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711bet withdrawal app Amid reports that Gaza cease-fire talks may be resuming, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed optimism that “this time, we can truly advance a hostage deal.” A Qatari newspaper reported that an Israeli delegation—headed by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar—was set to travel to Cairo on Dec. 5 for talks on a potential deal over hostages and a cease-fire. Katz, speaking to soldiers at an air force base in central Israel, attributed the improved outlook to Israeli military pressure on Hamas. The development comes after a Lebanon cease-fire began on Nov. 27. On Dec. 2, President-elect Donald Trump said there would be “hell to pay” in the Middle East if hostages held in Gaza were not released before his inauguration. Trump’s nominee for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was set to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer on Dec. 4. Hezbollah, which had previously refused to consider a cease-fire unless Israel pulled out of Gaza, was hard hit in recent months. The Israeli army eliminated many of the terrorist group’s top leaders, including longtime head Hassan Nasrallah, with targeted air strikes. And in an audacious strike on Sept. 17, thousands of pagers exploded on their Hezbollah users simultaneously—followed by a second wave of exploding handheld radios the next day—further crippling its leadership ranks. At least 39 people were killed in the blasts, and Lebanon said nearly 3,000 others were wounded. Hamas, in more than a year of warfare started by its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has suffered the same kinds of losses. Trump’s impending return to power may be loosening a diplomatic logjam lasting more than a year. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have tried unsuccessfully to broker a cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the return of around 100 hostages, a third of whom are believed dead, still held by Hamas after having been taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023. “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied history of the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked him in a Dec. 3 post on X. “I want to thank President Trump for his strong statement yesterday about the need for Hamas to release the hostages, the responsibility of Hamas, and this adds another force to our continued effort to release all the hostages.” Israeli ministers also thanked the president-elect. “How refreshing it is to hear clear and morally sound statements that do not create a false equivalence or call for addressing ‘both sides’, but rather clarify who are the good and who are the bad,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. “This is the way to bring back the hostages: by increasing the pressure and the costs for Hamas and its supporters, and defeating them, rather than giving in to their absurd demands,” he said. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said simply on X: “Thank you, President Trump.” A senior Hamas official interpreted Trump’s words as directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Basem Naim said Netanyahu had sabotaged all efforts to secure a deal that involved exchanging the hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. Naim said Trump’s message was intended to pressure Netanyahu to “end this evil game.” A Gaza political analyst, Ramiz Moghani, said Trump’s words might embolden Israel not only to expel Palestinians from Gaza but also to annex the West Bank, which many Israelis refer to as Judea and Samaria. An eight-day cease-fire took place in late November 2023, during which more than 100 Israeli hostages were released. Since then, little progress has been made, with each side blaming the other. Meanwhile, fighting has continued across Gaza. On Dec. 4, an Israeli strike on a camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people near Khan Yunis killed 21 people and wounded 29, a Palestinian health official said. Gaza health authorities do not distinguish between civilians and fighters from Hamas and other terrorist groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Fighting was also reported in Rafah and near a hospital in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. Further Hamas threats against the hostages have come to light. In an internal statement on Nov. 22, Hamas told its operatives Israel intended to carry out a hostage rescue operation and threatened to “neutralize” the captives in that event. Hamas told its operatives not to consider any repercussions of following the instructions.S&P/TSX composite rises Thursday, U.S. markets down

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump threatened the United States’s closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Trump said Monday he would use an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico until the two countries stop drugs and migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. border. The announcement, made on Truth Social, brought swift responses from officials and industry in both countries who are bracing for chaos during Trump’s second tenure. He has long used the threat of import taxes to pressure other countries to do his bidding, saying this summer that “the most beautiful word in the dictionary is ‘tariff.'” It’s unlikely the move would violate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration. Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U. S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the president can impose tariffs under his national security powers. This type of duty has a time limit and can only be made permanent through Congressional approval, but for Trump, national security powers are like a “get out of jail free card,” Dawson said. “This is exactly what happened in the last Trump administration,” Dawson said. “Everyone said, ‘Well, that is ridiculous. Canada is the U.S.’s best security partner. What do you mean our steel and aluminum imports are somehow a source of insecurity?'” But within the global trade system, she said, no country challenges another’s right to define their own national security imperatives. Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed “the new NAFTA,” was a key test for Ottawa following Trump’s first victory. The trilateral agreement is up for review in 2026 and experts suspect this week’s tariff announcement is a negotiating tactic. Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, said in a recent op-ed that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives.” “Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing co-operation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” During the initial CUSMA negotiations in 2018, Trump floated the idea of a 25 per cent tariff on the Canadian auto sector — something that would have been crippling for the industry on both sides of the border. It was never implemented. At the time, he did use his national security powers to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, casting fear of an all-out trade war that would threaten the global economy. The day after announcing those levies, Trump posted on social media “trade wars are good, and easy to win.” Former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer recounted in his book that the duties sent an “unmistakable signal that business as usual was over.” “The Trump administration was willing to ruffle diplomatic feathers to advance its trade agenda.” It led to a legendary clash between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at the G7 in Quebec. Trudeau said Canada would impose retaliatory measures, saying the argument that tariffs on steel and aluminum were a matter of national security was “kind of insulting.” Trump took to social media, where, in a flurry of posts he called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.” Canada and other countries brought their own duties against the U.S. in response. They targeted products for political, rather than economic, reasons. Canada hit yogurt with a 10 per cent duty. Most of the product impacted came from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. The European Union, Mexico and Canada all targeted U.S. whiskey products with tariffs, in a clear signal to then Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his home state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Ultimately, Canada and Mexico were able to negotiate exemptions. Carlo Dade, the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation, said Trump is returning to the White House with more experience and a plan. But he suspects Americans will not like the blow to their bank accounts. Trump’s new across-the-board tariff strategy would not only disrupt global supply chains, it would also cause a major shakeup to the American economy. It’s unclear if Trump will go through with them, or for how long, after campaigning on making life more affordable and increasing the energy market. “I think it will be short-term,” Dade said. “The U.S. can only inflict damage on itself for so long.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian PressASP Isotopes Inc. Responds to Short Seller ReportLAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Story continues below video Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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It's been a great two weeks for the Michigan Wolverines, as they began by securing a flipped commitment from one of the top players in the class of 2025. Bryce Underwood decided to flip his commitment from LSU to Michigan, giving the Wolverines one of the top quarterbacks in the country next season. Michigan followed that recruiting win with a huge victory over Northwestern last week, and they kept the momentum going with Saturday's massive upset over Ohio State. Michigan entered as underdogs by more than three touchdowns, but they were able to win a closely contested, defensive game against the Buckeyes for their fourth straight victory over their rivals. After the game, Underwood showed his support for the Wolverines with a simple two-word message on social media. “Hail Yeahhhhhhhhhh," said the Michigan commit , who posted a graphic of the final score on his Instagram account. Bryce Underwood on Instagram after Michigan beats #2 Ohio State: “Hail Yeahhhhhhhhhh” https://t.co/grnjBpYorg pic.twitter.com/d6tstur1Wv Underwood is joining Michigan after he reportedly received a massive NIL offer from the school, giving him an easy decision after a smaller, less lucrative offer from LSU in order to stay. The Wolverines are in dire need of improvement at the quarterback position following struggles from Davis Warren and Alex Orji this season. The two quarterbacks were unable to match the production of 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who led Michigan to the national title and an undefeated 15-0 season in 2023. Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images Underwood is a multi-time state champion in Michigan, and he elected to return to his home state for college after being committed to LSU for nearly an entire year. With one of the best quarterbacks in the country heading to their program, Michigan will look to extend their winning streak over Ohio State. Michigan has beaten Ohio State four years in a row, their longest streak in the rivalry since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of the most dominant teams in Michigan history failed to reach that mark, and the current iteration of the program has been able to do so with two different head coaches. If Underwood is named Michigan's starter next season, he'll have his own chance to make his mark on the most prolific rivalry in college football. Related: Michigan Star On Ohio State Brawl: 'They Need To Learn How To Lose'

