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Braden Smith scores 34 to push No. 21 Purdue past Toledo5 Things Camera Manufacturers Can and Should DoSyrian opposition fighters have reached the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, and government forces abandoned the central city of Homs as the rebels' surprising offensive picks up speed. President Bashar Assad's whereabouts are unknown. Homs is an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces that are the Syrian leader’s base of support. In Damascus, residents described a city on edge, with security forces on the streets and many shops running out of staple foods. The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Eight key countries gathered with the U.N. special envoy on Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Summit for two hours of discussions Saturday night, and more will follow. The U.N. envoy seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Here's the Latest: The Syrian insurgency announced Saturday that it has taken over Homs, following reports of government forces withdrawing from the strategic city. This latest development in the rebels’ swift shock offensive in the war-torn country has left embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad effectively in control of the capital Damascus and two other cities where his key support base among the Alawite Muslim population are based. Homs is an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces that are the Syrian leader’s base of support. Syrian opposition fighters have reached the suburbs of the capital, Damascus as the rebels’ offensive picks up speed. President Bashar Assad’s whereabouts are unknown. The mother of an Israeli man held hostage in Gaza and seen in a newly released video by Hamas says “enough with the games” and calls for more pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Einav Zangauker told a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday night that like her son Matan, “there are a few dozen who are currently alive. Don’t allow them to be brought back dead in bags. Take to the streets.” Matan Zangauker, speaking under duress, appealed to the public to protest in front of Netanyahu’s home and “not let him sleep even for a minute.” Zangauker also referred to 420 days of being held by Hamas militants and said “isolation is killing us.” Police used a water cannon on the demonstrators as thousands took to the streets for the weekly anti-government protests. Two officials with Iran-backed Iraqi militias in Syria say the militias are monitoring the situation and have not made a decision to enter in support of Iran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. One of the officials said Iranian militias had withdrawn to Iraq from their positions in Syria. “All the militias are waiting to see what Bashar Assad will do in Damascus. If he resists and does not allow Damascus to fall, it is possible that the Iraqi factions will intervene for the purpose of support,” he said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. -- Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad Multi-country discussions on Syria have ended on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says the countries will issue a statement, and there will be follow-up talks “taking into consideration the practical and real situation on the ground.” He said the talks, which lasted over two hours Saturday evening, focused on how to stop the fighting. Eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran gathered with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen. When asked where Syrian President Bashar Assad is, Iraq's foreign minister replied, “I don’t know.” He declined to speculate on whether Assad would be overthrown. Opposition fighters have reached the Damascus suburbs. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Health Ministry says two Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed six people and wounded five others. The ministry said an airstrike on the village of Beit Leif killed five people and wounded five, while a drone strike on the village of Deir Serian killed one person. Israel’s military said it was looking into the report. Despite a ceasefire that went into effect on Nov. 27 to end the 14-month fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants that had escalated into all-out war, violations of the truce have continued. The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza says the facility came under heavy Israeli bombardment again on Saturday and three medical staff were killed. Dr. Hussam Abu Safia in a statement posted by Gaza’s Health Ministry said the hospital was hit by over 100 projectiles and bombs, and electricity was cut off. He said the surgery department and neonatal unit were hit, and he pleaded for “immediate coordination for repair operations.” Kamal Adwan is one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza. Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely sealed off the area from humanitarian aid for two months. Israel’s military said it wasn’t aware of any attack Saturday. The hospital director on Friday said Israeli strikes had killed at least 29 people including four medical staff. Israeli Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says the military is monitoring the Syrian border to make sure that “local factions do not direct actions towards us,” adding that Israel is not intervening in the events in Syria. Israel’s military has said it is reinforcing its deployment along the border with Syria. Halevi said if “confusion” arises and actions are directed toward Israel by “local factions” taking control of parts of Syria, Israel has a strong “offensive response.” The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Syria says the U.N. is relocating non-critical staff outside the country. Adam Abdelmoula in a statement Saturday called it a precautionary measure to protect U.N. teams. “Let me emphasize—this is not an evacuation and our dedication to supporting the people of Syria remains unwavering,” Abdelmoula said. The statement did not say how many U.N. staffers were leaving Syria as opposition fighters reached the suburbs of Syria’s capital, Damascus. The statement said the fighting in Syria has displaced over 370,000 people as the humanitarian situation deteriorates, “with many seeking refuge in the northeast and others trapped in frontline areas, unable to escape.” Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran have gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit along with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, to discuss the situation in Syria. The talks continued late Saturday and no details were immediately available. Qatar, Jordan and Iraq also were part of the discussions as opposition fighters closed in on the Syrian capital, Damascus. BAGHDAD — An Iraqi government spokesperson says about 2,000 Syrian army soldiers have crossed into Iraq seeking refuge as opposition forces advance in Syria. Bassem al-Awadi said the soldiers’ equipment and weapons were registered and taken into custody by the Iraqi army. “We dealt with them according to the principle of good neighborliness and humanity,” he said Saturday. Al-Awadi also said Iraqi officials are concerned about the security of the al-Hol camp and other facilities in northeast Syria where suspected Islamic State group members and their families are detained. The facilities are guarded by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Al-Awadi said there is “high security coordination” between Iraqi officials and those forces to “prevent the prisoners from escaping.” Syria's army says it is fortifying its positions in the suburbs of Damascus and in the country’s south, as opposition fighters close in on the capital. The army statement on Saturday also asserted that Syria is being subjected to a “terrorist” and propaganda campaign aiming to destabilize and spread chaos. The statement also said the military is continuing with operations in areas including the central provinces of Hama and Homs, and that it has killed and wounded hundreds of opposition fighters. At least two people were wounded in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank on Saturday, according to the Israeli army and rescue services. The army said the attack took place in the area of the Fawwar refugee camp, near the city of Hebron. It said a soldier was severely wounded, and security forces were looking for the attacker. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said another man in his 40s suffered light injuries from shrapnel. The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza sparked the war there. Israel has intensified its military raids in the West Bank, targeting what it says are militants planning attacks, and there has also been a rise in Palestinian attacks on Israelis. The Israeli military says it is helping United Nations forces to head off an attack on a U.N. position in Syria close to the Israeli border. The army said in a statement Saturday that an attack was carried out by “armed individuals” on a U.N. post near the Syrian town of Hader and it was “assisting U.N. forces in repelling the attack.” On Friday, Israel’s military said it would reinforce its forces in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and opposition fighters. Hamas has released a video showing Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker making an emotional plea for his release and describing the conditions he and other hostages face in Gaza after being seized in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. His mother, Einav, has become a symbol of the fight to bring back the hostages and is an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Matan Zangauker, speaking under duress, appealed to the public to protest in front of Netanyahu’s home and “not let him sleep even for a minute.” Zangauker also referred to 420 days of being held by Hamas militants. “We want to return before we go crazy. Isolation is killing us, and the darkness here is frightening,” he said, describing having little food and medicine and “undrinkable” water. President-elect Donald Trump has made his first extensive comments on dramatic advances by opposition fighters in Syria, saying the besieged President Bashar Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on the Truth Social platform on Saturday. Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have been watching closely for any indication from both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration of how the U.S. would handle the sudden advances against Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-allied leader. Trump condemned the overall U.S. handling of the 13-year civil war in Syria, but spoke favorably of the routing of Assad and Russian forces. ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that there was “now a new reality in Syria” following the rapid advance of rebel forces. Speaking in Gaziantep, a city less than 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Syrian border, Erdogan said that “increasing attacks on civilians” in Syria’s northwest Idlib province “triggered the latest events like the straw that broke the camel’s back.” It was not possible for Turkey to ignore developments in a country with which it shares a lengthy border and it would not allow any threats to its national security, he added in a televised speech. “Our wish is for our neighbor Syria to attain the peace and tranquility it has been longing for for 13 years,” he told a rally of supporters. “We want to see a Syria where different identities live side by side in peace. We hope to see such a Syria in the very near future.” Erdogan claimed President Bashar Assad had erred in rebuffing Turkey’s previous efforts to establish relations, saying Damascus “could not appreciate the value of the hand Turkey extended.” Ankara has supported anti-Assad rebel groups since the early months of the conflict and hosts 3 million refugees dislodged by the fighting. While Turkey lists HTS, the group leading the latest offensive, as a terrorist organization, the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army has worked alongside it. BEIRUT — A resident of the Syrian capital of Damascus says the city is very tense as troops and members of security agencies are deployed on main streets and intersections. The resident told The Associated Press that many shops are closed and those that are open have run out of main commodities such as sugar. He added that if food products are available, some shops are selling them for a price three times higher than usual. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said on condition of anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” — Bassem Mroue in Beirut DOHA, Qatar — Russia’s foreign minister says he has met his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Doha and that all three countries were calling for an “immediate end to hostile activities” in Syria. Russia and Iran are the chief supporters of Syria’s government, while Turkey backs opposition fighters trying to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Speaking at the annual Doha Forum, Sergey Lavrov said Russia continues to help the Syrian army confront insurgents, military via airstrikes. Asked whether Assad’s rule is threatened by the fast-moving rebel offensive, he said, “We are not in the business of guessing what’s gong to happen.” He blamed the United States and the West for the events in Syria and said, “We are very sorry for the Syrian people who became a subject of another geopolitical experiment. “We are doing everything we can not to make terrorists prevail, even if they say they are not terrorists,” Lavrov said, referring to the de facto leader of the Syrian insurgents, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who says he has cut links with al-Qaida. His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and United Nations. He said Russia, Iran and Turkey want the full implementation of a U.N. resolution, which endorsed a road map to peace in Syria. Resolution 2254 was adopted unanimously in December 2015. The measure called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Lavrov also downplayed reports that Moscow had withdrawn ships from Russia’s base in Syrian city of Tartus, saying that the vessels had left to take part in naval exercises in the Mediterranean. DOHA, Qatar — The U.S. envoy who brokered the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah says the deal has created a new opportunity for Lebanon to reshape itself. Amos Hochstein told the Doha Forum that the weakness of Hezbollah after nearly 14 months of fighting along, along with blows to its Syrian and Iranian allies, give the Lebanese military and government a chance to reassert itself. “Now is the moment with this ceasefire to rebuild Lebanon again for a much more prosperous future and stronger state institutions,” Hochstein told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference. He said Lebanon needs “to do its part” by rebuilding its economy, choosing a president after years of delays and strengthening its central government to attract investors. “And the international community has a requirement and a responsibility to support Lebanon after this devastating conflict and after years of Hezbollah control,” he said. Hochstein told the conference that the turning point in ceasefire efforts was Hezbollah dropping its pledge to keep fighting as long as the war in Gaza continues. He said the change in position was the result of the heavy losses inflicted on Hezbollah, and Lebanese public opinion in favor of delinking the two conflicts. He said key tests for the ceasefire will be whether Israel carries out its promised phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon over the coming two months and whether the Lebanese army is able to move into those areas. BEIRUT — Insurgents and a war monitor say opposition fighters are taking over military posts evacuated by Syrian government forces in the country’s south, bringing them closer to the capital, Damascus. An insurgent official known as Maj. Hassan Abdul-Ghani posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition fighters are now in the town of Sanamein, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the southern outskirts of Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said insurgents have entered the town of Artouz, which is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Damascus. Opposition fighters have captured wide parts of Syria, including several provincial capitals, since they began their offensive on Nov. 27. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s government has approved a plan to deploy more troops along the border with Israel, part of the ceasefire deal that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a rare Cabinet meeting outside of Beirut, held Saturday at a military base in the southern port city of Tyre, the government also approved a draft law to reconstruct buildings destroyed during the Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out in October 2023 and ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire last week. Information Minister Ziad Makary told reporters after the meeting that the committee whose job is to monitor the ceasefire that went into effect on Nov. 27 will hold its first meeting on Monday. The committee is made up of military officials from the U.S., France, Israel and Lebanon as well as the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed along the border. As part of the ceasefire deal, during the first 60 days Israeli troops will have to withdraw from Lebanon, while Hezbollah will have to pull its heavy weapons away from the border area to north of the Litani river. The Lebanese army said this week it will begin recruiting more soldiers, apparently to deploy them along the border with Israel. BEIRUT — The Syrian army withdrew from much of southern Syria on Saturday, leaving more areas of the country, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters, the military and an opposition war monitor said. The redeployment away from the provinces of Daraa and Sweida came as Syria’s military sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The rapid advances by insurgents are a stunning reversal of fortunes for Syria’s President Bashar Assad , who appears to be largely on his own, with erstwhile allies preoccupied with other conflicts. His chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up his forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by Israeli regular airstrikes. JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces killed a Palestinian man after he attacked them at a border crossing in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Saturday morning, police said. The man shot firecrackers at security forces at the checkpoint and threatened them with a knife, the police statement said. The man wore a t-shirt emblazoned with a symbol of the Islamic State militant group, according to an Associated Press reporter Israeli fire has killed at least 700 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began last year, Palestinian health officials said. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. DOHA, Qatar — The prime minister of Qatar says he has seen new momentum in Gaza ceasefire efforts since the U.S. presidential election, with the incoming Trump administration seeking an end to the conflict before it takes office. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a key mediator in the ceasefire efforts, declined to give specifics of the negotiations but told an international conference in Doha that the gaps between the sides are not large. Qatar, which has served as a mediator throughout the 14-month war, suspended its efforts last month in frustration over the lack of progress. But Sheikh Mohammed said his government has re-engaged in recent days after determining a new willingness by both parties to reach a deal. ’We have sensed after the election that the momentum is coming back,” he told the Doha Forum on Saturday. He said has been in touch with both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration and found that while there are some differences in approach, both are committed to the same goal of ending the war. ’We have seen a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office,” Sheikh Mohammed said. He declined to discuss details, saying he wanted to “protect the process,” but expressed hope for a deal “as soon as possible.” ’If you look at the gaps and the disagreements, they are not something substantial that really affects the agreement,” he said. CAIRO — At least 29 people were killed, including four medical staff, when Israeli strikes pummeled the area around one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, Palestinian officials said. The situation in and around the Kamal Adwan hospital is “catastrophic,” according to Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the hospital. The dead included five children and five women, according to the hospital casualty list, which was obtained by The Associated Press. Friday’s strikes also wounded 55 people including six children and the five women, according to the hospital. Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya is one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the Gaza’s northernmost province , where Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely sealed off the area from humanitarian aid for two months. Israel’s military denied that its forces had struck the hospital or operated inside it. The army said that in the past few weeks, “coordinated efforts with international organizations have been underway in order to transfer patients, companions, and medical staff to other hospitals.” An Indonesian medical team which had been assisting in Kamal Adwan for the past week was forced to evacuate on foot after the area was surrounded by Israeli soldiers, according to a statement from the team. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the medical team’s expulsion. Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization representative in the Palestinian territories, said an Israeli tank approached the hospital at around 4 a.m. Friday. Although no official Israeli evacuation order was issued, “people started to climb the wall to escape, and this panic attracted IDF (Israeli) fire,” he said. He spoke by video from Gaza to journalists in Geneva. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation in northern Gaza against Hamas militants. In October, Israeli forces raided the hospital, saying that militants were sheltering inside and arrested a number of people, including some staff. Hospital officials denied the claim. MANAMA, Bahrain — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has reiterated the kingdom’s call for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Prince Faisal bin Farhan described Israel as acting with “impunity and is getting away without punishment” in its war on Hamas there. The prince said that any permanent solution requires a two-state solution, with the Palestinians having east Jerusalem as their capital. After the speech, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a prominent royal in the kingdom who led Saudi intelligence for more than two decades and served as ambassador to the U.S. and Britain, took the stage. He harshly criticized Israel’s conduct in the wars. “Israel has become an apartheid, colonial and genocidal state,” Prince Turki said. “It is about time for the world to address that issue and take the necessary steps to bring those who are thus charged by the International Criminal Court to justice.” Israeli officials could not be immediately reached for comment on Prince Turki’s remarks. The Saudis spoke at the International Institute for Security Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.vipbet88 。

