea's democracy. Subsequently, Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who proposed that Mr Yoon declare martial law, resigned. In contrast, Thailand's history with martial law tells a different story. Thai coups often lead to the suspension of constitutions, the dissolution of democratic institutions and long periods of military rule. Troops in Thailand have not always acted with the same restraint as their South Korean counterparts. In past coups, the Thai military has often been seen as an enforcer of authoritarian control rather than a protector of democracy. Even though the top brass were criticised for following orders, South Korean foot soldiers' behaviour during this incident was civilised. Video clips and eyewitness accounts showed that the soldiers, despite being heavily armed, acted calmly and respectfully. They refrained from using force against the MPs or the public. Thai military leaders should carefully observe and learn from this approach. The Korean military has remade itself into a respectable democratic force after decades with a chequered record. This transformation, to use the Thai parlance, must be the country's greatest soft power. In previous Thai coups, military action and tanks rolling through the capital's streets often caused fear and distrust among citizens. Seoul's example shows that the military can maintain order without snuffing out democracy. It is worth noting that Thailand and South Korea share a historical military connection dating back to the Korean War. Their troops have also trained together during the Cobra Gold annual military exercise since 1982. However, over the past three decades, their political paths have diverged significantly with dramatic political and economic outcomes. South Korea's military now supports democratic governance, and its economy, which also suffered the same fate as Thailand following the Asian economic crisis in the 1990s, has prospered and become the world's eleventh largest. Mr Yoon's decision to impose martial law has severely damaged his political career and his country's reputation. Although he acted within his constitutional authority under Article 77, his justification for the move was weak. Mr Yoon claimed that martial law was necessary to address threats from North Korea and to manage ongoing opposition to his government's policies and measures, including numerous impeachments. However, these reasons were not seen as valid threats to national security. Most importantly, when South Korea's lawmakers and the public opposed his decision, Mr Yoon reversed course. He lifted martial law within hours, complying with democratic norms despite his earlier actions. A day later, he pledged not to do it again. Unfortunately, his credibility has forever vanished. In addition, with the outpouring of public anger and a heightened sense of betrayal by their elected leader, it will be tough for Mr Yoon to stay in office. In contrast, when Thai leaders declare martial law, they tend to stay on for extended periods to achieve their objectives. Quite often, during the beginning of martial law, public voices are silenced and oppressed. Another notable lesson is the courage and quality of South Korean MPs, who showed remarkable resilience and bravery during this crisis. Opposition lawmakers insisted on entering the National Assembly to carry out their duties, even when soldiers initially blocked them. With a resolution against martial law passed, the crisis effectively ended. This contrasts with the behaviour of Thai politicians during democratic or dictatorial rule. Some lawmakers and political leaders remain in cahoots with the military or establishment to keep a grip on power as long as they can to protect their interests. That helps explain why, since 1932, following the move from absolute monarchy to constitutional one, Thailand's political development has been third rate with weak democratic institutions and civil society organisations. Thai politicians are elected to safeguard national interests and democracy but they instead choose to protect their interests, which are subjects of new headlines and judicial investigations. Finally, Mr Yoon's justification for declaring martial law was claimed to be against the perceived threat from communist North Korea. This is not entirely new. After the Korean War, South Korea has often cited national security concerns emanating from the North in its political decisions. However, this time round, numerous Korean scholars and critics agreed that Mr Yoon's real motivation was to block the opposition from obstructing his government's proposed bills and policies and to shield his wife from political persecution. Thailand has seen similar patterns in its long list of martial law declarations. During the Cold War, the communist threat ranked high in the military's psyche. In 1976, it led to the massacre of students at Thammasat University. Furthermore, the military used additional reasons, such as corruption, inefficiency and national security threats, to impose martial law. Today, after the May 2014 coup, it is now hoped that the Thai public will no longer tolerate military rule again as it yields more destructive than positive impacts. South Korea's mature and functioning democracy, albeit a bit bruised by last week's martial law invocation, can still withstand manipulation by crooked politicians and military power. Thailand should take note. Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.

Path of Exile 2 early access players think Titan’s Treasure is bugged because of its absence in Titan’s Grotto. The second act of Path of Exile 2 has players exploring Titan’s Grotto, the same area where they’ll face off against the Zalmarath, the Colossus boss. Those who take some time to explore may stumble across optional objectives and Points of Interest that deepen the experience. However, players have found that one item in particular does not appear on the map as expected. Path of Exile 2 players baffled by missing Titan’s Treasure Since the sequel entered early access, users in Path of Exile forums and Reddit threads have pondered the conspicuous absence of the Titan’s Treasure, which should appear in Titan’s Grotto. One person in a forums post commented, “Has anybody found out where the titan’s treasure in Titan’s Grotto? I’ve checked twice but did not find any.” Dozens of other users have chimed in to say that they, too, haven’t had any luck finding Titan’s Treasure, even after completing the Titan fight. Multiple runs through the Grotto do not appear to yield any results either. Several people have pointed out that a stone Titan with a sword lodged in its throat may be the answer. It’s located near a checkpoint, but nothing of consequence happens when interacting with the stone. The consensus among Path of Exile 2 players is that Titan’s Treasure is bugged, not unlike Tinker’s Tools which are visible on the world map but never appear in real-time. Unfortunately, developer Grinding Gear Games has yet to address either of these issues, so there’s no official word on when players should expect a fix. Path of Exile 2’s early access went live on December 6 and immediately suffered from technical and server issues. Many of the launch woes have since been resolved, enough that POE2 became one of Steam’s most popular games in a day.Lawyers for a voting machine company that’s suing Fox News want to question founder Rupert Murdoch about his contentious efforts to change his family trust , the attorneys told a court Monday. Election-tech company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation suit regards Fox's reporting on 2020 voting fraud claims. But Smartmatic’s attorneys suggest the separate succession fight over Murdoch's media empire might shed light on any Fox Corp. involvement in editorial matters. It's an important, if technical, question as Smartmatic seeks to hold the deep-pocketed Fox parent company responsible for statements that the news network aired. Fox contends that there's no such liability and that it was engaging in journalism, not defamation, when it broadcast election-fraud allegations made by then-President Donald Trump 's attorneys. Rupert Murdoch may already have given a deposition — out-of-court questioning under oath — in the defamation suit. Such records aren't public at this stage, but plans for his deposition were briefly mentioned at a 2022 hearing. Smartmatic now is seeking to talk to Murdoch about his efforts to rewrite his plans for his businesses after his death. The matter is playing out behind closed doors and in sealed files in a Nevada probate court. The New York Times has reported that Rupert Murdoch wants to keep his eldest son, Lachlan , in charge of the conglomerate's newspapers and television networks in order to ensure a continued conservative editorial outlook . Smartmatic wants to get the 93-year-old patriarch on record while the probate matter plays out, company attorney Edward Wipper told a judge Monday. Fox News lawyer K. Winn Allen said the probate case “has nothing at all to do with” Smartmatic's claims and is “not appropriate” fodder for the suit. Fox Corp. declined to comment after court. Fox News' lawyers, meanwhile, want Smartmatic to provide records about a U.S. federal criminal case against people, including Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate, accused of scheming to bribe a Filipino election official . Piñate has pleaded not guilty. Smartmatic isn't charged in the criminal case, and Smartmatic attorneys have said the matter was irrelevant to the defamation suit. Fox lost prior bids for a court order to get the information, but a hearing on the network's renewed request is set next week. It's unclear how soon Judge David B. Cohen will decide on that request or on Smartmatic's bid to dig into the Murdoch family trust case. Both requests are part of pretrial information-gathering, and no trial date has been set. Smartmatic says it was a small player, working only with California's heavily Democratic Los Angeles County, in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In subsequent Fox News appearances, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell portrayed Smartmatic as part of a multi-state scheme to steal the vote from the Republican. Federal and state election officials , exhaustive reviews in battleground states and Trump’s own attorney general found no widespread fraud that could have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Nor did they uncover any credible evidence that the vote was tainted. Dozens of courts, including by judges whom Trump had appointed, rejected his fraud claims. Fox News ultimately aired an interview with an election technology expert who refuted the allegations against Smartmatic — an interview done after the company demanded a retraction . The network is countersuing Smartmatic , claiming it violated a New York law against baseless suits aimed at squelching reporting or criticism on public issues. The New York defamation suit is one of several stemming from conservative-oriented news outlets' reports on Trump’s 2020 vote-rigging claims. Smartmatic recently settled with One America News Network and Newsmax . Fox News settled for $787 million last year with Dominion Voting Systems, another election-technology company that sued over conspiracy theories blaming its election equipment for Trump’s 2020 loss.