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — On a damp Wednesday night with temperatures dipping into the 30s, fans in sparsely filled stands bundled up to watch Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 37-30 on gray turf. The lopsided game was not particularly notable, but it was played on one of the nights the Mid-American Conference has made its own: A weeknight. “A lot of the general public thinks we play all of our games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, not just some of them in November,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a telephone interview this week. “What it has done is help take what was a pretty darned good regional conference and has given it a national brand and made it a national conference.” When the conference has played football games on ESPN or ESPN2 over the last two seasons, the linear television audience has been 10 times larger than when conference schools meet on Saturdays and get lost in the shuffle when viewers have many more choices. The most-watched MAC game over the last two years was earlier this month on a Wednesday night when Northern Illinois won at Western Michigan and there were 441,600 viewers, a total that doesn’t include streaming that isn’t captured by Nielsen company. During the same span, the linear TV audience has been no larger than 46,100 to watch two MAC teams play on Saturdays. “Having the whole nation watching on Tuesday and Wednesday night is a huge deal for the MAC,” Eastern Michigan tight end Jere Getzinger said. “Everybody wants to watch football so if you put it on TV on a Tuesday or Wednesday, people are going to watch.” ESPN has carried midweek MAC football games since the start of the century. ESPN and the conference signed a 13-year extension a decade ago that extends their relationship through at least the 2026-27 season. The conference has made the most of the opportunities, using MACtion as a tag on social media for more than a decade and it has become a catchy marketing term for the Group of Five football programs that usually operate under the radar in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and New York. Attendance does tend to go down with weeknight games, keeping some students out of stadiums because they have class or homework and leading to adults staying away home because they have to work the next morning. “The tradeoff is the national exposure,” Buffalo coach Pete Lembo said. “You know November nights midweek the average fan is going to park on the couch, have a bowl of chips and salsa out in front, and watch the game from there." When the Bulls beat Ball State 51-48 in an overtime thriller on a Tuesday night earlier this month, the announced attendance was 12,708 and that appeared to be generous. There were many empty seats after halftime. “You watch the games on TV, the stadiums all look like this,” Buffalo fan Jeff Wojcicki said. “They are not packed, but it’s the only game on, and you know where to find it.” Sleep and practice schedules take a hit as well, creating another wave of challenges for students to attend class and coaches to prepare without the usual rhythm of preparing all week to play on Saturday. “Last week when we played at Ohio in Athens, we had a 4-four bus ride home and got home at about 3:30 a.m.,” Eastern Michigan center Broderick Roman said. “We still had to go to class and that was tough, but it's part of what you commit to as an athlete.” That happens a lot in November when the MAC shifts its unique schedule. During the first two weeks of the month, the conference had 10 games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays exclusively. This week, there were five games on Tuesday and Wednesday while only one was left in the traditional Saturday slot with Ball State hosting Bowling Green. Next week, Toledo plays at Akron and Kent State visits Buffalo on Tuesday night before the MAC schedule wraps up with games next Friday and Saturday to determine which teams will meet in the conference title game on Dec. 7 in Detroit. In all, MAC teams will end up playing about 75% of their games on a Saturday and the rest on November weeknights. When the Eagles wrapped up practice earlier this week, two days before they played the Bulls, tight end Jere Getzinger provided some insight into the effects of the scheduling quirk. “It's Monday, but for us it's like a Thursday,” he said. Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler said he frankly has a hard time remembering what day it is when the schedule shift hits in November. “The entire week gets turned upside down,” Loeffler said. “It’s wild, but it’s great for the league because there’s two days a week this time of year that people around the country will watch MAC games.” AP freelance writer Jonah Bronstein contributed to this report. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sportsThe Lions waived veteran linebacker Kwon Alexander on Thursday, the team announced. He could return to their practice squad if he clears waivers. The Lions signed Alexander off the Broncos’ practice squad Nov. 29 after Malcolm Rodriguez tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Alexander appeared in two games for the Lions, starting against the Packers and Bills. He has four tackles in 29 defensive snaps for Detroit. He appeared in three games for the Broncos this season, making eight tackles. Alexander, 30, has appeared in 109 games with 92 starts and has totaled 643 tackles, 13.5 sacks, nine interceptions and 13 forced fumbles.

