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Much of Edward Berger’s gripping papal thriller “Conclave” unfolds in the shadows. Alliances shift and break in dim stairwells, tense accusations fly in dark corridors and secrets are exposed in the lamp-lit privacy of the papal apartment — all in danger of upending the centuries-old process to elect the next pope. So when a shocking revelation (warning: spoilers ahead!) in the film’s final act and an unexpected tragedy cast a harsh new light on the cardinals in the running, it feels like a dizzying release. The more progressive Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) points the finger at traditionalist Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), telling him he should be ashamed of himself. An unflinching Tedesco whips the group into a frenzy with talk of a religious war as former front-runner for the papacy Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) sits back in disgrace and Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) stands frozen in dismay over the proceedings he’s lost control of. Then, Cardinal Benítez (Carlos Diehz) stands up. Poised and calm, he tells the group, “Forgive me, but in these last few days, we have shown ourselves to be small, petty men, concerned only in ourselves, in Rome, in the election, and in power.” Appointed by the late pope “en pectore,” or in secret, Benítez’s very presence is a threat to the careful balance of the conclave. In contrast to his counterparts, he radiates a tranquil energy that serves as an antidote to the petty politics and drama playing out among the top candidates. Though he hasn’t campaigned, and while he was completely unknown to the other cardinals prior to their gathering, by the time Benítez addresses the group, he’s the dark horse of the election. It’s an arresting performance, one made all the more impressive by the fact that it’s Diehz’s feature film debut. At 53 years old, the Vancouver-based actor decided to give acting a try in 2020, appearing in a few short films until booking his breakout role in “Conclave.” Born and raised in Mexico City, he’s worked primarily as an architect (he still works for the same Canadian firm today) for the last 30 years. De Los spoke with Diehz about his unorthodox journey to the screen, the inspiration for his performance as Cardinal Benítez and finding the confidence to be himself. The following interview has been edited for clarity and length. Had you ever thought about pursuing acting before becoming an architect? I’ve always been inclined to the arts since I was a kid — drawing, clay modeling, all that — then, later on, when I realized the people I saw in the movies were performing, they were acting as the characters, I thought maybe I’d like to do that. But I was a very shy kid, a daydreamer. I decided to give acting a try in high school, but the kids in theater were really, really flashy and outgoing, and it was just too much for me. Later, I had a chance to be in a movie as an extra, but when I had the camera in front of me, it was so intimidating. I was given this crazy instruction to stand up and shout all the bad words I knew. I freaked out, and the director said, “OK, never mind. Not you.” They chose someone else. So that was almost my big break. [ Laughs ] Why did you decide to give it another try later in life? Probably four or five years ago, my wife and I became empty nesters, and I wanted to learn to do something new. I didn’t have the time or the money to go back to college, so it needed to be something I could learn on my own. I thought about acting again and decided to give it a go. Then the pandemic hit. Everything was closed, but I found this workshop online and signed up for that. Right off the bat, the coach said, “If you’re doing this just to feel good about yourself or to get a hobby, don’t waste my time and don’t waste your time, because this is the show business . Is not the show charity or the show hobby. Take it seriously.” In the classes, being able to transform into someone else, to channel a different personality, was so much fun that I said, “Yes, this is my new passion. This is what I want.” So after practicing architecture for 30 years — I still am working in architecture — I found this new passion that was so exciting. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like there would be a lot of crossover between architecture and acting, but do you find any similarities in how you approach them? I think there are, because both are creative. In architecture, you are meeting a lot of requirements for the client and for the authorities, and you have to meet certain standards. Acting has similar demands. You have your imagination, you put yourself into the character, but you still have to comply with the vision of the director, the technical requirements, and you have to be part of a team. You put a lot of yourself on the line when you portray a character. You don’t transform entirely into someone else, but you’re channeling them through you. Growing up in Mexico City, were there any actors who