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Lisa Simpson once said during an episode of “The Simpsons:” What could be more exciting than the savage ballet that is pro football? On Monday night, the entire Simpsons universe gets to experience it in a way not many could have imagined. The prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will also take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as part of “The Simpsons Funday Football” alternate broadcast. The altcast will be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+ (on mobile devices). ESPN and ABC have the main broadcast, while ESPN2 will carry the final “ManningCast” of the regular season. The replay will be available on Disney+ for 30 days. Globally, more than 145 countries will have access to either live or on replay. “We’re such huge football fans, and the Simpsons audience and the football audience, I feel, are like the same audience of just American families and football. And the Simpsons are so much a part of the DNA of the American family and culture that for us to, like, mush them together in this crazy video game, it’s so fun,” said Matt Selman, executive producer of “The Simpsons.” While the game is the focal point, the alternate broadcast, in some ways, will resemble a three-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” It starts with Homer eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys in the dream while Bart teams up with the Bengals. Lisa and Marge will be sideline reporters. “That’s the beginning of the story, and the story continues through the entire game until Homer wakes up from his dream at the end of the game. It is like a complete story, and the NFL game will happen in between. It’s just going to be an amazing presentation with tons of surprises,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN’s VP of edit and animation. This is the second year ESPN has done an alternate broadcast for an NFL game. It used the characters from “Toy Story” for last year’s Sunday morning game from London between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. “The Simpsons” has featured many sports-themed episodes during its 35 seasons. Even though “Homer at the Bat” remains the consensus favorite sports episode for many Simpsons fans, there have been football ones such as “Bart Star” and “Lisa The Greek.” There also was a Super Bowl-themed one after Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl 33 between Denver and Atlanta in 1999. Even though “The Simpsons” remains a staple on Fox’s prime-time schedule, it is part of the Disney family after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. All 35 seasons are on Disney+. The show’s creators have worked with ESPN and the NFL to make sure the look and sound is definitely Simpsonsesque. The theme song is a mash-up of “The Simpsons” opening and “Monday Night Football’s” iconic “Heavy Action.” There have also been pre-recorded skits and bits to use during the broadcast featuring Simpson’s legendary voices Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. The telecast will be entirely animated, with the players’ movements in sync with what is happening in real-time on the field. That is done through player-tracking data enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats system and Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. While Next Gen Stats tracks where players are on the field with a tracking chip in the shoulder pads, there is skeletal data tracking and limb tracking data — which uses 29 points per player — to get closer to the player’s movements. The other data tracking will allow Beyond Sports and Disney to add special characters to the game. For example, there might be a play where Lisa catches the ball and goes 30 yards instead of Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. “Lisa is much smaller than the rest of the players. So, in real life, the ball would go over her head, but now, with data processing, we can take the ball and make it go exactly into her hands. So for the viewer, it still looks believable, and it all makes sense,” said Beyond Sports co-founder Nicolaas Westerhof. The other major challenge is making “The Simpsons” two-dimensional cartoon characters into 3-D simulations. Szykowny and his team worked to make that a reality over the past couple of months. “That’s a big leap of faith for them to say, hey, we trust you to make our characters 3-D and work with it. Our ESPN creative studio team has done a wonderful job,” Szykowny said. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart and the Bengals; while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe join up with with Homer and the Cowboys. The broadcast will also feature ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Connecticut, and also be animated. They will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield using VR technology. For Kimes, being part of the broadcast and being an animated Simpsons character is a dream come true. She is a massive fan of the show and has a framed photo of Lisa Simpson — who she said is a personal hero and icon — as part of her backdrop when she makes appearances on ESPN NFL shows from her home in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have any input, and I didn’t see anything beforehand, so I wasn’t sure if it would look like me, but it kind of does, which is very funny,” said Kimes, who drew Simpsons characters when she was a kid. “To see the actual staff turn me into one was a dream.” Even though the Bengals (4-8) and Cowboys (5-7) have struggled this season, Selman thinks both teams have personalities that appeal to “The Simpsons” universe. “We were just so lucky also that the Cowboys are sort of like a Homer Simpson-type team, American team, and Mike McCarthy might be a Homer-type guy, one might imagine,” he said. ”And then you have Joe Burrow on the other side who is a cool young, spiky-haired, blonde bad boy -- he’s like Bart. And that fits our character archetypes so perfectly. “If Homer is mad at Bart and has a hot dog dream while watching ’Monday Night Football’, and then it’s basically McCarthy versus Burrow, Homer versus Bart, and that’s the simple father versus son strangling — Homer strangling Bart dynamic that has been part of the show for 35 years. I don’t know if that would have worked as well if it was like Titans versus Jacksonville. We would have found something. We would have made it work.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflCanadian ministers met Trump aides over tariff risks, immigration

Bucks snap a 2-game skid with a 118-113 victory over the Nets[Issue in Focus] Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Opens UNESCO International Forum on the Future of Education – Pioneering a New Path in Educational Transformation

Empowering Tomorrow: Future-Proofing the Filipino Workforce‘I felt like I belonged’: Paddlers with disabilities find a second home in sport of dragon boatThe closer a Prince Rupert woman looked at the deer in her yard, the stranger things became for her. “It was the first time I’ve seen anything like that; it was pretty bizarre,” said Joan Dudoward. Dudoward is a senior residing on 11th Avenue East in Prince Rupert. A flash of movement caught her eye as she scrubbed her breakfast plates on a typical Wednesday morning. Peeking out the window above her sink, she gasped— a majestic buck with massive antlers stood gracefully in her yard. “As soon as I noticed the huge buck, I ran and grabbed my camera to photograph it. I’ve been taking photos since I was a teenager...I photograph everything,” she said. She says he cozied up to lie on the grass and stayed for about half an hour. “He was wiggling his ears so I zoomed in and noticed a tag clipped on him,” she said. “I thought, why is this dear clipped? I got very concerned.” Dudoward, driven by her curiosity, noted that one side of the clip was labelled “BC WILDLIFE 06-529,” while the other read “CALL RAP: 877-952-7227.” It was suspicious because the number displayed is very similar but different from the official number of B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service, which is 1-877-952-7277. Also, the legitimate acronym for their hotline, Report All Poachers and Polluters, is “RAPP,” not “RAP,” as indicated on the tag. She called the number on the neon green tag to inquire about the buck, but reached a woman who spoke to her very hurriedly, she said. The woman, who identified