( MENAFN - GetNews) In the rapidly evolving world of technology, staying ahead of the curve is essential-especially for professionals in the cybersecurity field. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, open doors to new opportunities, or specialize in a specific area of cybersecurity, InfosecTrain has just launched a series of new, cutting-edge courses designed to equip you with the knowledge and hands-on experience to take your career to the next level. InfosecTrain's latest offerings are tailored to tech-savvy professionals who are eager to tackle the challenges of an ever-changing digital landscape. Let's dive into the exciting new courses that are making waves in the cybersecurity industry: 1. CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-001) Certification Training Data management and system security are becoming increasingly critical as businesses continue to generate massive amounts of data. 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NoneArticle content At every auto show, Driving ’s experts are tasked with picking the highlights and lowlights from that particular event. We do it to showcase the reveals that captivate and inspire, as well as those that fall short of the mark. There weren’t a whole of new-car reveals at this year’s iteration of the Los Angeles Auto Show , but we’ve continued this hits-and-misses tradition nevertheless. (Heck, it feels like half the debuts were of new Kia models. Coincidentally, our list, here, is all half Kias, though you’ll have to read on to find out which half.) Even with such a small shortlist, we still found ourselves blown away by some of the cars that got their covers pulled off for the first time here in L.A. And, of course, we also found ourselves deeply disappointed by a handful of other introductions. Anyway, you’ve got the point—here’s our roundup of the hits and misses from the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show. Driving’s biggest hits from the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show Hit: 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Sami Haj-Assaad: “Wow!” Maybe my expectations weren’t properly set, but upon seeing just how much effort went into the interior of the new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan , I couldn’t help but repeat that three-letter interjection. The cabin is loaded with high-end materials that look and feel the part. And while there’s a good amount of room, everyone is sure to enjoy the sheer abundance of features that VW is offering on the new Tiguan, from heated seats in the front and rear; to front massage seats, as well. And while it’s a bit gimmicky, the new Atmosphere feature, which combines sound settings with ambient lighting, is a cute way to add more personality to a car that competes in a very tough segment. While VW hasn’t shown us a hybrid version of this compact crossover, it’s sure to come in the future. For now, the Tiguan is starting to feel like a winner. Hit: 2025 Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition Clayton Seams: I know it’s pretty silly, but the little Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition is my pick of the show. I am a sucker for cheese-ball fashion collaborations. It reminds me of the Bill Blass Lincolns of the 1970s, or the Nautique Mercury Villagers of the 1990s. I like the silly “GA” wheels, though I do think they could have taken the concept farther, like they did with the Gucci Edition 500 back in the 2010s. It’s little more than some fashion badges pasted onto an economy hatchback, but I like some oddball charm. It won’t be a sales leader, and it doesn’t bring any revolutionary tech, but I can’t help but like it. For warm reasons of nostalgia, it’s my pick of the show. Hit: 2026 Genesis GV70 Graeme Fletcher: My highlight was a toss-up between the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the revamped GV70 . I liked the Ioniq 9 for the way it explores a better way to utilize interior space. It also has the largest battery, at 110.3 kWh, the company has used, and it has serious range. However, I was drawn to the eGV70 as my pick as the highlight of the show. It gets a mild exterior refresh and a major interior rework, with shades of the GV80 showing up in the 27-inch OLED screen. It is crystal-clear and has the ability to reorder the various tiles for the likes of Apple CarPlay, audio, navigation, settings and so on. However, the big change is the adoption of a larger 84-kWh battery that will bring a boost in driving range. Likewise, switching from the CCS charging port to the NACS, or Tesla, port opens up a lot more charging stations. Throwing in an adapter so the driver can use either of the charging port formats is a big plus. Driving’s biggest misses from the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show Miss: 2026 Kia EV9 GT Graeme Fletcher: My miss of this year’s L.A. Auto Show was the Kia EV9 GT . I get two-row souped-up rides like the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne, but