stood out to you and shaped you? The golden era of Mexican cinema was very theatrical. I would admire how Pedro Infante could be this humble carpenter [in “Nosotros los Pobres”], and then he could be a motorcycle policeman [in “A.T.M. ¡A toda máquina!”] Being able to take on those roles with the same charisma was very fascinating and attractive to me. Casting director Nina Gold has spoken about the international casting search to find Cardinal Benítez. What do you remember about the initial description of the character? The initial description of him mostly talked about his physicality — that he was a slim, mixed-race guy. My agent thought I was a good fit for it, so she sent out my demo reel, and they invited me to audition. After the first audition, I got the book. I read it twice in the next couple of weeks, so I knew the whole story. And then for the second audition, they gave me the whole script, and I realized it was very faithful to the book, which I was very happy about. When I read the breakdown, I remembered being 19 or 20, and going through my mystical phase. I was lost, and then I found God, and I just wanted to go out and preach the good news to everyone. When you’re a teenager, you want to change the world, right? So when I read the briefing on the character, I thought, “This is who I would have liked to be if I had pursued a life in the church.” It felt like an opportunity to be that person for a bit, and that felt very, very encouraging. The casting process took three months, with several rounds of auditions. What was that experience like? It was really daunting, and there was a lot of self-doubt. I just had to keep trusting the process, and tell myself that they liked me enough to have that first callback, and they liked what they saw enough to invite me back again, and so on. When it came time for the final callback in Rome, I just kept thinking, “Don’t overdo it, just do what you did.” But you’re there with Nina Gold, Edward Berger and the producers. No pressure, right? [ Laughs ] I had to just keep it steady, follow their direction, and find the sweet spot of the emotion and the timing. As an actor, you were about to make your feature debut alongside some legendary performers. But as Father Benítez, your presence had to be grounded, and almost free of any doubts. How did you square those realities? The mindset I had to have was, “I belong here,” even though I was thinking, “Am I going to be able to perform at the level where I can share the screen with these giant actors?” It was a process of building up my self-esteem, and there were a lot of daily affirmations involved. Really, every day, I was saying, “I belong here. I got this role.” Even being in Rome, going to the sets, I had to wake up and do that exercise over and over again, and open myself up to the support and generosity of the other actors. That was unexpected. Not that I thought they would be cold, but they really did help guide me, and that was the best thing of all with this experience. Also, after being an architect for 30 years, you have to face some really, really difficult situations with investors and authorities, and there is no second take. There’s no reset — you just have to be able to deliver. So in that sense, my experience in architecture was actually really helpful here. Did the experience of portraying Cardinal Benítez teach you anything about yourself? Did you connect with the character’s struggles in any way? I think in life, we find ourselves in certain situations where you feel like you don’t belong. Maybe you face rejection, or harassment from other people. You might feel like something’s wrong with you, but you have to build up your character, and find a way to love and accept yourself for who you are. Benítez has achieved that. That’s what gives him the confidence to stand beside these other cardinals and stay loyal to who he is, but also to confront everyone who is missing the point in this exercise of picking the next pope, everyone who’s forgotten the requirements of the robes they’re wearing. That’s the beauty of the character, is his assurance that when he’s on the right path, he won’t back down. Screenwriter Peter Straughan said that one of the things he hoped audiences would take away from the film would be one of Cardinal Benítez’s lines about knowing what it means to exist between certainties. What do you hope audiences leave the film with? That everybody has a choice. We all have free will. I think this movie asks you to question the very nature of your soul, your body, your mind, and how you interact with the world around you. Some of these characters have more flexible morals, some of them choose to stick to the rules, and someone like Benítez decides to embrace his nature. He believes that he was made by God’s will, and he sticks to that. Maybe that’s what makes him more compassionate, more loving, more caring. The movie is about the doubt, the leaps of faith that keep each of them moving forward, and the choices they make to either embrace their nature or turn away from it. Your character has