herself as Jessica, wanted to send Dudoward a “free medical alert device” that she could wear around her neck. “We’re very excited to tell you about a special promotion for select callers,” Dudoward recalls the woman saying. She was then asked questions such as her age to check eligibility. Jessica then explained that as a senior, the device would help her in emergencies, such as falls, by alerting her immediate contacts. To proceed with delivery, she said she needed some personal information from Dudoward, such as her address. Then, Dudoward was abruptly transferred to another agent who continued the call. But when she tried to ask her about the buck and why the agency had clipped its number on his ear, they wouldn’t respond but instead continued to promote their products “That’s just cruelty to animals. They are targeting seniors for sure, and hurting the deer in the process,” said Dudoward. She wondered how they must have handled the wild animal to dart him. She questioned, “Did they sedate him? What exactly happened there?” She was absolutely shocked. Dudoward couldn’t comprehend why B.C. Wildlife, a legitimate organization, would have put this company’s number on the buck’s ear. The incident reminded her of this continued pattern of companies attempting to target elderly and vulnerable individuals. “I also have my mother’s old number, and it gets scam calls all the time,” she said. “How can they do that? Especially to seniors. They are trying to decide if they should pay the rent or get medication,” said Dudoward in frustration. She proceeded to contact the legitimate conservation officer’s number, who, like the local RCMP, didn’t pay much heed to her situation, she said. The next day, Dudoward called the agency’s number on the tag again, and the conversation took a completely different turn. Now, the agent asked if she was 18 and was promoting products aimed at youth. They informed her that she needed to pay $3 through a call paywall to proceed to the next step, during which she would be directed to the free products for which she was eligible. “The message keeps changing; this is so strange,” said Dudoward. The Northern View investigated the call and found that it was an intricately designed AI automated voice call. The system guides the caller through different phases by detecting both their spoken responses and the number keys they press. Contrary to Dudoward’s initial belief, it wasn’t a live human speaking to her, but a pre-recorded one. In fact, similar cases of fraud involving medical alert devices have happened in the U.S. before, prompting the New York State Department of State and the Minnesota Attorney General to issue cautionary alerts for consumers regarding these “robocalls.” The authorities advised seniors to immediately hang up, not press any keys when prompted, and avoid sharing personal information. “Fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians. Though people of all ages can be victims of fraud, older people get targeted more than others,” states the Canadian Government on its website. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) says that there have been 40,623 reports of fraud this year up to Oct. 31, resulting in a loss of $503 million. Vishing is a social engineering technique that uses voice communication technology. It involves fraudulent phone calls to trick the victim into revealing personal data. The CAFC advises caution during phone calls. They urge people not to hesitate to say no if something feels off and not to feel pressured by urgency or time limits. They also encourage taking enough time to research before sharing personal information. The Northern View contacted the B.C. Wildlife Federation for a comment regarding the tag on the buck. “The Conservation Officer Service darted this deer Nov. 5 to remove wires wrapped around its antlers. The tag is legitimate, but unfortunately has the wrong number on it for RAPP. The new versions of the tag have the correct number and COS will stop using these older tags,” said Jesse Zeman, executive director at B.C. Wildlife Federation. Although the exact cause of this mistake is unclear, anyone who suspects fraud should contact CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or their local police.

Qatar tribune Nick Kyrgios has described Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s positive doping tests as “disgusting” ahead of his return to tennis. The controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. The tennis integrity right now - and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it - it’s awful.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023. The 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. (PA Media/DPA) Copy 29/12/2024 10

Lisa Simpson once said during an episode of “The Simpsons:” What could be more exciting than the savage ballet that is pro football? On Monday night, the entire Simpsons universe gets to experience it in a way not many could have imagined. The prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will also take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as part of “The Simpsons Funday Football” alternate broadcast. The altcast will be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+ (on mobile devices). ESPN and ABC have the main broadcast, while ESPN2 will carry the final “ManningCast” of the regular season. The replay will be available on Disney+ for 30 days. Globally, more than 145 countries will have access to either live or on replay. “We’re such huge football fans, and the Simpsons audience and the football audience, I feel, are like the same audience of just American families and football. And the Simpsons are so much a part of the DNA of the American family and culture that for us to, like, mush them together in this crazy video game, it’s so fun,” said Matt Selman, executive producer of “The Simpsons.” While the game is the focal point, the alternate broadcast, in some ways, will resemble a three-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” It starts with Homer eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys in the dream while Bart teams up with the Bengals. Lisa and Marge will be sideline reporters. “That’s the beginning of the story, and the story continues through the entire game until Homer wakes up from his dream at the end of the game. It is like a complete story, and the NFL game will happen in between. It’s just going to be an amazing presentation with tons of surprises,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN’s VP of edit and animation. This is the second year ESPN has done an alternate broadcast for an NFL game. It used the characters from “Toy Story” for last year’s Sunday morning game from London between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. “The Simpsons” has featured many sports-themed episodes during its 35 seasons. Even though “Homer at the Bat” remains the consensus favorite sports episode for many Simpsons fans, there have been football ones such as “Bart Star” and “Lisa The Greek.” There also was a Super Bowl-themed one after Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl 33 between Denver and Atlanta in 1999. Even though “The Simpsons” remains a staple on Fox’s prime-time schedule, it is part of the Disney family after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. All 35 seasons are on Disney+. The show’s creators have worked with ESPN and the NFL to make sure the look and sound is definitely Simpsonsesque. The theme song is a mash-up of “The Simpsons” opening and “Monday Night Football’s” iconic “Heavy Action.” There have also been pre-recorded skits and bits to use during the broadcast featuring Simpson’s legendary voices Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. The telecast will be entirely animated, with the players’ movements in sync with what is happening in real-time on the field. That is done through player-tracking data enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats system and Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. While Next Gen Stats tracks where players are on the field with a tracking chip in the shoulder pads, there is skeletal data tracking and limb tracking data — which uses 29 points per player — to get closer to the player’s movements. The other data tracking will allow Beyond Sports and Disney to add special characters to the game. For example, there might be a play where Lisa catches the ball and goes 30 yards instead of Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. “Lisa is much smaller than the rest of the players. So, in real life, the ball would go over her head, but now, with data processing, we can take the ball and make it go exactly into her hands. So for the viewer, it still looks believable, and it all makes sense,” said Beyond Sports co-founder Nicolaas Westerhof. The other major challenge is making “The Simpsons” two-dimensional cartoon characters into 3-D simulations. Szykowny and his team worked to make that a reality over the past couple of months. “That’s a big leap of faith for them to say, hey, we trust you to make our characters 3-D and work with it. Our ESPN creative studio team has done a wonderful job,” Szykowny said. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart and the Bengals; while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe join up with with Homer and the Cowboys. The broadcast will also feature ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Connecticut, and also be animated. They will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield using VR technology. For Kimes, being part of the broadcast and being an animated Simpsons character is a dream come true. She is a massive fan of the show and has a framed photo of Lisa Simpson — who she said is a personal hero and icon — as part of her backdrop when she makes appearances on ESPN NFL shows from her home in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have any input, and I didn’t see anything beforehand, so I wasn’t sure if it would look like me, but it kind of does, which is very funny,” said Kimes, who drew Simpsons characters when she was a kid. “To see the actual staff turn me into one was a dream.” Even though the Bengals (4-8) and Cowboys (5-7) have struggled this season, Selman thinks both teams have personalities that appeal to “The Simpsons” universe. “We were just so lucky also that the Cowboys are sort of like a Homer Simpson-type team, American team, and Mike McCarthy might be a Homer-type guy, one might imagine,” he said. ”And then you have Joe Burrow on the other side who is a cool young, spiky-haired, blonde bad boy -- he’s like Bart. And that fits our character archetypes so perfectly. “If Homer is mad at Bart and has a hot dog dream while watching ’Monday Night Football’, and then it’s basically McCarthy versus Burrow, Homer versus Bart, and that’s the simple father versus son strangling — Homer strangling Bart dynamic that has been part of the show for 35 years. I don’t know if that would have worked as well if it was like Titans versus Jacksonville. We would have found something. We would have made it work.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflThe advisory landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation that demands immediate action from financial advisors. While firms like Creative Planning have achieved remarkable $16 billion valuations, traditional business models face mounting challenges that require strategic adaptation, Financial Advisor Magazine argues in a new article. Client retention, long considered a strength of advisory firms, may be more precarious than assumed. Research from CEG Insights and J.D. Power suggests that current retention rates stem more from bull market conditions and client inertia than genuine loyalty. This vulnerability is compounded by the impending generational wealth transfer, with 41% of advisors viewing inheritance-related asset shifts as an existential threat. Forward-thinking advisors must pivot toward serving younger, high-earning clients in their 30s who seek fundamentally different services. These emerging affluent clients require guidance on compensation negotiations, stock options, debt management, and business development. While potentially less profitable initially, establishing relationships with this demographic now positions advisors for substantial recurring revenue growth in the coming decades. The market is evolving toward specialized service models based on client net worth and specific needs. Ultra-affluent clients ($25M+) demand comprehensive family office services, while the “merely affluent” ($5M-$25M) prefer à la carte offerings. Successful firms will need to choose their focus area, whether it’s building 401(k) platforms with wealth management capabilities, specializing in specific professions, or serving the broader middle class. Healthcare planning has emerged as a critical service area, with 68% of ultra-high-net-worth investors identifying it as a primary concern. Advisors must forge strategic partnerships with healthcare professionals to deliver concierge medicine services. Additionally, entrepreneurial clients increasingly seek advisors who can assist not just with wealth management but wealth creation, requiring expertise in startup management, business valuation, and succession planning. The key message for advisors is clear: the era of being all things to all people is ending. Success in 2035 and beyond will require selecting a specific focus area, developing deep expertise, and delivering demonstrably superior value in that niche. Advisors must begin this transformation now to remain relevant and competitive in the evolving advisory landscape. Read Next: CEOs Bulk Up On Security: Mark Zuckerberg Outspent Sundar Pichai, Elon Musk Before UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Photo: Newsline The changes come after a special council meeting on Monday to consider the Housing and Business Choice Plan Change (Plan Change 14), which enables more development to happen at different heights in and around the central city and suburban commercial centres, with the highest development allowed in and around the central city. The council decided on 58 recommendations made by the Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) for the plan change, meaning almost 40 commercial centres will see zoning changes under the District Plan, including Riccarton, Belfast and Linwood. Mayor Phil Mauger said the decisions will help pave the way for future growth and prosperity. “Yesterday’s decisions are a major milestone for Christchurch and will provide for the growth of the city’s housing and commercial centres in the best locations, to help tackle issues such as climate change and housing choice. Christchurch developers buy up land Council asks for pause on housing intensification plan Plea for councillors to defy housing intensification rules “That means more houses close to our growing commercial centres – where there’s good access to services, public transport and infrastructure. Living within easy reach of work, school and shops makes getting around easier and helps to reduce transport emissions. “We’ve also made sure development is restricted in areas where there’s good reason to do so and limited where we need to protect and maintain areas of value such as heritage. “I’m grateful to everyone in our community who’s played a part in helping the Council reach its decisions to date on Plan Change 14. This process has been a huge undertaking for our city, and a tremendous amount of hard work has gone into making sure we get the best results out of it,” said Mauger. Councillors were yesterday only required to make decisions related to policies 3 and 4 of the Government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD), which require greater building development within and around the central city, suburban commercial centres and planned high-frequency and high-capacity public transport routes. Decisions beyond those two policies do not need to be made until the end of next year, meaning the council has more time to consider what wider housing intensification will look like for the city under the national Medium-Density Residential Standards (MDRS), which allow up to three dwellings of up to three storeys on a property - without resource consent - if all other rules have been met. The Government has previously signalled it intends to make the MDRS optional for councils next year. The council also referred 20 decisions to the Minister for RMA Reform, who now has to decide between the alternative recommendations put forward by the council and the IHP’s original recommendations. The minister’s decisions, which are expected early next year, will include consideration of the council’s alternative recommendation to apply a special city-wide restriction, called a qualifying matter, to allow greater sunlight access for new residential developments under the MDRS. Other alternative recommendations are aimed at amending the degree of intensification around Riccarton, Hornby, Peer St and Linwood, while also seeking to apply the Riccarton Bush Interface Area. A number of heritage and character listings were also rejected through the council’s alternative recommendations to the minister, including Antonio Hall, Daresbury House, and the Piko Heritage and Character Area. The Plan Change 14 decisions that accepted an IHP recommendation will effectively replace existing District Plan standards once they are formally notified, which is expected by December 12, with all the alternative recommendations having legal effect from this date. This means consents against the new provisions can be granted from this date. The council will publish an interactive map on its Plan Change 14 webpage , which will reflect the decisions made today, so people can see how the changes apply. Photo: Newsline Key decisions on Plan Change 14 Key commercial centre zones decided on: 32m (about 10 storeys) for Riccarton and Papanui 22m or 20m (about 6 storeys) for *Hornby, *Linwood, Shirley, Belfast, North Halswell, Merivale, Sydenham, Church Corner, and Merivale (those with an asterisk are subject to a Councillor alternative recommendation) 14m (about 3 to 4 storeys) enabled for all other urban commercial centres, except Lyttelton, which is 12m. High-Density Residential Zone to apply surrounding Riccarton, Papanui, Hornby*, Linwood*, Shirely, Belfast, Merivale, Sydenham, Church Corner and the City Centre (those with an asterisk have an alternative recommendation to limit building height to 12m and a reduced walking catchment): Enables building heights of 14m, with heights of 22m within the Four Avenues or 39m within the Central City Residential Precinct Exemption for recession planes for taller buildings or comprehensively developed sites More lenient controls for site coverage and landscaping Any development of 4 or more units requires resource consent with urban design input Development of all school, visitor accommodation, hospital or tertiary education sites contained within, or adjacent to, the zone are enabled to a level consistent with the surrounding residential zone. Medium-Density Residential Zone to apply within a 200m walking catchment of about 30 other Local Centres (for example, Barrington, St Martins, Parklands, Wigram, etc): Enables buildings of 11m, plus 1m for roof elevation Up to 50 per cent site coverage Street-facing glazing requirements Any development of 4 or more units requires resource consent with urban design input The Local Centre Intensification Precinct (subject to Councillor alternative recommendation) provides for more lenient recession plane controls for comprehensively designed developments (known as Perimeter Blocks) Development of school, visitor accommodation, hospital or tertiary education sites contained within, or adjacent to, the zone are enabled to a level consistent with the surrounding residential zone. To remove the Residential Heritage Areas for Inner City West, Chester Street East, Heaton, Lyttelton, and Piko/Shand – however, these are still in effect due to Plan Change 13, which is subject to a future decision Remove Residential Character areas for Beverley, Ranfurly and Clifton Remove the Central City Heritage Interface, Cathedral Square Interface and Victoria Street Height Apply the Radiocommunications Pathways from the central city Justice Precinct Apply the Industrial Interface within the High- and Medium-density residential areas decided on Remove the financial contributions on tree canopy cover, but investigate a separate plan change to proceed with this Apply the Riccarton Bush Interface Area qualifying matter (subject to Councillor alternative recommendation) Apply the Sunlight Access Qualifying Matter (subject to Councillor alternative recommendation) Apply the City Spine Qualifying Matter, retaining all operative road setbacks along the key public transport corridor of Belfast-Papanui-City Centre-Riccarton-Hornby (subject to Councillor alternative recommendation) 25 Deans Avene (former Stock Yards site) rezoned to Mixed Use Zone, with a specific height limit of 36m (subject to Councillor alternative recommendation). Remove the requirement for notifying Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL) for developments within the 50 dB noise contour (including Remodelled), giving the Council discretion to notify CIAL on a case-by-case basis, and retain the requirement for resource consent for three or more residential units. The Council decided on the following key qualifying matters and other matters:Middle East latest: Syria's forces withdraw from Homs, a key link between the capital and coast

EAST RUTHERFORD — Joe Schoen apologists will tell you that he hasn’t had a chance to “pick” his own quarterback. Yet all he did this season was assemble one of the worst quarterback rooms in modern football history. Three quarterbacks have tried and three quarterbacks have failed miserably in this putrid Giants offense — the latest example coming Sunday at MetLife Stadium when Drew Lock had poor pocket presence and missed open receivers in the Giants’ 14-11 loss to a bad Saints team. Look, the obvious caveat is that it would be difficult for many quarterbacks to thrive in this environment. The 2-11 Giants are down to backups at both offensive tackle spots, lost two more linemen during Sunday’s game, and don’t have a legitimate pass-catching tight end. No one is asking for Tom Brady-level production, though, and it’s undeniable that the front office didn’t help its cause by signing lousy quarterbacks who don’t elevate an offense in any shape or form. Remember when Schoen thought he could somehow neutralize Daniel Jones’ deficiencies by drafting wide receiver Malik Nabers instead of picking a new quarterback like J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix, who is going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Broncos? Remember when the staff didn’t have enough faith in Tommy DeVito to name him the backup this season, but suddenly wanted the No. 3 quarterback to start after benching Daniel Jones in Week 12, then changed their minds after DeVito missed one game due to injury? Or remember when they thought Lock was a legitimate backup to sign in the first place, rather than pursue a more provenly successful veteran like Russell Wilson? None of it has worked out. Schoen has made numerous miscalculations that he must own, and it’s no longer realistic for fans to trust that he’s the right man to find a franchise quarterback with one of the first picks in next year’s draft. Just how bad was Lock against the Saints’ 29th-ranked passing defense? He didn’t complete a pass until the second quarter after eight straight incompletions, and he had only 81 passing yards entering the fourth quarter, when the Giants trailed by double digits. Lock even went viral on social media in the second quarter for inexplicably cutting to the outside on a scramble when he had a first down if he continued running straight. Even when the Giants miraculously had a chance to tie or take the lead late, Lock rolled to his right and threw an interception with 1:52 remaining from the Giants’ 38-yard line. Then the Giants got the back ball thanks to their defense forcing the Saints to punt for the seventh time, yet their last-minute drive stalled at the