Kia is not BMW or Porsche. Producing a hot-rodded version of a three-row ride that is primarily aimed at families with young children makes absolutely no sense. As it stands, the two-motor EV9 GT-Line has the wherewithal to whisk the riders from rest to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.5 seconds. So, why pay through the nose to get an adaptive suspension when the GT-Line rides just fine; and why is 501 hp required, just to shave the race to 60 mph down to 4.3 seconds? Besides, if speed is the name of the game, there’s lots of Kia EV6 GTs looking for a driveway to call home. Speaking of, my other choice for the show’s big miss was the reworked 2025 Kia EV6. It has a face only a mother (or its designer) could love! Miss: 2025 Kia EV6 GT Clayton Seams: I am a big fan of the Kia EV6 GT. I like its slingshot acceleration and agile handling. For the 2025 model year, Kia has added a larger standard battery to the model, giving it more range. That is an objectively good thing, but the company did so while ruining its face! Kia has really been pushing the limits of design lately, and I like some of its offerings, like the EV9. But its dashed the previously good-looking front end of the EV6 GT with a new alien-like maw that I simply can’t get over. It’s still just as good to drive, and now it goes even farther on a charge, but, my goodness, I can’t stand the restyle. For that petty reason, it’s my miss of the show. Miss: 2026 Kia Sportage Sami Haj-Assaad: Looking at the 2026 Kia Sportage , I’m baffled at the pace of Kia’s design team. The Sportage was just redesigned in 2023, and now it’s arrived with a whole new front fascia. The new model promises plenty of technology and three different powertrains, but the current model offers all that as well. What is Kia doing to make its compact crossover really stand out and feel ahead of the competition? Maybe that PHEV model will feature class-leading range? But the automaker didn’t comment on what we should expect in that regard when this vehicle shows up next year. It’s a missed opportunity to create real hype, and feels like a run-of-the-mill refresh.

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China curbs exports of key chipmaking components to USCALUM McCLURKIN: This prolonged and dreary sideshow threatens legacy of Constitution Hill Brilliant former Champion Hurdler has not raced since Boxing Day at Kempton Constant setbacks have hardened punters questioning if he'll ever return The soap opera seems never ending and hangs a shadow over his achievements By CALUM MCCLURKIN Published: 17:59, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 18:13, 30 November 2024 e-mail View comments It is one step forward and two steps back in relation to the fitness of the outstanding talent that is Constitution Hill. The brilliant 2023 Champion Hurdle winner has not raced since last year’s Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. The race is on yet again for the Nicky Henderson-trained star, who has won all eight of his outings under rules, to make that engagement this year after missing this week’s Fighting Fifth due to a nerve injury on his leg. The warning signs have been flashing red for some time in regards to Constitution Hill. He’s had more disappointing racecourse gallops than actual races in the last 18 months. The first cause for genuine concern was at Kempton in the build-up to the 2024 Champion Hurdle where he was lethargic in a public gallop. The unbeaten Constitution Hill with trainer Nicky Henderson at home at Seven Barrows Former Champion Hurdle and Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner has been off track for 11 months His breathing was a major worry and he missed the Cheltenham Festival . A serious bout of colic then floored him at a time when the whole Henderson yard were under the weather. The summer was spent nursing him back to health. Henderson has consistently been adamant that the best two-mile hurdler in recent times was on his way back. Upbeat bulletin after upbeat bulletin later, he went to Newbury earlier this month for another bitterly disappointing racecourse gallop. His stablemate Sir Gino worked all over him and Constitution Hill looked lethargic. Yes, the enthusiasm appeared to be there but the engine was still spluttering. The markets reacted promptly and there was nothing Henderson could say to allay the fears of some shrewd punters as Constitution Hill went from 8-13 to 7-4 for the Fighting Fifth and 4-1 from 7-4 for the Champion Hurdle. Put it this way, there was enough concern in the disappointing piece of work for some to have both short and long-term fears over whether this horse has retained its ability. Usually it pays to trust your own eyes, block out the external noise and trust your own judgment on matters when your own money is on the line. The cynics have won the short-term argument. Constitution Hill in full flight to win the 2023 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Sir