several very moving scenes one-on-one with Ralph Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence, but I think one of the best moments in the film is when Cardinal Benítez addresses the rest of the conclave. How did you prepare for that scene? I’ll tell you the difference in inspiration versus execution. The inspiration going into it was [Franco Zeffirelli’s 1977 TV series] “Jesus of Nazareth,” when Jesus goes into the temple and kicks out the merchants, because they’re making a business out of faith. Here, everyone is trying to use the situation that the church is going through to gain support for themselves. But in execution, can you actually imagine being there in front of everyone? [ Laughs ] I had just gone from shooting the scene with Ralph Fiennes out on the patio where we talked about the turtles. That was one on one, but now I was in front of everyone. Ralph, Stanley, John, Sergio — everyone was listening to me. The night before, I really freaked out, and I asked John Lithgow for advice. From day one, he had told me, “I’m going to be your secret coach.” So I went to him and said, “OK, secret coach, I need your help, please.” He invited me over to his apartment to discuss it, and we talked about stage fright. He said, “Stage fright is always there, it’s just about how you manage it. You need to be empowered, and you have to know that when you deliver a speech, you own the scene. You control the pace. You set the tone. You determine your intonation, how you’re going to handle the emotional shifts, everything. Nobody is going to cut you off, or tackle you, or call a direction. They’re going to let you run this whole scene from beginning to end. And once you’re done, you’ll get some direction, you’ll try to incorporate it, and you’ll do it over again. But every single time, you own the scene.” Did that translate on the day of? One of the things that my first coach ever told us is, “Everyone Is cheering for you, because everybody wants you to do your best.” That’s how it felt that day. But still, when we were about to shoot that scene, I had the microphone here [on my chest], and Edward Berger comes close to me, and says, “Are you OK? Do you need anything?” I told him I was fine, and he says, “I can hear your heartbeat.” I had no idea, but I told him, “Well, if the heartbeat is coming through in the sound, maybe it would be a good idea to keep it in the background, because it’s a very heartfelt speech, right?” I have no idea if they used it, but it was fun to know that he could hear it. You and the rest of the cast have been getting rave reviews for your performances, what’s up next for you? There are a few shows of interest that my agent and I are looking at but can’t talk about yet. I just hope that this experience will lead to even more interesting, challenging experiences. That’s all I can hope for at this point. It’s been overwhelming the big reception that this has had, but it’s very encouraging, and I’ll keep running with that. Cat Cardenas is a Latina writer and photographer based in Austin, Texas . Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, New York Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ and other publications.Sir Keir Starmer said he would be looking towards a “better, brighter future for every person” in a Christmas message following a turbulent year for the UK. The Prime Minister said the season was a time to remember the importance of “being there for one another”, including in “the more difficult times”. He also expressed hope for “peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story” amid spiralling conflict across the region. The message comes after a challenging first five months in office for the Labour Government and against the backdrop of a flatlining economy and rising inflation. Sir Keir said: “This Christmas, people will be travelling up and down the country. Heading home, visiting relatives and loved ones to celebrate together the hope and joy of this special season. “It’s a time to remind ourselves what’s really important. Family. Friendship. And fellowship between all people. “Being there for one another – in these celebrations, as well as the more difficult times.” To our military and veterans, the whole nation thanks you for the sacrifices you make to keep us safe. My government will serve you as you have served your country. I wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. pic.twitter.com/LphMZog6np — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 22, 2024 The Prime Minister sought to strike an optimistic note following another year of political upheaval for Britain, which saw Labour win a landslide victory after a surprise election called by Rishi Sunak in the summer. After taking office in July, the new Government made a series of unpopular decisions as ministers confronted the realities of creaking public services and strained national finances. As well as dealing with the economic inheritance, Sir Keir said he needed to fix a “broken society” which manifested itself in summer riots across the country after the Southport