ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — AJ Clayton scored 16 points as Ohio beat Robert Morris 84-68 on Saturday. Clayton had seven rebounds for the Bobcats (3-5). Victor Searls scored 14 points and added seven rebounds. Jackson Paveletzke and Aidan Hadaway both scored 11 points. The Colonials (6-3) were led by Josh Omojafo, who recorded 15 points. Antallah Sandlin'El added 14 points for Robert Morris. Alvaro Folgueiras finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. The loss ended a six-game winning streak for the Colonials. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .A social-media tribute to Coptic Christians. A billboard in Amish country. A visit to a revered Jewish gravesite. While Donald Trump had a lock on the white evangelical vote, he and his campaign allies also wooed smaller religious groups, far from the mainstream. His campaign aggressively courted niche communities with the understanding that every vote could be critical, particularly in swing states. Voter surveys such as exit polls, which canvass broad swaths of the electorate, aren’t able to gauge the impact of such microtargeting, but some backers say the effort was worth it. Just one week before the election, Trump directed a post on the social-media platform X to Coptic Christians in the United States —- whose church has ancient roots in Egypt. He saluted their “Steadfast Faith in God, Perseverance through Centuries of Persecution and Love for this Great Country.” “This was the first time seeing a major U.S. presidential candidate address the community in this manner,” said Mariam Wahba, a Coptic Christian and research analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based research institute. “It was really a profound moment.” She said many Copts share the conservative social views of other Christian groups in the Republican constituency, and they may already have been Trump supporters. But the posting reinforced those bonds. Coptic bishops sent the president-elect congratulations after his victory and cited their “shared social and family values.” Some Assyrian Christians — another faith group with Middle Eastern roots — similarly bonded with Trump, whose mispronunciation of “Assyrian” at a rally created a viral video moment and drew attention to their support. Sam Darmo, a Phoenix real estate agent and co-founder of Assyrians for Trump, said many community members cited the economy, illegal immigration and other prominent voter issues. They echoed other conservative Christians’ concerns, he said, on issues such as abortion, gender identity and religious expression in public. But he said Trump supported various Middle Eastern Christians recovering from the Islamic State group’s oppressive rule. Darmo also credited Massad Boulos, father-in-law to Trump’s daughter , Tiffany, for mobilizing various Middle Eastern Christian groups, including Chaldean Catholics, and other voters, particularly in Michigan, such as Muslims. “He brought all these minority groups together,” he said. “We’re hoping to continue that relationship.” But members of Middle Eastern-rooted Christian groups, and their politics, are far from monolithic, said Marcus Zacharia, founder of Progressive Copts, a program of Informed Immigrants, an organization that promotes dialogue on sensitive topics among such groups in the United States and Canada. He said many younger community members question Trump’s stances on issues such as immigration, and sense that conservatives sometimes tokenize them by focusing on the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East while neglecting wider issues of repression in countries there that the U.S. supports. He said there needs to be more informed dialogue across the political divide in these communities. “There is no more high time than these next four years to have that way of conducting conversations,” he said. Republicans also made an aggressive push for Amish voters, particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where they are most numerous at about 92,000 — with many below voting age. The GOP has made similar efforts in the past, even though researchers have found that less than 10% of the Amish typically vote, due to their separatism from society. But Republicans used billboards, mailers, ads and door-to-door campaigners to drive turnout in Lancaster County, Pa., home base to the nation’s largest Amish settlement. On election day, Amish voters Samuel Stoltzfus and his wife, Lillian Stoltzfus, said they were supporting Trump, citing their anti-abortion beliefs. “We basically look at it as murder,” Stoltzfus, 31, said outside a polling center in the Lancaster County community of New Holland, where dozens of other members of the local Amish community voted. Trump has wavered on the issue, dismaying some abortion opponents, though many have said Republicans still align more closely to their views. Stoltzfus added: “Make America great again and keep the moral values,” he said. “Let’s go back to the roots.” Steven Nolt, a history professor at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster College who studies the Amish and their voting patterns, said that while it’s too early to say definitively without further research, he doesn’t see evidence of a larger turnout this year. Lancaster County as a whole — most of which is not Amish — is a GOP stronghold that Trump won handily, though both parties’ votes edged up from 2020, according to unofficial results posted by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Trump’s biggest increases were in urban or suburban areas with few Amish, while some areas with larger Amish populations generally saw a modest increase in the Trump vote, said Nolt, director of the college’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. “Bottom line, percentage-wise, not much change in the parts of Lancaster County where the Amish live,” he said. Trump directly reached out to members of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism. On Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war , Trump made a symbolically resonant visit to the “Ohel,” the burial site of the movement’s revered late leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Wearing a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap, Trump, who has Jewish family members, brought a written prayer to the Ohel and laid a small stone at the grave in keeping with tradition. The site in New York City, while particularly central to Chabad adherents, draws an array of Jewish and other visitors, including politicians. About two-thirds of Jewish voters overall supported Trump’s opponent, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. But the Trump campaign has made a particular outreach to Orthodox Jews, citing issues including his policies toward Israel in his first administration. Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowitz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida said it was moving for him to see images of Trump’s visit. “The mere fact that he made a huge effort, obviously it was important to him,” he said. Smith writes for the Associated Press. AP journalist Luis Henao contributed to this report.