Gino took in the Fighting Fifth instead and Constitution Hill was sidelined yet again. The latest of many updates from Henderson was a typically positive one and offered an excellent explanation in what was precisely bothering Constitution Hill. Put it this way, you’d be doing well in getting a scan in an NHS hospital before Constitution Hill. Nobody can say these horses aren’t looked after. This will-he-won’t-he run soap opera dominated the build-up to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. It was the same in the Fighting Fifth and will happen yet again before Christmas with potential for a fourth chapter in the saga in the 2025 Cheltenham showpiece. The whole prolonged episode is becoming thoroughly tiresome and it’s dangerously threatening the legacy of his on-track achievements. Henderson has almost been too helpful in giving chapter and verse about the life of Constitution Hill over the last 12 months that some of updates have been met with a combination of indifference and derision. The eyes of hardened punters believe he’s not the force of old. Those with no vested financial interest firstly just want to see the day when this brilliant horse race again and secondly run to a standard that is close to his best. Until that day comes or not, there isn’t really much else we need to know about Constitution Hill. PANTO SEASON STARTS EARLY FOR LANGER DAN CLAN There’s been a running joke for about two years about the campaigning of Langer Dan on Racing X, formerly known as Racing Twitter. It involves a horse that can’t run to save himself in the winter but is magically reinvented into Pegasus in spring. Pantomime season arrived early when the 160-rated Langer Dan took a walk in the market from 11-8 out to 5-1 in Friday’s farcical four-runner Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. Langer Dan finished a distant third. Running to market expectations is the polite way of putting it. This horse has shown next to nothing for two whole seasons before amazingly sparking into life at the Cheltenham Festival, winning two Coral Cups off a mark of 141 on both occasions. Connections celebrate Langer Dan's success at last season's Cheltenham Festival Look, everyone that follows racing on a daily basis is aware of market moves and the odd piece of jiggery pokery to make the game pay is tolerated by most punters. We’ve all been burnt by being on a horse that’s drifted like a barge and scuppered by a blot that is hammered in five minutes before the off. That usually happens at a lower grade or in races with little or no form to go on. It should not be happening in four-runner Grade Twos with a horse rated 160+. Connections of Ahoy Senor were hauled in front of the stewards when he finished third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month for a quiet ride off top weight over a trip too short. Given the background of Langer Dan and his deplorable effort that quickly showed why he stunk the market out beforehand, it was quite astonishing the stewards failed to do likewise on Friday. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK... The disappointing run from chief market rival Mystical Power dampens enthusiasm slightly but SIR GINO was wickedly impressive from the second-last to the line in winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. A late replacement for sidelined stablemate Constitution Hill for this Grade One, Sir Gino won with great authority and the four-year-old’s jumping was sharper as the race developed. He’s a top-class horse and this could represent a changing of the guard moment in the Nicky Henderson yard and the Champion Hurdle division. He proved he has the speed, can handle quick conditions and jumps sharply. Given how fresh he was in the first mile, there is plenty in the locker as well. SELECTION OF THE DAY... KLARC KENT (7-1, William Hill) ran a blinder when fourth in the Scottish Grand National at 50-1 last season and his subsequent effort at Punchestown can be forgiven as it came too soon. His three-length defeat to Senior Chief, who is now rated 151, off level weights in February reads extremely well. The choice of Paul Townend, this stayer trained by Willie Mullins ought to have more to offer this season off a mark of 130 and can play a big part in today’s Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse (1.05). Share or comment on this article: CALUM McCLURKIN: This prolonged and dreary sideshow threatens legacy of Constitution Hill e-mail Add comment

Athletic journo claims Tottenham should have cashed in on star attacker last summer

