Colin Beattie MSP column: Make sure you get your RTS meter replacedToronto's 2026 World Cup office growing as tournament kickoff nears 500 days awaypoker game download 。

SHEPHERDSTOWN — This week, the Corporation of Shepherdstown launched a new and improved website - www.shepherdstown.gov . About half a dozen volunteers worked together on an ad hoc committee under Mayor James Gatz to replace the former website with a visually appealing, one-stop-shop for information about the municipality. “The website that had been there for years really needed an update. That’s the way websites are — they’re not static. You’ve got to keep them going and keep adding to them,” Gatz said. “I think a lot of people, including me, had a time maneuvering through that website. “I’m sure that when the old website was put up, it was state of the art and everything was great. But things have gotten better since then, in terms of how websites work and what’s possible with the technology,” Gatz added. “It was time to update it. The previous mayor and council had worked on this project a lot, but we picked it up from where they had left it and made it even better." Shepherdstown resident Deb Tucker served as chair of the ad hoc committee, as she had extensive professional experience with website development. She said that the previous administration’s plans for the website were to migrate the old website’s information into a new format. However, she and her fellow volunteers decided to improve on that idea by using input from local residents on what they would like to see in the website. “We developed the website to provide all of the information on the town that residents, businesses and visitors could need,” Tucker said, mentioning the photos on the website were all taken by Shepherdstown resident Michael Chalmers. “It’s a clear, modern look, with multiple ways to navigate to find information.” Forms that would previously need to be picked up at town hall can now be printed off directly from the website and, in the future, will likely be updated so that they can be filled out and submitted online. “We centralized the library of forms, including references to specific town ordinances,” Tucker said. “We tried to make it clear on the website, as to who to contact and how to contact them for different town services that are needed.” The website also includes a number of other useful new features, Tucker said. Utility bills and police department fines can now be paid on the municipality’s website. Parking-related needs can be addressed on the site, such as where to park in town and how to get parking passes. People can now report issues in town and, if desired, submit anonymous tips to the Shepherdstown Police Department via the website. Those wanting to become more engaged with the community can find lists of volunteering opportunities and an events calendar via the website. “This new website was created to aid in transparency from the town and to let people know more about what was happening in town government. But with all of the services that the town provides, we also wanted to provide people with a platform that would give them easy access about those services,” Gatz said. “I think of the town’s website as a place that symbolizes the town for people who are not here, who are looking around for places to visit,” Gatz added. “It’s the first place where some people may find out about Shepherdstown, so it’s very important that it presents our town as the very cool place that it is."Charges dismissed against Karen Read backer who scattered rubber ducks, fake $100 bills

LONDON (AP) — A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the U.K. because of concerns he poses a threat to national security. A British immigration tribunal upheld the decision on Thursday in a ruling that revealed the Chinese national had developed such a close relationship with Andrew that he was invited to the prince’s birthday party. Government officials were concerned the man could have misused his influence because the prince was under “considerable pressure” at the time, according to the ruling. British authorities believe the Chinese national, whose name wasn’t released, was working on behalf of the United Front Work Department, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party that is used to influence foreign entities. The government determined that the businessman “was in a position to generate relationships between senior Chinese officials and prominent U.K. figures which could be leveraged for political interference purposes by the Chinese State,” according to the tribunal's decision. In a statement from his office, Andrew, also known as the Duke of York, said he accepted government advice and ceased all contact with the Chinese national as soon as concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed,′′ his office said. “He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has been repeatedly criticized for his links to wealthy foreigners, raising concerns that those individuals are trying to buy access to the royal family. Andrew’s finances have been squeezed in recent years after he was forced to step away from royal duties and give up public funding amid concerns about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein , the American financier and convicted pedophile who committed suicide in prison in 2019. British intelligence chiefs have become increasingly concerned about China’s efforts to influence U.K. government policy. In 2022, Britain’s domestic intelligence service, known as MI5, warned politicians that a British-Chinese lawyer had been seeking to improperly influence members of Parliament for years. A parliamentary researcher was arrested in 2023 on suspicion of providing sensitive information to China. The 50-year-old Chinese national covered by this week’s ruling was described as a man who worked as a junior civil servant in China before he came to the U.K. as a student in 2002. He earned a master’s degree in public administration and public policy at the University of York before starting a business that advises U.K.-based companies on their operations in China. He was granted the right to live and work in the U.K. for an indefinite period in 2013. Although he didn’t make Britain his permanent home, the man told authorities that he spent one to two weeks a month in the country and considered it his “second home.” He was stopped while entering the U.K. on Nov. 6, 2021, and ordered to surrender his mobile phone and other digital devices on which authorities found a letter from a senior adviser to Andrew confirming that he was authorized to act on behalf of the prince in relation to potential partners and investors in China. The letter and other documents highlighted the strength of the relationship between Andrew, his adviser and the Chinese national. “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family,” the adviser wrote. “You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship. Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.” The letter went on to describe how they had found a way to work around former private secretaries to the prince and other people who weren’t completely trusted. “Under your guidance, we found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor,” the adviser wrote. Andrew lives at the Royal Lodge, a historic country estate near Windsor Castle, west of London.SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. The Liberal-Democratic Party, which was part of the left-led coalition that ruled the country from 2016 to earlier in 2024, issued a press statement Saturday strongly condemning “the irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok 'challenge' known as ‘Superman,’ which has injured six children across (the country) in the past 24 hours.” “The lack of adequate control over the content of social media allows such ‘games’ to reach the most vulnerable users,” the party statement said. It demanded the “immediate introduction of measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behavior, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends.” North Macedonia’s education minister Vesna Janevska said students should focus on education, not TikTok challenges. “The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will be available to children in their homes, neighborhoods and other environments,” she said. Psychologists have warned that the desire to be “in” with the trends on social networks, combined with excessive use of mobile phones, is the main reason for the rise in risky behaviors among children. They urged parents and schools to talk with students.Drones, Planes or UFOs? Americans Abuzz Over Mysterious New Jersey Sightings

McDonald reacts to reduced Sinn Fein vote - saying 2020 was 'a high water mark' for republicansTesla shares just reached a new all-time high following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, propelling the company to a massive $1.5 trillion valuation as of December 18, 2024. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu , highlights the most valuable automakers by market cap worldwide as of Dec. 13, 2024, based on figures from CompaniesMarketCap.com . Tesla accounts for nearly half of the market capitalization among global carmakers. Its valuation surpasses the combined value of the next 29 automakers. Trailing far behind Tesla, the four other top automakers on the list are Toyota ($231 billion), BYD ($107 billion), Xiaomi ($98 billion), and Ferrari ($81 billion). Investors believe Elon Musk’s close relationship with Trump, along with Musk’s growing role in government, will serve as a powerful catalyst for Tesla. Additionally, some of the stock’s recent gains hinge on expectations that Trump’s planned corporate tax cuts will benefit U.S. manufacturers, including Tesla. Tesla’s stock has also regained popularity due to investor expectations that its Robotaxi and Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology will drive a new phase of growth. Year-to-date, Tesla’s stock is up 57%. However, Tesla’s massive market cap is not reflected in its production numbers. In 2023, Tesla sold 1.8 million vehicles, while Toyota sold 11.2 million vehicles during the same period. Tesla’s success has further extended Elon Musk’s lead as the richest person on Earth. In December 2024, Musk’s net worth reached $462 billion, far ahead of Jeff Bezos in second place at $243 billion. If you enjoyed this topic, check out this graphic showing where Tesla and BYD make their cars.