After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key rolesRetailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is returning home after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump says the dinner talks Friday night at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida were “productive.” But he signaling no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.Mr Puerto Rico Danny Mejia named Mr World 2024GSC Game World has released Patch 1.0.2 for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl , focusing on bug fixes for six main missions that could block players from moving further into the game. The missions On the Edge, A Minor Incident, Just Like the Good Old Days, All That is Left, Down Below, and Visions of Truth have all had problems big and small fixed. Most of them are focused on situations where you might have done something in an unexpected order, or where an NPC(s) would spawn dead or not at all. In addition, more of those obnoxious EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION errors are fixed. This patch comes hot on the heels of the first one yesterday , which had more than 650 fixes across a broad spectrum of Stalker 2's systems, quests, visuals, and more. It also had fixes for teeth, and we all know how important teeth are to Stalker 2's developers. You can find the full details of Stalker 2 Patch 1.0.2 on Steam . Despite and because of the bugs, Stalker 2 is very much the kind of mess that we expected it to be—with the 83% PC Gamer review calling it a "beautiful, brilliant, but busted Stalker just like they used to make." "Stalker 2 is killing it on Steam because we stan a janky weirdo," wrote PC Gamer's Fraser Brown . The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. "All in all, it's a pretty great result for a game that revels in its rough edges and old-school design sensibilities. But if anyone was going to love it, it would be us PC lot. While Stalker is a multiplatform series, at its heart it's a pure PC game: complex, systemic and risky."

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily tied the American Athletic Conference record for single-season touchdowns and threw for a season-high 190 yards and a score to lift No. 25 Army to a 29-24 win over UTSA on Saturday. Army (10-1) finished the regular season 8-0 in the AAC and earned the right to host the championship game on Friday. Daily rushed for 147 yards, his academy-record ninth straight 100-yard game, and two touchdowns. Casey Larkin sealed Army’s 10th victory of the season, picking off Owen McCown at the Black Knights’ 10 with 1:14 left. “It was a great team win,” Daily said. “It was great to see the defense plays their hearts out like they’ve done all season. We knew a close game (at home) was coming at some point this season. That was today. I’m just proud of the fight that our guys showed.” Army won its 10th game for the fourth time in program history and third time in Jeff Monken’s 11 years. The Black Knights had outscored their opponents 188-62 in their first five home wins. “To be playing in the conference championship game in the first year is a little improbable,” Monken said. “It’s not something you anticipate. “I’m glad we joined the conference. It’s awesome to be in this position and have a chance to play for the conference championship. That’s not something you take for granted." Army’s defense rose to the challenges all afternoon. Kalib Fortner and Chance Keith combined to stop Brandon High short on 4th-and-1 from UTSA’s 16 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Five plays later, Bryson Daily scored his 24th touchdown of the season from one yard out to give Army a 22-17 lead. Collin Matteson picked off McCown for his first career interception with 11:17 left in the game. Daily scored his conference-tying 25th rushing touchdown, a 42-yard run on the second play following Matteson’s pick with 10:26 remaining in the game UTSA (6-6) fell to 0-6 away from the Alamodome. The Roadrunners opened the second half with McCown’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Devin McCuin on fourth down to take 17-13 lead with10:13left in the third quarter. Army senior kicker Trey Gronotte made a career-high three field goals. Gronotte’s 35-yard kick tied the game at 10-10 as time expired in the first half. Daily capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to running back Tyrell Robinson on the game’s opening drive with 7:30remaining in the first quarter. Robinson, a fifth-year senior, scored his first touchdown of the season and 14th in his career. UTSA answered with a touchdown on its first possession, a 10-yard run by Brandon High. High added a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Army converted on all three fourth downs on its opening touchdown drive. Noah Short caught a 6-yard pass and ran for four yards to move the chains. UTSA leading rusher Robert Henry missed the game with an undisclosed injury. Henry had a team-best 706 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. UTSA: Awaits a bowl invitation. Army: Plays Tulane in the American Athletic Conference championship game. 