At least it was not a sixth successive defeat. And that, perhaps, is the only consolation Pep Guardiola and Manchester City could derive from an evening when their losing run ended but their self-destructive streak was highlighted. Guardiola has won a Premier League with a three-goal comeback at the Etihad Stadium . Here, he lost a lead with one. For Feyenoord it was a spectacular, seminal fightback: 3-0 down after 74 minutes, they took an improbable point with an incredible response. For their hosts, it showed a self-destructive streak that seemed confined to the days when Joe Royle talked of “Cityitis” has returned and the defensive fragility that Guardiola lamented when Tottenham beat his City 4-0 on Saturday remains. “It is difficult to swallow now,” he said. He defended an errant defender when he could have cursed his near-namesake: Josko Gvardiol had a shocking quarter of an hour when he was culpable for at least two goals. “We are a team who concede few, few goals over these eight or nine years,” said Guardiola. Now, for the first time since 1963, City have conceded at least two in six successive matches. In the space of 15 minutes, City dropped from fifth to 15th in the Champions League table. From the jaws of their first victory in a month, City snatched ignominy. A team who used to be defined by control ended with chaos. Even as they could have won it, Jack Grealish striking the bar with a deflected effort in injury-time, they have rarely looked as flawed or as fraught. Even if Feyenoord could not follow in the footsteps of Tottenham (twice), Bournemouth, Brighton and Sporting CP, City seemed a team falling apart. “We are not able to win games,” rued Guardiola. The unexpectedly lengthy quest of a 682nd win of his managerial career will take him to Anfield on Sunday, maybe contemplating a sixth defeat in seven. Perhaps, too, as the Feyenoord fans chorused the name of Arne Slot, it was thoughts of Liverpool that led him astray. Three goals to the good, he brought off Nathan Ake and Ilkay Gundogan, seemingly seeking to spare the legs of each. “The game was not in danger,” said Guardiola. The youngsters Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and James McAtee were among those to come on and if neither was the culprit in chief in the subsequent collapse, City appeared powerless to resist the Feyenoord tide. Guardiola looked as if he feared the worst when they scored their first; his head was in his hands after a first mistake by Gvardiol, who gave the ball to Anis Hadj Moussa to slot in. Then it seemed as though the implications were merely that clean sheets continue to elude City and defensive difficulties to dog Gvardiol. But he was at fault as the ball was given away again and two Feyenoord substitutes combined. Jordan Lotomba’s shot from an acute angle was kicked on to the post by Ederson and Santiago Gimenez marked his first appearance for two months by chesting the ball over the line. If the goalkeeper might have done better there, he was definitely at fault for the equaliser, caught in no’s man land, charging outside his box as Igor Paixao headed the ball past him and, from an acute angle, showed the presence of mind to loft a cross to the far post for the on-rushing David Hancko to head in to cap his own all-action display. “Three episodes,” sighed Guardiola. It meant that, ridiculously, City have now conceded 13 goals in four games. They have lost a lead in three of them; but not like this. They were the first side in Champions League history to be three goals ahead in the 75th minute and still not win. What followed altered the complexion of those three goals, scored in 10 minutes either side of half-time. City were nevertheless uninspired for the first 40 minutes, only really threatening when Erling Haaland headed against the post and Phil Foden contrived to block Jack Grealish’s goalbound volley. Then fortune favoured them, referee Radu Petrescu ruling that Quentin Timber had fouled Haaland in the box. The Norwegian had struck the bar with a penalty in Portugal. There were roars of relief when he dispatched his next spot kick. While Haaland showed his predatory streak, Gundogan demonstrated his technique to double the lead. He connected sweetly with a left-footed volley from the edge of the box, even if goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther may have been defeated by the deflection off Hancko. Premier League goals have eluded Gundogan since his return to City but this was a third already in the Champions League. After his wretched afternoon against Tottenham came what seemed a restorative evening that included a part in the third goal. Then Gundogan played the penetrative pass to release Matheus Nunes whose low centre was converted by a sliding Haaland. “Three-zero down, you think it is going to be a long evening,” said Feyenoord manager Brian Priske. Game over, or so Guardiola thought. He had signalled part of his thinking for Anfield by dropping Kyle Walker and opting not to give Kevin De Bruyne a first start since September. More came with the substitutions. But they backfired. Even as City extended their unbeaten run at home in Europe to 34 games, this was only a fifth draw in that time. There could be consequences, too: they probably need to beat both Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain away to get a top-eight finish. But first of all, they need to beat someone, anyone. Because