MONTREAL — Canadian boxer Tammara Thibeault has signed with a company owned by boxing promoter and influencer Jake Paul ahead of her professional debut. Most Valuable Promotions, which boasts Puerto Rican boxer Amanda Serrano as one of its fighters, announced Friday it signed Thibeault. The 27-year-old from Shawinigan, Que., was scheduled for a bout Friday night in Orlando against fellow Canadian Natasha Spence (8-6-2, 6 KOs), ranked 10th among middleweight contenders by the World Boxing Association. Thibeault and Spence were set to make history as the first women to compete in three-minute rounds at the professional middleweight level. “I’m super happy, I’m really excited,” Thibeault said in a phone interview. “It’s the first time in history that this is happening in a professional debut, and it’s an honour to be part of history like this. For me, it’s the standard: I’ve been doing three-minute rounds for years.” Thibeault has represented Canada at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. She was a favourite in Paris after reaching the 75-kilogram quarterfinals in Tokyo, but suffered a surprise defeat in her first match, losing by split decision to Cindy Ngamba of the Olympic Refugee Team. That loss ended a three-year streak that included gold medals at the 2022 IBA World Amateur Championships, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Pan American Games. Despite the unexpected setback in Paris, Thibeault’s negotiations with MVP were already well underway. “I’ve been negotiating with MVP for about a year. Regardless of the Olympic results, MVP was interested,” said her manager, Katia Banel. “I met (MVP’s Head of Boxing) Mike Leanardi a few months ago and again before making our decision. “Compared to other offers, whether from Matchroom or Boxxer, MVP’s initial offer was always the highest financially, and they presented it first. They offered something unparalleled: a huge signing bonus. Olympians without medals usually don’t have access to such bonuses. They also pay the highest purses in women’s boxing, even for four- or six-round fights. It’s unheard of. It’s like being paid for a 10-round fight.” MVP plans to make the most of its new protégé. Thibeault will fight at least four times a year over the three-year contract. “What’s great with MVP is that we can negotiate higher purses for each fight,” Banel said. “They’ve been very open to negotiating every clause.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Frédéric Daigle, The Canadian PressJacobs scores 19 as Southern defeats Tulsa 70-66

Trump selects Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, for ambassador to FranceMLA for sports in schools to check obesity

LEGENDARY broadcaster Bruce McAvaney has spoken of the family sacrifices that were made as he pursued his decorated career behind the microphone for more than 30 years. He also spoke about his ongoing health challenges, saying he's feeling as good as he has in years, despite recently beginning a new treatment for his cancer that was diagnosed 10 years ago. McAvaney, now 71, was the voice of the AFL's biggest games from the early 1990s until 2016, when he stepped away from regular commentary. He told hosts Nat Edwards and Sarah Olle on the Between Us podcast about the challenges that he and his family faced as he travelled around the world for work, detailing the impact on his wife Annie and their two kids. "I guess the bottom line is what sort of relationship have you got with them now? I travelled a lot," McAvaney said. "I did rely so heavily on Annie because she also is in the media and has got all the talent in the world and ability in the world, so she had to sacrifice a lot for me and I look back on it now and feel like I was probably, a bit single-minded, driven, driven, and I did miss a lot. "I missed a lot of weekends, and I missed a lot of fun times and a lot of non-fun times. I've got a great relationship certainly with Alex and Sam, son and daughter. It's not easy and I'd have to ask them. "I think as you get older it gets less a problem and I think you look back on it and think those sacrifices were made but I do feel as if I could've been a more giving husband and father than I have been and was. That's my obsession with work." Legendary sports commentator Bruce McAvaney joins Nat and Sarah to discuss his decorated career, and what’s next Away from footy, McAvaney has called Melbourne Cups, covered the Olympics and much more. The broadcasting great spoke about his struggles after being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in 2014. "I've only started medication in the last nine months. Up until then I was able to just go through blood tests every three months and see a haematologist every six months and just monitor it," McAvaney told hosts Sarah Olle and Nat Edwards on Between Us this week. "It had some effect on my immune system and tiredness but it's only this year that I've had to go to treatment, but that treatment is four tablets a day so how lucky am I? I don't have to go into a hospital and sit there for five or six hours at a time once a week. "But when