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"If you didn't know you were in Exeter, what city would you guess you were in?" I asked my mum as we sat in a bar at the Christmas Market that felt impressively busy for what is a relatively small city. She paused to take in the lively atmosphere at The Cathedral Tavern and said: "Honestly, I wouldn't even say we're in the UK. It feels like we're on the continent. This is like something they would have in Germany." Christmas markets aren't really our thing. The huge crowds, repetitive music and street food smells make for complete sensory overload and just add to the stressful task of Christmas shopping. Our experience of markets in other parts of the country has either been stalls plonked into the middle of an already busy High Street or a garish and borderline cartoonish effort to emulate a traditional German market, with huge beer steins and bratwursts. But when I fully embraced the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market, I realised how lucky we really are. Sure, there is music and crowds but it feels like a lot of care has gone into making it more than just a gimmick. There's a selection of local stalls and, last year, I actually managed to find some locally-made gifts there, which felt so much better than buying from big brands. This year, I wanted to convince Mrs S of the same. Key to tackling any event like this is going in with a plan and, for us, grabbing a bite to eat first made sense. You don't want to be battling the crowds while hungry and browsing the gift stalls while trying not to spill messy street food doesn't seem sensible either. Although not much of a foodie, mum was impressed by the varied food offering, which has something to suit everyone. As always, this was the busiest section of the market but you generally don't tend to wait too long to be served. My advice to Christmas market newbies would be to eat a little earlier than you normally would to beat the crowds. Once we were fuelled up with some fried chicken from Urban Cowboy Street Food - which was just as tasty as last year - we were ready to go gift hunting. Mum was on the lookout for some small gifts and although it felt like there was a large volume of products, the variety could have been better. There were a lot of multiples offering the same thing. It would have been nice if there were more traditional Christmas food gifts and more unique things that would work as stocking fillers. Aside from a few delicious smelling candles, we left pretty much empty handed. It wasn't that the products on offer weren't high-quality or worth buying, we just felt like there was something missing. We decided it was time to have a browse around town and to get away from the sea of people for a bit but we vowed to return later. "It was starting to feel like we hadn't done it right," Mrs S said. "But then we went to the bar." Christmas market bars are a bit like marmite: some people love the lively, festive atmosphere while others grumble about the prices. Faye Williams, co-owner of Barnova, who runs the two bars at the market, explained that a huge amount of money goes into organising the venues and that the company is keen to support local businesses, meaning the cost of a pint or mulled wine might be a little higher than at your local. We were apprehensive about visiting The Cathedral Tavern, worrying that the crowds might mean long waiting times and difficulty finding somewhere to sit, but we were so glad we did. "The staff were lovely and it didn't feel like you had to push your way in to order," mum observed. "The service was quick and we even found somewhere to sit." The buzz about the place was infectious. Everywhere you looked, everyone seemed to be having a good time. A quick scan around the room, which was packed with people of all ages, and I counted maybe one person using their phone - a rare sight these days. Having felt a little deflated earlier, it totally turned our day around. Mum even made a new friend: "I made friends with someone's very cute dog. What's not to love?" Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market will run until Sunday, December 15 and is open from 10am to 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 9pm Thursday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.Published 5:09 pm Friday, November 22, 2024 By Jan Griffey NATCHEZ — Natchez lost a native son on Nov. 14, when Aubrey Bernell “B.J.” Norman Jr. died after suffering a seizure. He was 41. Born and raised in Natchez to Aubrey Bernell Norman Sr. and Shirley Bland Norman, Norman was a proud graduate 2001 Natchez High School, where he was elected Mr. Natchez High. “He was a Natchez boy through and through. He was so proud of his hometown. He always told people how he was from Natchez,” said his former wife, Ashleigh Crosby Norman. The pair ended their marriage about a year ago, but remained best friends and co-parented their three children — Aubrey III, 16, and 10-year-old twins, Alton and Ava. Norman, who lived in Ridgeland, was known in the restaurant community in Jackson as a celebrity chef. During his young career, he opened and operated several restaurants, including the Downtown Cafe in 2010. Normal also hosted a cooking segment on Jackson’s Fox 40. After attending Hinds Community College and Jackson State University, where he studied business, Norman went to work as a night auditor at the Marriott. He