knife attack. Sir Keir said: “This Christmas, I will be hoping for peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story. “I’ll be looking towards a better, brighter future for every person and celebrating the joy and wonder that Christmas brings. “So, from my family to yours, I hope you have a very merry Christmas.” The message comes after revised official figures released on Monday indicated that UK gross domestic product (GDP) showed no growth between July and September. Downing Street defended the Government’s record so far when asked about the data, telling reporters: “We had to take those tough decisions to lay the foundations of growth such that we can then deliver the higher living standards over this Parliament that people want to see.” The Prime Minister also used his message to thank those spending Christmas serving others, including in the NHS and emergency services, the armed forces, churches and charities. “I know that this is not an easy time for everyone, and my thoughts are with all those who are lonely this Christmas. “Having a tough time, missing a loved one. You are not alone,” he said. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch said Christmas was a time to reflect on “all that’s happened in the year” and “support all of those people who need our assistance”. “I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone, not just in the Conservative Party or in my constituency, but across the country,” the Tory leader said. “For all that you have been doing in your communities, supporting each other and helping to keep all our towns, villages and places going. “I think that Christmas is a time for us to reflect on all that’s happened in the year. “Sometimes we have amazing years. “Sometimes, like when I lost my dad, we have difficult years and we’re commiserating, but we do it together. “But it’s a time for us to support all of those people who need our assistance, who need our help, who need our support.” She added: “And I’m looking forward to 2025. “I wish you all the very best for the New Year and all of the exciting things to come.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “This year, I’ve had the chance to spend time with some amazing young carers. “Incredible young people who will spend this Christmas doing what they do all year round; looking after loved ones who are ill or disabled. “Carers embody the Christmas spirit of love, selflessness and generosity. “So I hope we can all take some time to think of them, and keep them in our hearts. “And wish them – and everyone – a Christmas full of peace, joy and love.”At least one man in custody after police standoff in Feild Street in St. John'sA study of hot spots for collisions between ships and whales around the world, including Canadian waters, offers a map for measures to prevent the deadly strikes that could drive some species to extinction, one of the British Columbia-based authors says. Chloe Robinson said reported strikes represent a fraction of their true extent, and a lack of protection measures leaves whales vulnerable as global shipping expands. The study found shipping takes place across 92 per cent of the ranges for humpback, blue, fin and sperm whales worldwide, but measures to reduce vessel strikes have been implemented in less than seven per cent of high-risk areas. “That could really spell, you know, potential extinction for some of these species,” said Robinson, director of whales for Ocean Wise, a B.C.-based organization that provided data for the paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. “A recent study estimated anything up to 20,000 whales are killed a year through ship strikes, globally, and that’s just an estimate, a best-case estimate.” Robinson said she was surprised to see Swiftsure Bank, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, emerge as a risk hot spot for strikes of fin, blue and humpback whales. The area is a “migration highway” for humpbacks, she noted. The study also identified a hot spot for the same three species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. “This is something that Ocean Wise has been looking into because a lot of the management measures occur offshore and not sort of within the Gulf of St. Lawrence itself and even the St. Lawrence Seaway, (which) leads down to the Great Lakes,” she said. “That was a huge hot spot, which was really interesting for me.” Robinson said there have been smaller studies on the risk of ship strikes in different regions, but the study published Thursday is the first to map the distribution of the four whale species, using a variety of data sources, then compare it with the Automatic Identification System, a tool used for tracking vessels worldwide. “This was really the first of its kind to map these two on top of each other,” she said. The researchers found the highest levels of risk in the Indian, western North Pacific and Mediterranean, while it also identified high-risk areas in the eastern North Pacific, North and South Atlantic Ocean along with the South China Sea. The Southern Ocean was the only region that did not contain any ship-strike hot spots due to low levels of shipping, despite high use by whales, the study found. Robinson said the findings support a strong case for maritime authorities to adopt measures such as whale alert systems, speed limits and no-go zones. “We know where there are areas where there are lots of whales and lots of ships, so this is where we need to target for management,” she said in an interview. Robinson said Canada is home to many “eyes on the water” and researchers exploring innovative techniques for monitoring whales. But the country lacks mandatory mitigation measures, and it’s not alone. “Next to none of the measures globally are mandatory. So, having voluntary measures (is) great, provided people comply,” Robinson said. Ocean Wise launched an alert system in 2018 that notifies large vessels of the presence of whales in Pacific Northwest waters, and Robinson said about 80 per cent of mariners from Washington state up to Alaska have signed up. The WhaleReport alert system mainly functions in what she describes as “inshore” waters around busy ports in Seattle, Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The Port of Vancouver has also seen a high rate of compliance for its ECHO program, Robinson noted. The program encourages vessels to take voluntary steps, such as slowing down or staying farther away from whales, in order to reduce underwater noise and the potential for strikes in busy shipping areas. Robinson favours a multi-pronged approach to reducing ship strikes, but she said one single measure she believes could have a big impact would be equipping vessels with an infrared camera to detect whales within several kilometres. “Maybe some mariners ... respond better to knowing there 100 per cent is a whale 200 metres in front of your vessel, versus, ‘slow down, there might be a whale here.'” Robinson said such cameras can cost between US$50,000 and $75,000. But the cost was a “drop in the bucket” of major companies’ profits, she said. The cameras also present a public-relations opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves as operating in a more whale-friendly manner, Robinson said. “I know people who have had to go and have therapy after killing a humpback whilst at the helm,” she added. “I think there’s a lot to be said (for) the long-term benefits of this kind of technology.” The study also found areas with lower traffic that could provide refuge for whales, especially with added protections. It shows the Arctic Ocean, for example, has very few high-risk areas for vessel strikes, and Robinson said some researchers view it as potential sanctuary. But without protections, Robinson said Arctic waters could become the next high-risk hot spot as sea ice melts with climate change, opening up shipping routes. “Knowing the plans to expand shipping routes into these areas to cut shipping time, make things faster, right through prime whale habitat, I think this is a really good opportunity to get ahead of the issue before it becomes an issue,” she said. Whales play crucial roles in their ecosystems, including cycling nutrients that support other species, and they’re a boon for tourism, Robinson said. They’re also “magical” creatures that people feel connected to, she said, and they remain vulnerable after many species were hunted to the brink of extinction. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press
'Forever Present' campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- De Beers Group today launched a new marketing campaign, 'Forever Present', to reinforce desirability for natural diamonds over the key holiday gifting season in the U.S. The campaign sees the return of the iconic 'A Diamond is Forever' tagline following its reintroduction to De Beers' category marketing activities last year. Highlighting a diverse array of gifting opportunities for natural diamonds this holiday season, the campaign celebrates familial, friendship and romantic relationships under the premise that 'natural connections deserve natural diamonds', making them the ideal choice for celebrating special moments with special people. The campaign reinforces the notion that natural diamonds are a store of emotional value that enable precious memories to remain 'forever present'. The campaign features diverse real-life couples, illustrating unforgettable moments and key milestones worth celebrating with the most special people in our lives, bringing the true essence of their relationships to life on screen. Showcasing classic jewellery designs including studs, tennis bracelets, anniversary bands, three-stone rings and solitaire pendants, the campaign speaks to a broad audience of U.S. gift-givers. The campaign will run nationally throughout the U.S. across digital platforms, social media including Instagram and TikTok, and out-of-home including major airports. To enhance its reach and impact and support U.S. independent jewellery retailers, the campaign assets will also be made available free-of-charge to retailers planning to invest in natural diamond marketing this