that reality hit, it was, 'Wow, OK,' and then there was a period of, 'Would I still be able to work or will I still have the energy to do things and what should I do and how much do I cut back' so you do take stock. "Fortunately, I still felt pretty healthy, I had a couple of dips, had some struggles, but I was able to still feel pretty good so it hasn't had a really detrimental effect on my lifestyle too much, to the point where I don't think about it, until I drive in to get the results of my tests and then I give it some thought, then I sit there and talk to the haematologist. I've had some great help with that. It was a punctuation point, for sure, and it could've gone one way or the other and how fortunate I am seeing I've lived with this now for over 10 years." Asked how he was feeling, McAvaney said: "I feel good. I feel energetic. I feel good. I'm feeling as well as I have for many years." Widely regarded the best AFL commentator of modern times, McAvaney spoke about being an inner critic and analysing his own calls. "It drives you mad. You never get over it. The mistakes last for a lot longer than the good feelings and people think, 'Oh, wow, why do you do the job?' Because we love it and it's such a challenge. "Every Friday night, let's say Friday night footy because I did a lot of it, I'd go back to the hotel room and I'd think of all the things I wished I'd said and then think of all the things I did say and wish I hadn't. Some nights were better than others, but you are your best critic. Social media these days is very different, but I've always felt like you know yourself, you know when you've done a good job. "No one's perfect and I've certainly never had the perfect call, not in my opinion and I certainly know I haven't, but I always know that the disappointments in my broadcasting life have lingered a lot longer than the great moments. That's just the way it is for most of us." Be sure to join Nat and Sarah for Between Us on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to get the latest episodes first.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance has found that the mobile surveillance system was used in pinpointing the location of the victims of the enforced disappearance prior to picking them up secretly. "Interviews with the victims and the members of the Armed Forces confirm that mobile technology was integral to the surveillance process. In interviews, RAB and military officers indicated that 'silent pick-ups'—unobtrusive abductions—were virtually impossible without mobile surveillance to pinpoint the victim's location with precision," said the Commission report, reports BSS. The five-member commission, led by retired justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, recently presented the report, titled "Unfolding the Truth," to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna. Prior to the establishment of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) as an independent agency, the report said that the mobile surveillance was conducted through its predecessor, the National Monitoring Centre (NMC), which was housed within the DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) Headquarters. The DGFI provided dedicated surveillance systems, which were also used by other forces, such as RAB and DB, implicating the DGFI in abetting the commission of enforced disappearances by forces other than its own, it said, adding that the NMC hosted dedicated consoles manned by personnel from various agencies, working in rotating shifts. A former DG of DGFI also confirmed to the Commission that his organization provided logistics support related to surveillance to various law enforcement teams whilst NMC was housed at the DGFI Headquarters. This operational structure again highlights significant coordination among security forces and since the establishment of the NTMC, surveillance activities have transitioned to this independent agency, it said. However, preliminary reports suggest that some surveillance capabilities still reside within individual forces. The extent of these capabilities remains an active line of inquiry, particularly because there appears to be no judicial oversight on the surveillance process, the Commission report said. "Despite the lack of judicial oversight, several victims reported signs of surveillance prior to their abductions," it said. For example, the report said that one victim revealed that his captors referenced a private phone conversation about his wife's dental treatment, suggesting that mobile surveillance had been conducted beforehand. Other victims described receiving suspicious phone calls shortly before their abductions, during which no one spoke at the other end of the line, it also said. "These calls were presumably used to pinpoint the victim’s location," it added. In another instance, the report said that eyewitnesses recounted how the security forces entered a room, instructed the occupants to place their phones in a line, and, when a call came to one of the phones, detained the individual who claimed it. "That person was never seen again," it said.

The quickest, most accessible means of nature photography is "digiscoping". The name is a portmanteau of "digital camera" and "spotting scope," and the gist of the technique is simple: you hold your camera up to the eyepiece of your spotting scope and take a picture. This technique is also called afocal photography. It’s really simple and, when practiced with care, can produce great results without the need for expensive cameras or telephoto lenses. The advantages of digiscoping Digiscoping has several practical advantages. First and foremost, it’s quick. Should a birdwatcher spot a rare bird through their spotting scope, and want to document it, they need a means of imaging it quickly before it flies off. Other times, you might spot a bird but it will be too far away for you to get a good picture with just your camera. The magnification provided by the spotting scope brings distant birds into range. It’s also a terrific way to conduct nature photography on a budget, making the hobby much more accessible to many more people. This accessibility is enhanced by its simplicity. At its most basic, digiscoping is so terrifically simple that anybody can do it — just hold your camera phone up to the eyepiece of your spotting scope and snap away. What equipment will you need? Despite the name, digiscoping doesn’t necessarily require a spotting scope. You can also do it with binoculars (placing your camera over one of the barrels) or a monocular, but both of these options have lower magnification (usually around 10x) than spotting scopes, and it’s the magnification that will really allow your photography of birds (or any other distant wildlife) to pop. The best spotting scopes can have magnifications greater than 60x, such as the Celestron Ultima 100, which has zoom magnification of 22x to 66x, or the Bushnell 20-60x65 Prime, which has 20x to 60x magnification. Both of these examples are reasonably affordable, too. As a rule, look for spotting scopes with larger apertures. A spotting scope of 85mm diameter will let more light in than one with a 60mm aperture, for example. This is important when zooming in, as a smaller spotting scope will have lower light levels, meaning your photograph will appear darker. For steady viewing, a tripod is essential, with a panhandle head for ease of motion of the scope. Spotting scopes usually come with "feet" that can easily be fixed to a quick-release head. Then there’s a camera. Smartphone camera technology has developed to the point that what was once a gulf, in quality terms, between DSLRs and smartphones is now much narrower. DSLRs have more options, but that also makes them more complicated and more expensive. Most of us already have smartphones, with apps that make editing and sharing your images a breeze. Do you need a camera adapter for digiscoping? Yes and no. The point of afocal photography is that you can just hold your camera up to the eyepiece, but while this may produce satisfactory results, it is a bit crude and doesn’t produce the best results. For example, you can hold your finger between the phone and the eyepiece so that you keep the image in focus (too close to the eyepiece, or too far away, and you lose focus), but this can allow stray light in, resulting in vignetting around the edges or shadowed bands across the image. Also, an unsteady hand can result in blurring, which is amplified at high magnifications. However, the addition of an adapter to hold your camera in place can completely transform the quality of your digiscope photography.The adapter fixes your camera to your eyepiece at the correct distance, and also blocks out any stray light that might otherwise try to sneak in. You can get adapters for DSLRs and smartphones, but this is where digiscoping possibly favors smartphones over DSLRs. For one thing, you’ll need a very specific adapter to match your brand of camera and spotting scope. Attaching a big and bulky DSLR in this way can also unbalance your set-up, which will really affect the stability and quality of your image. Counterweights added to your set-up can address this, but who wants to be carrying around all that weight when out on a photography trip? On the other hand, smartphones are lightweight, and their adapters tend to be universal and inexpensive. Just make sure that the smartphone adapter fits the diameter of the spotting scope’s eyepiece. The adapter will steady your camera, but pressing the button on the camera to take the picture can still introduce unintended vibrations. If you are using a DSLR then a cable-release system will allow you to control your camera remotely without having to touch it. If you are using your smartphone, then there are Bluetooth remote control devices available for iOS and Android, such as the CamKix wireless Bluetooth camera shutter remote control for smartphones. These Bluetooth devices are inexpensive but extremely helpful. If you are looking to take professional-quality photographs, then digiscoping is not as good as using high-end telephoto lenses and DSLRs. However, most of us are not professional nature photographers, and in that case, digiscoping is the perfect solution — easy to do, easy to share, and easy to afford.TORONTO — With Jan. 27 marking 500 days out from the 2026 World Cup kickoff, some 50-plus staff are fleshing out the Canadian end of the tournament at FIFA's Toronto office. The office has been around for a year, although it took six months to get it to where it is now — a fully functioning space with more than a little character. The entrance features a display of 14 official match balls dating back to the 1970 World Cup. A giant 2026 cut-out in the shape of the FIFA World Cup trophy provides a unique photo op. Maple Leaf motifs decorate the converted factory, which is getting busier by the day. Peter Montopoli, chief tournament officer for the Canadian end, says the staff numbers will soon reach 80, with another 600 to 700 involved during the event itself. A lot has happened since Montopoli, then Canada Soccer's general secretary, and Victor Montagliani, then Canada Soccer's incoming president, hashed out the idea of bidding for the men's World Cup at a 2011 dinner at a Vancouver restaurant with Walter Sieber, director-general of sports at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and a man plugged into the world governing body of soccer. "When we announced in May 2012 ... it wasn't actually accepted very well by a few journalists in this city, who kind of laughed at it and scoffed at it," said Montagliani, who still keeps one of those negative articles in his desk. Montagliani, now president of CONCACAF and a FIFA vice-president, looks forward to the 2026 tournament — an expanded 48-team, 104-game colossus co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico — and its legacy. He calls it a "seminal moment ... that I think is going to push the game to the next level." "What I see is (that) '26, quite frankly, is really the beginning of the next era for the game in our country. It's not the culmination of it," Montagliani told a media roundtable Monday. "Hosting a World Cup is like nothing any of us (know). I don't even think I know what it's going to be like. And I've put on a few of these things. And I still don't know. I think I'm underestimate the impact this (tournament) is going to be. And if I'm underestimating, the person on the street is underestimating it too." Staff at the Toronto office are working on everything from stadium and venue operations, and safety and security to commercial, legal, finance and government relations. They work in conjunction with FIFA offices in Miami and Mexico as well as the FIFA head office in Zurich. Canada and Mexico, which has three host cities to Canada’s two, will each host 13 matches with the U.S. staging the remaining 78 across its 11 host cities. Toronto and Vancouver will each host five opening-round matches plus a round-of-32 knockout match. Vancouver will also stage a round-of-16 game. FIFA plans to open a tournament office in Vancouver in the second quarter of 2025. Both Canadian offices will be walking distance to their local venues: Toronto's BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium. Montopoli and his staff have a detailed timeline, covering everything from the tournament draw to unveiling of mascots, official songs and posters. FIFA is encouraging fans interested in tournament tickets to register via FIFA.com. Hospitality packages are already open and other packages are expected next September, with single-game tickets to follow after the draw in early December 2025. There is much to be done, starting with the two Canadian host stadiums. A ring of permanent suites is under construction at B.C. Place. BMO Field will get an additional 17,750 seats, bringing total capacity to around 45,735 seats, with the north and south ends expanded. Not all the new seats will be permanent, but some of the new suites at BMO Field will be. Montopoli says his staff are working with the City of Toronto, which owns the stadium, and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which manages the facility, to decide what upgrades will permanent. "They're still in discussion with that, because they still have to work through the economics of it" he said. Improvements include new video boards. And while some of the expanded BMO stands will be temporary, the additions will be proper seats not benches. Montagliani says every stadium among the 16 host cities is getting upgrades, even AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the US$1.2-billion-dollar home of the Dallas Cowboys. Vancouver has already announced its tournament training facilities will be at Killarney Park and Memorial South Park once upgrades are complete. While Toronto has yet to confirm its training venues, with fields at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park one option, Montopoli