learned every aspect of that business, Ashleigh said, and went to work at the popular upscale Steam Room Grill. “The owners took a liking to him and he worked as a bartender and server and became assistant manager. He learned everything from the front of the house to the back of the house,” she said. The two got married in 2007, which is when Norman began developing his vision of opening a restaurant. “That was the beginning of his entrepreneurship journey. He opened Downtown Cafe in 2010 and went on to open several restaurants,” she said. However, Norman had a health setback in 2021 when he suffered a stroke. “He suffered his first stroke in 2021 and was left with some physical impairments, but he was super positive,” Ashleigh said. “He was unable to do all of his catering, but he learned to pivot and turned Downtown Cafe into a consulting company and helped numerous businesses, particularly small Black businesses. He was an expert. He did everything from setting up payment systems to training staff.” In all, Norman is credited with helping open 20 restaurants in Mississippi. In fact, Norman was named recently to the Top 50 under 50 of Mississippi’s Urban Elite Professionals. He was to be presented that honor at a gala on Jan. 25, 2025. Norman was at his oldest son’s basketball game on Nov. 5 when he suffered a seizure from which he did not recover. He died on Nov. 14. “He loved his children. He did not miss a game or a match or a practice. He loved to cook, and our children get that from him. He was so proud of everything they did. He loved to watch people operate in their craft. He said people should figure out how they can use that and share it with the world,” Ashlee said. “He was a blessing to us all and he will be so, so missed. Family visitation for Norman is Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. at Marshall Funeral Home, 225 Pilgrim Blvd., Natchez. A Good Times and Great Memories social hour will be held on Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m. at Doll Baby’s, 6 Saint Catherine St. A celebration of life is Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Baptist Church with reserved seating for the Natchez High School Class of 2001. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery. A repast will follow at Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Trump tapping Project 2025 authors and influencers for key rolesBeneath our feet lies a world often taken for granted, yet it forms the foundation of life on earth. Soil, with its rich, fertile composition, is the unsung hero of our ecosystems. It nurtures plants, supports agriculture, regulates water, and even combats climate change. As we approach World Soil Day, celebrated annually on December 5, it is imperative to reflect on the critical role soil plays in our lives and the urgent need to preserve this vital resource. Rich soil is the lifeblood of gardening, farming, and forestry. It acts as a reservoir of nutrients, allowing plants to grow and thrive. When soil is fertile, it not only supports plant life but also sustains the billions of microorganisms that contribute to a healthy ecosystem. These organisms break down organic matter, recycle nutrients, and improve soil structure, creating an environment where roots can penetrate deeply and plants can flourish. Gardening enthusiasts know the value of rich soil. A healthy garden begins with soil teeming with nutrients and life. The right balance of organic matter, minerals, and moisture transforms barren land into a thriving oasis. Whether growing vegetables, cultivating flowers, or planting trees, the quality of the soil determines the success of the endeavour. Poor soil leads to stunted growth and weak plants, while fertile soil nurtures vibrant greenery, abundant yields, and healthy ecosystems. Feeding the world Fertile soil is essential for feeding the global population. It serves as the foundation for agriculture, enabling the cultivation of crops that sustain billions. Wheat, rice, maize, and countless other staples owe their existence to the soil beneath them. Fertile soil provides plants with essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are crucial for their growth and productivity. Livestock depends on pastures that grow from rich soil, and even fish farming benefits from plants cultivated in fertile environments. In essence, soil nourishes the entire food chain, ensuring that people around the world have access to nutritious food. Healthy soil acts as a natural sponge, absorbing and storing water. This ability reduces the risk of floods and droughts, maintaining a stable water cycle. In agriculture, well-maintained soil minimises irrigation needs by retaining moisture, making farming more sustainable. Soil also plays a vital role in combatting climate change. It acts as a carbon sink, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise contribute to global warming. By maintaining healthy soil, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Rich, well-structured soil is less prone to erosion. It binds together through organic matter and root systems, preventing the loss of topsoil due to wind or water. Without fertile soil, landscapes become barren, and agricultural productivity declines. Soil is home to an incredible diversity of life. Microorganisms, insects, fungi, and small animals all thrive in healthy soil, contributing to its fertility and functionality. This biodiversity creates a balanced ecosystem that benefits both plants and animals. World Soil Day, organised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlights the importance of healthy soil and encourages global efforts to protect it. Each year, a specific theme sheds light on the challenges and solutions related to soil management. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the essential role of soil in sustaining life and the urgent need to combat soil degradation. The 2024 theme focuses on the preservation of soil fertility, a pressing concern as overuse and neglect threaten this invaluable resource. Unsustainable farming practices, deforestation, and urbanisation degrade soil, depleting it of nutrients and reducing its ability to support life. World Soil Day reminds us that protecting soil is not just an agricultural issue; it is a global responsibility. Modern agricultural practices, while aimed at increasing productivity, often harm soil health. Overuse of chemical fertiliser and pesticides destroys beneficial microorganisms, leaving the soil lifeless and compacted. Deforestation removes the protective cover of trees, exposing soil to erosion. Urban sprawl seals fertile land under concrete, permanently removing it from use. Climate change further exacerbates the problem. Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns disrupt the delicate balance of soil ecosystems. As soil dries out or floods, its ability to retain nutrients and support plants diminishes. Preserving soil fertility is not just a task for farmers and policymakers; it is a collective effort that requires action from all of us. Farmers can use crop rotation, cover crops, and organic fertiliser to maintain soil health. These methods reduce nutrient depletion and improve soil structure, ensuring long-term productivity. Planting trees and maintaining vegetation cover can prevent soil erosion. Natural barriers like hedgerows and terraces also help protect soil from wind and water damage. Composting kitchen and garden waste returns valuable nutrients to the soil. It enriches soil with organic matter, improving its texture, water retention, and fertility. Limiting the use of synthetic fertiliser and pesticides prevents the destruction of soil microorganisms. Organic alternatives, such as compost and natural pest control methods, are more sustainable. Public campaigns Public campaigns and education about the importance of soil can inspire communities to take action. Simple practices, such as planting trees or starting a composting initiative, can make a significant difference. Fertile soil underpins the economies of nations reliant on agriculture and shapes the cultural and social fabric of communities. Without healthy soil, humanity would face severe challenges, including food shortages, ecosystem collapse, and intensified climate crises. As we reflect on the role of soil, it becomes clear that this resource deserves more respect and care. It is not merely dirt beneath our feet; it is the foundation of life, supporting everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe. Preserving soil fertility is an investment in the future, ensuring that generations to come inherit a planet capable of sustaining life. By recognising the importance of soil and adopting sustainable practices, we can protect this invaluable resource and reap its countless benefits for years to come. Rich soil is a treasure worth preserving, a gift to humanity and the earth itself.

Lineage Explores Connection Between Food Infrastructure and Economic Development in New Research by Economist Impact

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — RJ Johnson scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Daylen Berry added two clutch free throws and Charleston Southern surprised Miami 83-79 on Saturday. The Buccaneers led for the last four minutes of the first half and deep into the second half before a 3-pointer from Austin Swartz gave Miami a 76-75 lead with 3 minutes left in the game. A three-point play by Lynn Kidd gave the Hurricanes a 79-75 lead with 2:11 remaining. Berry hit a 3-pointer to make it 79-78 and Johnson followed with a 3 that gave the Buccaneers an 81-79 lead. Kidd missed in the paint for Miami but came up with a steal a few seconds later. With 15 seconds left, Swartz missed a 3-pointer and the Buccaneers rebounded. Miami put Berry on the line and he made both free throws for a four-point lead with 11 seconds remaining. Miami's Jalen Blackmon missed a 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, the Hurricanes' A.J. Staton-McCray grabbed the rebound and he missed a 3 as time ran out. Taje Kelly had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Buccaneers (2-7), who snapped a five-game losing streak and defeated a Division I opponent for the first-time this season. Thompson Camara made five 3-pointers and scored 21. Brandon Johnson made six 3-pointers and scored 23 for Miami (3-4). Swartz scored 15 points off the bench and Staton-McCray had 13 points. ___ 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-basketballNone

Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations