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is milyon88 legit Gone are the days of constant hustle and bustle, of non-stop work and social commitments. The young adults of today are realizing the importance of taking care of themselves, both physically and mentally. They are saying goodbye to exhaustion and burnout, choosing instead to prioritize their well-being and happiness. This change in mindset is truly uplifting, as it signifies a movement towards a more mindful and sustainable way of living.Jayden Daniels dazzles again as Commanders clinch a playoff spot by beating Falcons 30-24 in OT LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The Washington Commanders clinched a playoff spot by beating the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 in overtime. Jayden Daniels ran for a season-high 127 yards and threw for 227 and three touchdowns to make the postseason in his rookie year in the NFL. He outdueled fellow top-10 draft pick Michael Penix Jr. in a game each had an interception. The Commanders can move up to the sixth seed in the NFC if they win at Dallas next weekend. The Falcons lost control of their playoff chances and now can only get in if they beat Carolina and Tampa Bay loses to New Orleans in Week 18. NFC's No. 1 seed comes down to Vikings-Lions showdown at Detroit in Week 18 The NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final game of the regular season when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday night. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser becomes the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Lions hold the tiebreaker if the teams enter with identical records and play to a tie. The Vikings held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. Darnold gives Vikings another gem with career-high 377 yards in 27-25 win over Packers MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold added another exploit to his career-altering season, passing for a personal-best 377 yards and three touchdowns as the Minnesota Vikings hung on to beat the Green Bay Packers 27-25 for their ninth consecutive victory. The Vikings are 14-2. They set up a final-week showdown in Detroit next Sunday night for both the division title and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs in the NFC. Jordan Love’s only touchdown pass for the Packers came with 2:18 left to pull the Packers within two points. Darnold responded with two completions for first downs to seal the game. Bills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC’s No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the New York Jets. The Bills put the game away by capitalizing on two Jets turnovers and scoring three touchdowns over a 5:01 span in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Buffalo’s defense forced three takeaways overall and sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, including a 2-yard loss for a safety in the second quarter. The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills improved to 13-3 to match a franchise single-season record. Thompson-Herro fight leads to ejections of multiple players and coaches in Heat's victory in Houston HOUSTON (AP) — Rockets forward Amen Thompson threw Heat guard Tyler Herro to the floor to trigger an altercation that resulted in six ejections in the closing minute of Miami’s 104-100 victory over Houston on Sunday. Thompson and Herro became entangled with Miami about to inbound the ball leading 99-94 with 35 seconds left. Thompson grabbed Herro by the jersey and tossed him, with referee Marc Davis describing it as Thompson “body slams Herro.” Herro, Thompson, and Udoka were ejected, as were Heat guard Terry Rozier, Rockets guard Jalen Green, and Rockets assistant coach Ben Sullivan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Rising Sun Devils: Arizona State looks to pull off another big surprise at the Peach Bowl ATLANTA (AP) — As they prepare for Arizona State’s biggest game in nearly three decades, the guys who made it happen aren’t the least bit surprised to be rated a nearly two-touchdown underdog in the College Football Playoff. That’s a familiar position for the Sun Devils. They've been an underdog most of the season. Of the eight teams still vying for a national championship, there’s no bigger surprise than 11-2 Arizona State. The Sun Devils went 3-9 a year ago and were picked to finish dead last in their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Now, they're getting ready to face Texas in the Peach Bowl quarterfinal game on New Year’s Day. Penn State coach James Franklin says Nick Saban should be college football's commissioner SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Penn State coach James Franklin believes college football needs a commissioner and he even has a candidate in mind: former Alabama coach Nick Saban. Franklin made the suggestion Sunday at Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions are preparing for their game against No. 3 seed Boise State on Tuesday. The veteran coach was responding to a question about Penn State’s backup quarterback situation after Beau Pribula transferred to Missouri before the playoff. Pribula’s decision highlighted some of the frustrating aspects of a new college football world in the Name, Image and Likeness era and the transfer portal, forcing players to make tough decisions at inopportune times. Penn State's polarizing QB Drew Allar puts critics on mute and keeps winning games SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it’s usually a backhanded compliment. They say he’s a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn’t try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here’s the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that’s hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. The polarizing Allar has another chance to quiet his critics on Tuesday, when Penn State plays Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl. Crosby breaks Lemieux's Penguins career assists record in 3-2 victory over the Islanders PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby broke Mario Lemieux’s Pittsburgh franchise career record for assists on Michael Bunting’s power-play goal and the Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Sunday night. Crosby has 1,034 assists, good for 12th in NHL history. Only three players — Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman — have more assists with a single team. The 37-year-old Crosby has played 1,310-regular-season games. Lemieux played 915. Evgeni Malkin added the deciding power-play goal in the third for Pittsburgh, which has 14 goals with the man advantage in its last 13 games. Anthony Beauvillier also scored to help the Penguins win for the seventh time in their last eight home games. Alex Nedeljkovic made 29 saves in his first start since Dec. 17.