holiday season. Sandrine Conseiller , CEO of De Beers Brands, said: "De Beers' iconic natural diamond category campaigns have shaped desire for natural diamonds over many decades. We're proud to build on this tradition by reviving and refreshing one of our most legendary taglines "A Diamond Is Forever" this holiday season. With a modern sensibility and playful colloquial language, this latest campaign encapsulates the unique qualities of natural diamonds, positioning them as the perfect choice for celebrating life's most cherished milestones." The Forever Present campaign follows the recently launched Worth the Wait campaign, a collaboration between De Beers Group and Signet Jewelers. While Worth the Wait is focused on soon-to-be-engaged Millennial and Gen Z audiences, Forever Present appeals to gift-givers of all ages by showcasing the connection between natural diamonds and creating precious memories with loved ones this holiday season. Retailers interested in learning more about the Forever Present campaign and how they can participate can visit: adiamondisforevermarketing.com . The campaign is featured on @Adiamondisforever on Instagram and TikTok. The Forever Present campaign assets are available to download here . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/de-beers-group-launches-holiday-campaign-for-natural-diamonds-302314554.html SOURCE De Beers GroupEmirates launches second daily flight between Dubai and Perth as Saffioti eyes of direct India flights
BOSTON (AP) — Donald Hand Jr. scored 15 of his career-high 29 points in the first half and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Boston College beat Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70 on Saturday. Chad Venning scored a season-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting for Boston College (8-5). Ahmed Barba-Bey was fouled on a 3-point shot and made all three free throws before Terrence Brown converted a three-point play to cut FDU's deficit to five points with 2 minutes left and Barba-Bey’s 3 with 39 seconds left made it 74-70. Hand answered with a layup 10 seconds later and followed with two free throws that capped the scoring with 18 seconds to play. Barba-Bey, a graduate transfer from Division-II Jefferson, hit eight 3-pointers and led Fairleigh Dickinson (4-11) with a career-high 31 points on 10-of-12 shooting. Brown added 20 points and Bismark Nsiah scored 10, all in the second half. Hand hit a 3-pointer that gave Boston College the lead for good with 17:17 left in the first half and scored 13 of the game's first 24, including a three-point play that gave the Eagles a 17-7 lead with 11:58 left before the intermission. Barba-Bey hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut FDU's deficit to four just over a minute later but Boston College scored the next eight points and the Knights got no closer until the second half. Boston College won for just the second time since beating Boise State 63-61 on Joshua Beadle's late 3-pointer to win the Cayman Islands Classic on Nov. 26 and improve to 6-1. The Knights have lost four games in a row overall and are 0-10 away from home this season. Boston College won the lone previous meeting between the programs 72-54 on Dec. 10, 1992. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballThe Kimberley Curling Club (KCC) hosted the 2025 Safetek Profire BC U18 Curling Championships from Dec. 19 to 23. "We were thrilled with how everything went," said KCC general manager Blair Jarvis. "We knew that most teams were travelling a long way to get here and unfortunately they had to deal with some adventures with the snow we had last Wednesday. "We wanted to make sure that we gave them an experience that they would remember, so we spent a lot of time on the ice, we wanted to give them a great social experience off the ice as well and we heard from a number of curlers that it was the most U18 event that they’ve attended and so we’re really proud of that fact." The event had 12 teams competing on the Boys' side and seven Girls teams. On the Boys side of the competition, Team Jaeger out of Kelowna beat out Team Hrynew in the finals and for the Girls, Team Arndt from Vernon beat out Team Rempel to win the gold. With these wins, Team Jaeger has earned a spot at the Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships, which will be held at the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon, Sask. from Feb. 16-22, 2025. Teams Arndt and Rempel will both be headed to the Nationals. Team Jaeger was made up of coaches Tyler Jaeger and Travis Wielgosz, Lead Brendan Hruschak, Second Noel Wielgosz, Third Spencer Rempel and Skip Owen Jaeger. "We really worked hard this year, this year we really wanted to win," said Skip Owen Jaeger. "We put in a lot of work and it just feels really, really good to win and for all that hard work to pay off. We’re really, really excited, it’s our first National event, first U18 provincial win so we’re really excited." Team Arndt is Coach David Arndt, Lead Alicia Evans, Second Ivy Jensen, Third Bethany Evans and Skip Ava Arndt. "We’re just super excited," said Skip Ava Arndt. "It took us a couple years to get here, but the hard work payed off and we can’t believe it, I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s been a lot of hard work from us and the coaches and the parents. It’s been amazing." Jarvis coached Kimberley's Team Reynolds, who went on to win bronze. "We had set a target of making the playoffs and really happy with how the boys came together," Jarvis said. "They had a couple of games with a tough start and battled back and so the resilience they showed and how they stayed positive, there were a lot of great things we can take away from that. And the bronze medal, we were just thrilled to do that. "We saw Team Jaeger on the boys side and Team Arndt on the girls side as well — if we want to get to that level next year, we have some things to work on and it’s great to see the high level of curling in this province and so I think we’ve come away very motivated as well about what we need to do to get better if we want to be a little higher on the podium next year." Jarvis extended his gratitude to the over 50 volunteers who helped out before, during and after the event, including members of the Cranbrook Curling Club. "We’ll take some of the learnings from this event and apply them to the High School Provincials at the end of February, but we’re really happy with how everything went," he said. "And this is an event for the kids, we want to make sure that they’re going to have an experience that they’ll remember, the teams that had success will obviously remember the things that happened on the ice, but for most kids it will be the experiences they had off the ice. "We had karaoke here on the one night and a bunch of teams were intermingling together and having a great time and those are the experiences that I’m going to take away from this event." Patti Caldwell was head official for the event and Jarvis said she and Ian Milligan worked tirelessly throughout the week. "Patti’s attitude is this is all for the kids and making sure that they have fun and sure it’s a competition, but it’s meant to be fun and we’re going to enjoy this," Jarvis said. "This is a sport that we can enjoy for life and so you want to make sure you’re building positive memories in every aspect." Lindsay Shannon, administrative and event manager at Curl BC, was also on hand for the event, and presented all the awards. "We would just like to thank the Kimberley Curling Club and the City of Kimberley who put on an amazing event here and welcomed all of our athletes who have performed so well," Shannon said. "We're really looking forward to cheering our winners on at the Nationals." The Kimberley Curling Club's next big event is the High School Provincials from Feb. 26 to March 1.
BLOOMINGTON — John Ficca, 95, of Bloomington, Ill., passed away peacefully on November 20, 2024, at his Westminster Village residence. Born in Follansbee, W.Va., to Italian immigrants Dan and Emilia (Cicale) Ficca, John was orphaned at a young age. Despite this, he built a remarkable life filled with love, creativity, and resilience. After graduating from Follansbee High School, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Using the G.I. Bill, he earned his degree at West Liberty State College, where he met his wife, Patricia Jo Hurst. They married in 1953 and shared 60 wonderful years together. John earned his doctorate in Theater Arts at the University of Iowa and joined the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University in 1956. Over 46 years, including a decade as Director of the School of Theater Arts, he inspired many students as a professor, mentor, and playwright; several of his works were brought to life onstage at IWU. At home, John cherished time with Patricia, whether hosting their gourmet cooking group, traveling abroad, or simply enjoying family life. He loved initiating engaging conversations about politics, literature, and the arts and was deeply devoted to his wife, four children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death are his parents, his sisters, Mary Ficca (Coratto) and Louise Ficca (Metts); his brothers, Alfred and Albert Ficca; his wife, Patricia; and his son, Dirk (Lynda). John is survived by his children, Darby (Hudson) Venerable of Bloomington, Dawn (Michael Pautz) Coursey of Arlington Heights, and Douglas (Marsha Veninga) Ficca of Bloomington; grandchildren, Dillon (Hala) Ficca, Connor Ficca, Lindsay (David) Hoffman, John (Kelsey) Venerable, Blair (Jon) Beuttler, and Alyson Ficca; and eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 6, at Evelyn Chapel, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington. A reception will follow at the Joslin Atrium of the Memorial Center. Private interment will take place at Funk's Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to IWU John Ficca Endowed Scholarship Fund or the Wesleyan Fund. Online condolences and memories of John may be left for his family at kiblerbradyruestman.com . Obituaries Newsletter Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox.