Saints’ 17-yard line and fittingly ended with a blocked field goal. The only positive to come out of Sunday was that with a fourth-quarter touchdown, the Giants are still averaging 14.9 points per game. That’s 0.1 higher than the worst scoring average in team history (minimum 16-game schedule) set by the 1979 Giants. But there’s plenty of time for that record to be broken with four more opponents who all have a chance to make the playoffs and will be almost certainly be tougher than the Saints. The Giants are also on pace to finish with the most losses (at least 14) in franchise history after recording 13 in 2021 and 2017. They have finished with two wins or fewer five other times (not since 1974), except all of those seasons contained no more than 14 games. It’s not an ideal way to celebrate your 100th year as a franchise, but this is what happens when you run a systemic failure from the top all the way down, starting with a dreadful quarterback room.Candidates for political office vainly hope that by slinging mud upon opponents we voters might enhance our estimate of their cleanliness. During the weeks leading up to our Nov. 5 election, my paper machine worked overtime shredding high quality flyers featuring unflattering images of political adversaries and hyperbolic claims of their unworthiness. With the midterms of 2026 already in sight, I have vowed to not vote for any candidate who disparages their rival. I may struggle to vote for anyone. And in the 2028 presidential run on our sensibilities, I must guard against reverting to voting for a ne’er do well to prevent a worst ne’er do well from taking office. WC Beaver Mechanicsburg Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

NoneAs December starts, Fiji is jubilant, ignited by the remarkable win of our men’s 7s team at the Dubai 7s tournament on the weekend. After 22 long tournaments without a win, Fiji triumphed with a resounding 19-5 victory over Spain. It reignited Fiji’s passion for rugby and restoring hope in our sporting prowess. Under coach Osea Kolinisau, who took the helm six months ago from Ben Gollings, the team displayed a scintillating blend of hard work, unity, and the inimitable Fijian flair that has long been the hallmark of our rugby heritage. This Dubai 7s victory is not just a sporting achievement. It is a unifying moment for our nation. From the bustling streets to the chambers of Parliament yesterday, the thrill of this win reverberates through every corner of Fiji. It is a reminder of the power of Fijian rugby to bring joy and pride, infusing a sense of community and identity that overcomes daily struggles. This win is indeed a timely Christmas gift, a beacon of hope as we head into the festive season. Kolinisau’s leadership sends a powerful and timely reminder to our leaders and rugby administrators that Fijians can lead Fijian teams to glory. The success of the Fiji team under a local coach challenges the status quo, which has often depended heavily on expatriate coaches and leadership. It is a timely call for Government to recognise the wealth of talent and expertise that exist within our nation. The ‘Fijian Made’ campaign, which Government has been staunchly advocating, finds its most com-pelling testament in this victory. If rugby power-houses like New Zealand, England, and South Africa can achieve success with their own former players, why not Fiji? Rugby sevens is more than a sport, it is a pathway to success for many Fijian players, opening doors to lucrative careers and contributing significantly to our economy. The legacy of our rugby greats—those who shaped the game into what it is today—reminds us of the potential that lies within our own ranks. Players-turned 7s coaches such as Waisale Serevi, the late Ratu Ilaitia Tuisese, Rupeni Ravonu, Alivereti Dere, Tomasi Cama, Viliame Satala, the late Senivalati Laulau, and Aliposo Waqaliti, have shown us that no one understands a Fijian player better than another Fijian. Lest they be forgotten. Reflecting on the journey, we remember the words of Pio ‘Off-load’ King Tuwai as he calmly watched the team from New Zealand, urging patience and faith saying “have faith ... sekodi, sekodi boto o Viti (Just give Fiji seconds) ...have faith koto (always have faith). His belief in the team was vindicated as they conquered formidable opponents, reminding us that resilience and faith are crucial to our sporting identity. With this victory at the Dubai 7s, the future of Fiji Rugby 7s shines brightly. It marks a significant mile-stone as we embark on the 2024/25 HSBC SVNS Se-ries, rekindling hopes of reclaiming our throne as the kings of 7s rugby. It has been nine long years since our last Dubai triumph in 2015, and this win signifies that we have rediscovered the missing link in our quest for greatness. As we glow and celebrate the victory, let us salute, not only the achievement, but also the spirit of our rugby-crazy nation. Tis’ truly is the season to be jolly, and this victory is a reminder that with hard work, unity, and a little faith, Fiji Rugby is back on track. Let us rally behind our team as they prepare for their next challenge in Cape Town, and may this be just the beginning of a glorious chapter in our rugby history. Feedback: maikeli.vesikula@fijisun.com.fj

FREDERICTON — Some nasty weather is headed toward parts of the Maritimes over the next few days, bringing with it a mix of freezing rain, rain and snow. Environment Canada says Fredericton could see freezing rain Sunday, followed by rain and a mix of rain and snow late on New Year's Day. The forecast for Charlottetown includes periods of freezing drizzle for Sunday and then rain until the end of the year, with temperatures going up to 8 C. Halifax is also expected to see periods of drizzle and rain through New Year's Day with the mercury set to reach 8 C on New Year's Eve. Donald Wright, a professor of political science at the University of New Brunswick and a contributor to Yale Climate Connections at Yale University, says the Maritimes – like the rest of Canada – are not immune from a warming climate. He says long-term weather patterns in New Brunswick are changing due to global heating caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. The Canadian Press

How a town got together to cut crime by a third BBC Baildon's neighbourhood watch scheme is recognised as one of Yorkshire's largest It's been more than 40 years since Neighbourhood Watch was first launched in the UK, turning residents' eyes and ears into a valuable crimefighting resource. In Baildon, West Yorkshire, around a quarter of the population are registered members of their local scheme, helping to keep a watchful eye over the town. Since a boom in membership six years ago, the scheme has been credited with helping slash crime in the community by more than a third. As a result it has now been recognised by Neighbourhood Watch as one of Yorkshire's most effective schemes. "When I came to Baildon 38 years ago, we had one sergeant and seven dedicated police constables," 74-year-old David Reed, one of the co-ordinators says, noting how police numbers have been significantly reduced in the decades since. "So how do we manage to keep the crime down (now)? It's got to be down to something more than what the police are able to do." The neighbourhood watch scheme in Baildon was started by local woman Maggie Town around 20 years ago. Co-ordinator David Reed and founder Maggie Town help pass information between the community and the police For a long time, it was a slow burner, with just over two dozen volunteers in the affluent town, which lies three miles to the north of Bradford and has a population of around 16,000. Then, in March 2018, with the help of social media and an "inspiring" new police sergeant, in Maggie's words "it really took off". "I'd always run Neighbourhood Watch on my street, but I decided we need to grow this so every street has their own co-ordinator and looks after their own neighbours," Maggie, who is also a town councillor in Baildon, says. "It was just the vision that I had and I wanted to try to create that." Crime in... David Spereall