As the countdown to kick-off begins, both Manchester City and Manchester United will be preparing intensively for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The stakes are high, with both teams vying for crucial points in the race for the Premier League title. The added element of a top referee like Anthony Taylor only serves to heighten the drama and excitement surrounding this eagerly anticipated clash.Title: Beijing Chilly Today with a High of 6°C: Stay Warm and Ventilate during Noon is SuggestedThe Redbirds are 9-2 (6-2 Missouri Valley Conference) and are looking to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2019 and sixth time in Brock Spack's 16 seasons as head coach. Illinois State opened the game with some trickery. Eddie Kasper pulled up on a fleaflicker and launched a 30-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Loyd to cap a seven-play, 70-yard opening drive. Simon Romfo tied it on North Dakota's only touchdown of the day, throwing 20 yards to Nate DeMontagnac. Wright scored from the 10 to make it 14-7 after a quarter, and after C.J. Elrichs kicked a 20-yard field goal midway through the second to make it 14-10 at intermission, Wright powered in from the 18 and Mitch Bartol caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Rittenhouse to make it 28-10 after three. Seth Glatz added a 13-yard touchdown run to make it 35-10 before Elrichs added a 37-yard field goal to get the Fighting Hawks on the board to set the final margin. Rittenhouse finished 21 of 33 passing for 187 yards for Illinois State. Loyd caught eight passes for 121 yards. Romfo completed 11 of 26 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown with an interception for North Dakota (5-7, 2-6). Illinois State faced North Dakota for just the fourth time and third time as Missouri Valley Conference opponents. The Redbirds lost the previous three meetings. 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

The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, first embarked on the self-discipline challenge with high hopes of transforming his life and breaking free from bad habits. The challenge required him to adhere to a strict set of rules and goals designed to improve his physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In return for completing the challenge successfully, he stood to win a substantial cash prize and the admiration of his peers.Bluesky Overtakes Threads as Liberals Flee MAGA Trolls on X

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Applications are now open for the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology's 2025-2026 fellowships. These fellowships provide graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and independent scholars in the history of science and related humanities fields with financial support and access to one of the world's leading research libraries. "We are proud to support researchers exploring the human stories behind history's greatest scientific breakthroughs," said Benjamin Gross, Linda Hall Library's Vice President for Research and Scholarship. "This year, we are excited to offer fellowships to scholars from Kansas City, across the U.S., and around the world, who will shed new light on the discoveries and inventions that have transformed our lives." The Library offers residential fellowships supporting research in Kansas City and virtual fellowships for remote scholars using the Library's digital resources. Applicants may request up to four months of funding at a rate of $3,000 per month for doctoral students or $4,200 per month for postdoctoral researchers. The Library also offers several fellowships for specific groups of researchers: All current and former Linda Hall Library fellows receive access to digitization privileges for the library's extensive science and engineering collections. Applications are due Jan. 17, 2025. For more information, email fellowships@lindahall.org . About Linda Hall Library Since 1946, the Linda Hall Library has amassed collections that power investigation, innovation, exploration and inspiration. Today, it is a leading independent research library known for the breadth and depth of its collections across 82 languages, its role as an international destination for scholarship and research, its support of STEM educators and its resources available to learners of all ages. Learn more at lindahall.org . Media Contact: andrew.meiller@cruxkc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linda-hall-library-opens-applications-for-2025-2026-fellowships-302321351.html SOURCE Linda Hall LibraryMUMBAI: At least 13 persons reported losing their gold chains, cash, and other valuables amounting to ₹ 12.4 lakh during the grand oath-taking ceremony of Devendra Fadnavis who was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra at Azad Maidan on Thursday. The event was attended by over 50,000 people, including several celebrities and high-ranking dignitaries. The police revealed that numerous attendees approached them with complaints of theft, with 13 FIRs registered so far under section 303(2) (theft) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Many victims reported losing gold chains, purses, and substantial sums of money in the chaos. “More complaints are coming in and we are actively investigating and have begun reviewing CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators,” said an officer from Azad Maidan police station. Also Read | Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on board, but Mahayuti must mind the gap Among the victims was 64-year-old Kandivali resident Shivaji Gawali, who attended the event with friends. “As I was leaving through gate no. 2 around 6:30 pm, the area was extremely crowded. When I stepped outside, I noticed my 30-gram gold chain was missing. After searching and inquiring for a while, I realised someone had stolen it,” he said. Similar incidents were reported by others, including Jaydevi Upadhyay, 50, from Andheri, who lost her 20-gram gold chain. Santosh Lachke, 61, from Fort, whose 17-gram gold chain was snatched. Vilas Chavan, 72, from Charkop, who reported his 20-gram chain stolen. Mohan Kamat, 70, from Dadar, who lost a 35-gram gold chain. Cash thefts were also reported. Anant Koli, 47, from Vile Parle lost ₹ 20,000 in cash, while Nitin Kale, 26, from Solapur had ₹ 57,000 stolen from his bag during the rush. Also Read | Maharashtra assembly special session begins today; MLAs take oath The ceremony was graced by prominent personalities, including actors Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. However, the massive gathering became an easy target for thieves, who exploited the crowded conditions to carry out the thefts. The police noted a worrying trend of thieves targeting crowded public events like music concerts, festivals, and political rallies. “Even some policemen deployed for bandobast duty reported losing their bags, which they had kept in a corner at Azad Maidan,” the officer added. Efforts are underway to identify the suspects and recover the stolen items. The police urged the public to exercise caution and secure their belongings in crowded areas.

A butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the future NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa’s largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya’s capital. Steve Collins has a collection of 4.2 million butterflies representing hundreds of species. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. One expert familiar with Collins and his work suggests that the collection should be digitized for global access. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83 An Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride," Charles Shyer has died. He was 83. On Sunday his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press that he died Friday in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. Born in Los Angeles in 1941 to a filmmaker father, Shyer's big breakthrough came with co-writing “Private Benjamin” for which he and Nancy Meyers received an Oscar nomination. He and Nancy Meyers were frequent collaborators through their nearly 20-year marriage, including on the remake of “The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately.BULLHEAD CITY – The Mohave High School girls basketball team trailed by nine at halftime and nearly came back, but fell 44-41 against Moon Valley High School on Friday. Next, the Thunderbirds will play against Lake Havasu on the road on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m.Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons

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Israel expands Gaza operations as Palestinian death toll surpasses 44,000

The investigation stems from allegations that Google and Meta have been engaging in a secret agreement that allows Google to gain preferential treatment in Meta's digital ad network. This partnership, if proven true, could potentially distort competition in the advertising market and hinder the ability of other players to compete on a level playing field.Mid-Day Top News: Dust storm in West Asia is making Mumbai air quality and more

Jason Kelce's Wife, Kylie, Gets Own Podcast, 'Not Gonna Lie'1 2 Nagpur: The Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (KKSU) is likely the first university in the region to initiate recycling wastewater and use it to develop a beautiful garden on its 10-acre campus in Ramtek. In association with CSIR-Neeri , the university will set up a compact faecal sludge separation and treatment (CFSST) plant using the premier research technology already implemented at the nearby Gau Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra in Deolapar. The move followed KKSU's search for a solution to its wastewater management , water conservation and ensuring a clean campus. Vice-chancellor Hareram Tripathi told TOI that they grappled with a poor sewage network, causing wastewater choking close to the campus giving out a foul stench. "Our initiative is in line with PM Modi's Swachh Bharat campaign as well as being part of a green revolution . During a visit to Deolapar, I was impressed with the work of Neeri senior scientist Ritesh Vijay and his team. I realised Neeri could help us, and we approached its director Abhay Vaidya, who readily extended support," he said. The project has been funded by the govt, Tripathi said, adding that additional funds would be provided by the university. The university has two hostels housing 100 boys and 100 girls, besides PhD scholars on the campus. The wastewater from these hostels used to accumulate near the campus wall and pose a health hazard. "We used to flush out the water using a motor. Then we realised it would be better to recycle it," Tripathi said. The plant's fabrication work will be done at Neeri's campus in Nagpur and later installed at Ramtek. It will encompass a specialised plant for manufacturing beneficial fertilisers through sewage and solid waste management. The recycled wastewater will be utilised for gardening, floriculture, fodder production, and reservoir maintenance, while the solid waste will be transformed into compost to enrich soil fertility and develop gardens. The bhoomi puja for the plant was performed by Neeri director Vaidya. Ritesh Vijay, senior principal scientist, Waste Water Management Division, Neeri, and his team, alongside Manoj Tatwawadi, chief executive officer of Gau Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra, Deolapar, attended the ceremony. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy will be staying on after agreeing to a restructured deal, according to news reports published Saturday. The deal reportedly will shift some of his salary to revenue sharing with players. Gundy has talked often about how difficult it is to compete financially in this new era. The Cowboys were among the preseason favorites in the Big 12, but a rash of injuries and problems at quarterback tanked the team, and a 3-9 season culminated with a 52-0 loss at Colorado . The school's Board of Regents held a special meeting on Friday morning regarding his status, but no immediate action was taken. The fact that Gundy has 169 wins in 20 years and has reached the Big 12 title game two of the past four seasons, plus a hefty buyout, likely saved him from being fired outright. The Cowboys won the conference in 2011 and had been to bowl games for 18 straight seasons before this one. It had been a while since the Cowboys struggled like they did this season, and Gundy upset the fan base when he fired back at his critics. “In most cases, the people that are negative and voicing their opinion are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills,” Gundy said. “They’re not taking care of themselves. They’re not taking care of their own family. They’re not taking care of their own job. But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better. "But then, in the end, when they go to bed at night, they’re the same failure that they were before they said anything negative about anybody else.” Gundy has made several apologies over the years for comments and behavior, but his success has kept him safe. In 2020, he apologized for calling COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus .” He apologized again that year after he wore a T-shirt featuring the far-right One America News Network that upset star running back Chuba Hubbard. The Cowboys reportedly have parted ways with offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo. Dunn became offensive coordinator in 2020. He held the position last season, when running back Ollie Gordon II won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. Gordon wasn't quite as good this season, and a highly touted offensive line struggled to open holes for him. Nardo was hired in 2023 and had a solid first year. He coached much of this season without injured stars Nick Martin and Collin Oliver. Martin was the top defensive player in the AP's Big 12 mid-season awards. The Cowboys ranked last in the Big 12 in points allowed and yards per game allowed. They gave up 500.6 yards per contest, by far the worst in the 16-team league. ___ 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-footballHead coach Vanni Sartini paid the price Monday for the Vancouver Whitecaps’ mediocre results this past season and subsequent first-round playoff exit. His firing came about two weeks after the Major League Soccer team won a play-in game before falling to top-seeded Los Angeles FC in a three-game series that went the distance. “The desperation on my side is absolutely there,” said Axel Schuster, the Whitecaps’ sporting director and chief executive officer. One of the reasons for the change, he said, is everyone in the organization, including himself, needs a reminder that playoff success next year is imperative. “We cannot not get there.” The Whitecaps haven’t reached the conference semifinals since 2017. In a one-hour availability with reporters, Schuster noted the team had the second-worst home record in the Western Conference this year and recorded just two points over its last seven regular-season games. He referenced the need for fresh energy from a new coach and added there was no firm timeline in place for a replacement to be named. “I had to make a professional decision (for) how we can get the biggest impact to make this step forward and to get to a progression,” he said. The Whitecaps’ late-season slump dropped them to eighth place in the West with a record of 13-13-8. Vancouver won a play-in game at Portland before dropping a 1-0 decision at LAFC in the deciding game of the series. Vancouver also won its third-straight Canadian championship this season, beating Toronto FC 4-2 on penalties after the final ended in a 0-0 tie. “I took my time with this decision, and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said. Sartini, a 47-year-old from Florence, Italy, took over coaching duties on an interim basis in August 2021 after the Whitecaps dismissed Marc Dos Santos. He was officially named head coach that November. “For the last three years and three months, it has been an absolute honour to be the head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” Sartini said in a release. “I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and ownership for entrusting me to be the technical lead of this club in such an important time. “Vancouver will always have a special place in my heart and my wife’s heart,” he added. He posted a record of 57-51-39 across all competitions. The exuberant Italian made headlines in November 2023 when he publicly criticized a referee following a playoff game and made a joke about being a suspect if the official were to be found dead. He was suspended for the first six games of the 2024 MLS campaign, fined US$20,000 and ordered to complete a league-approved behavioural assessment. The coach later apologized for the comments and his suspension was cut to four games. Sartini came to Vancouver in 2019 as Dos Santos’ assistant coach and spent two seasons with the first team before being named the club’s “director of methodology” and taking over coaching the U-23 team in 2020. Before joining the Whitecaps, he worked as a coach educator for the Italian Football Federation and the U.S. Soccer Federation, and coached several different clubs in Italy.In the highly anticipated Champions League clash between FC Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona, all eyes are on the two European giants as they face off in a battle for supremacy. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams in top form and eager to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.