Manchester City, the team that couldn’t stop winning, now can’t start.The is imposing a winter ban on all lithium-ion-powered micromobility devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters, from its transit system, effective immediately. The ban, which will run from Nov. 15 to April 15 each year, does not include electric wheelchairs or other mobility devices used by people with disabilities. “Fundamentally, this is a safety issue first,” TTC board member Julie Osborne said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Until we find out more information that changes the information we got the last time about the dire consequences of a single (fire) ... We are going to be risking life and limb.” TTC staff first because of . Toronto Fire Services told the board at the time that while it is unpredictable when the batteries could explode, fires from a lithium ion battery are volatile and can’t be put out with a fire extinguisher. A fire on board a Line 1 subway car on New Year’s Eve . The ban is restricted to the cold weather months because fluctuating temperatures can cause condensation and lithium plating, which increases the likelihood of short circuits and fires. TTC staff also said exposure to certain road conditions, such as salt or de-icing compounds during winter, further heightens these risks. It’s unclear how the transit agency will ensure compliance with the ban beyond an education campaign about the new policy. “We still haven’t decided who is going to be enforcing the ban,” TTC chair Jamaal Myers told the board on Tuesday. “I know we already have trouble enforcing the (existing) e-bike ban during rush hour, so this will be another layer on top of that.” In a 6 to 4 vote on Tuesday, board members also voted to have TTC staff work with the city and Toronto Parking Authority, food delivery companies, as well as labour unions to look at whether it was possible to have more secure e-bike storage, battery charging and exchange facilities near transit stations. The board also asked TTC staff to work with Toronto Fire to monitor the “evolution” of lithium-ion batteries technology and safety considerations in order to “assess future compatibility with public transit.” Tuesday’s move follows a low-income individuals, marginalized groups and gig workers with limited transportation options. , Shakira Naraine, the transit agency’s chief people and culture officer, suggested the TTC impose “specific restrictions”— similar to but allow those with batteries displaying a UL or CE safety certification. A proposed motion similar to this was voted down by the board on Tuesday, along with a motion to reduce the length of the ban. Myers said despite the ban, these devices likely “aren’t going anywhere” and “rather than simply trying to wish the problem away, I think we should start working with businesses and other city departments to (both) mitigate the risk and create an environment where people feel like they can still use their bikes in a safe manner.”President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as the US ambassador to France, in the latest of several controversial picks. Kushner "is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests," Trump said on his Truth Social website, adding that Jared "worked closely with me in the White House." The choice is in keeping with Trump's pattern, so far, of selecting people, often wealthy, who are close to his family or of proven loyalty. Kushner is a multimillionaire real estate executive and former attorney; his son was a senior adviser during Trump's first term. Trump did not mention, however, that the elder Kushner once served jail time -- a two-year sentence, most of it served in a federal prison. Kushner, who is now 70, pleaded guilty in 2004 to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign contributions. The case, which was prosecuted by then US attorney Chris Christie, included sordid details, to which Kushner admitted: that he had hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, a man cooperating in a campaign finance inquiry, and then videotaped the encounter and sent it to the man's wife, Kushner's sister, to dissuade her from testifying against him. Christie, who worked on Trump's first presidential transition team and then opposed him in this year's Republican primary contests, later said Kushner had committed a "loathsome" and "disgusting crime." In 2020, Trump issued a pardon to Kushner, whose conviction had resulted in him being disbarred in three states. Nominees for key ambassadorships are often business associates of a president-elect, or major political donors. But it is rare, if not unprecedented, to name a convicted felon. The first two men to fill the prestigious Paris post were famed inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin and a future president, Thomas Jefferson. If confirmed, Kushner would succeed Denise Bauer, a former ambassador to Belgium who was a major Democratic fundraiser and donor. md/bbk/md