U.S. District Court Awards 10x Genomics Permanent Injunction in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bruker Corporation's GeoMx Products
Need some assistance with NYT Strands today? Today's theme — "Pass the eggnog" — is pretty clearly Christmas themed, but how? Below, we've compiled some useful hints for Strands #296, as well as the answers, should it come to that. We'll start off with some clues, before building up to the full answer for Strands #296, so read on if you need a little help. Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for Strands #296. Today's NYT Strands answer — Today's theme and hints The official theme for NYT Strands #296 is... "Who on earth...?" And here's an unofficial hint from me: "And you are?" If you're still in the dark, here are some useful words to give you those valuable clue tokens: Still struggling? The spangram will give you a hint about the connection word. Today, it starts with N and ends with S. Scroll down to find out what it is... It's NATURENAMES. Today's Strands answers So, what are today's Strands answers for game #296? Drumroll, please... ...and the spangram was NATURENAMES. Strands #296 “Who on earth ...?” 🔵🔵🔵💡 🔵💡🔵🟡 🔵 Hi Strands fans. This was a toughie! "Who on earth...?" is a clever theme, but I'm afraid I didn't figure out how clever until my penultimate move. I actually stumbled across a few answers without knowing what I was looking for. I found HOLLY in the top-right corner, followed by BROOK in the bottom right. I then found RIVER on the left. But despite being three answers down, I still had no idea what the connection between the three words was, so I used a clue. Then another one. These revealed LAUREL in the bottom left and WILLOW on the right-hand side. It was then that I finally made the connection when I stumbled across the "nature" part of the spangram: NATURENAMES. These are all words that can both describe something from the natural world and be a person's name! With that in mind, getting the last one was trivial. I connected CLEMENTINE in the top-left corner, and completed the puzzle. Yesterday's Strands answers Reading this in a later time zone? You can find the full article on yesterday's Strands answers for game #295 right here .
Millions brace for scorching heat with mercury tipped to hit 40s'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada's hotel. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press Dec 28, 2024 2:08 PM Dec 28, 2024 2:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Canada head coach Dave Cameron speaks to his players during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round action against Latvia in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada's hotel. The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country's under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier. "You only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?" Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning. "Is that how this works?" That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament. Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians. The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight. "We're certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water," said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. "We've got to be really careful." Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front. There were, of course, desperate spurts — especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime — but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects. "We played really, really hard," Anholt said in defending his players. "We controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good ... 99 times out of 100 we win that game." Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year's Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players. Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia's net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area. "Tough blow for the kid," Anholt said. "The way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed." Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday's ugly result in the nation's capital. "We're good," said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. "Everyone's lost a hockey game before." But not like that — or to that opponent on that stage. "Bit of a (crappy) feeling," said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. "We all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard. "We'll bounce back." Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team's overall roster construction. "We're not really worried about it," defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year's team, said of the outside noise. "We know we didn't play well." Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there's a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee. The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League. "Great player," Cowan said. "He finds ways." Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments. "Let's not panic," he said. "The world hasn't fallen in. It's hard, but we'll learn from it." It's something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny. "People are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you," said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. "Gotta keep doing you." Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn't getting 2024 vibes from this year's group. "Not even in any way, shape or form," he said. "We've just got to take care of business." They get a first shot at redemption Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Junior Hockey 'Big blow': Canadian defenceman Matthew Schaefer ruled out of world juniors Dec 28, 2024 11:14 AM 'Devastating': Uninspired Canada upset by Latvia in a shootout at world juniors Dec 28, 2024 6:38 AM Latvia stuns Canada in world junior hockey, winning 3-2 on lone shootout goal Dec 27, 2024 10:03 PM
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