says they will be finalized in the first quarter of 2025. FIFA's Miami-based tournament traffic lead is currently visiting the city, a "world-class expert" who has done World Cups, Olympic Games and the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto, said Montopoli. "She's fully aware of everything, Toronto's transport issues," he added. Fans can expect a much different landscape around the stadiums than normal, with an expanded secure zone. "This is not the Grey Cup. This is the World Cup and it's going to be completely different from an operational logistical standpoint, logistical standpoint, than anything we've ever experienced," Montagliani said. And while holding a tournament in 16 host cities and three countries is vastly different from the 2022 tournament in Qatar, which had all eight stadiums in and around the capital of Doha, Montagliani says a lot of FIFA's World Cup blueprint can be transferred. "A venue is a venue is a venue," he said. Teams will have their own base camps during the group stage with nearby cities grouped in clusters. Toronto, for example, is linked to Philadelphia, Boston and New York, while Vancouver is grouped with Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. --- Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

A Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Mayor Kahlil Seren on Monday (Dec. 9) nominated his pick for the third city administrator in as many years. He’s former Akron mayor Daniel Horrigan , who did not seek re-election to a third term in 2023. Seren’s nomination will require City Council confirmation. The proposed resolution is slated to be introduced at the Dec. 16 meeting. Prior to his election as Akron mayor in 2016, Horrigan served on City Council from 1999-2006, then as Summit County Clerk of Courts beginning in 2007. If confirmed by Cleveland Heights City Council, Horrigan would begin serving immediately upon taking the oath of office. This would help “provide for the uninterrupted, efficient provision of critical services and the effective daily operation of city government,” the legislation states. Horrigan would take over for Danny Williams , who announced just shy of his first anniversary in the post that he would be retiring by the end of this year . In September 2023, Williams succeeded Cleveland Heights’ first-ever city administrator , Joe Sinnott, the former three-term mayor of Erie, Pa., who also served about a year. Sinnott returned to the Keystone State last year to become Erie County’s economic development director. “We are so fortunate that Dan (Horrigan) is available to fill this particular role, both at this time in his career and at a time of real momentum in Cleveland Heights,” Seren wrote in his Dec. 9 nomination letter. Seren cited Horrigan’s 20-plus years of experience in civil service and how it can be applied in Cleveland Heights’ newly formed elected mayor form of government. “We are making progress building out city departments and streamlining processes,” Seren said. “And Dan’s steady leadership and insights into the workings of a mid-sized municipal government will make him an enormous resource for the city,” he added. Akron is Ohio’s fifth-largest city, with Horrigan also coming from a “strong mayor” form of government. He worked with a 13-member City Council there, as opposed to seven council members in Cleveland Heights. Seren also cited many initiatives that Horrigan oversaw in Akron, which have parallels to current work under way at Cleveland Heights City Hall. These include: -- A combination of over 1,500 market rate and affordable housing units built -- Launching the Akron Home Repair program, to invest in aging housing stock, similar to Cleveland Heights’ Home Repair Resource Center (HRRC) -- “Making major strides in codifying equity in city policies,” through a non-discrimination ordinance passed in Akron in 2017 -- Creating the Racial Equity and Social Justice Task Force, described as “Akron’s municipal equality index,” which rates LGBTQ+ inclusion in municipal law and policy -- Increasing investment dollars in Akron’s public works, police and fire departments -- Streamlining city processes by implementing Workday, a finance and HR software that greatly improved the City of Akron’s functionality -- Navigating upgrades to green spaces and public parks, two community centers and the complete renovation of Akron’s Perkins Pool -- Leading efforts for Akron to be “lead-free” by 2027 Seren noted that Horrigan also oversaw two major projects in Akron similar to Cleveland Heights’ current Climate Action and Resiliency Plan ( CARP ), along with its Safer Streets Initiative. “Mr. Horrigan has made it clear in interviews that his goal is stewardship,” Seren concluded in his nomination letter. “He considers the work of public service noble and has said it would be an honor to serve Cleveland Heights.” RECOMMENDED • cleveland .com Like the finance department, Cleveland Heights’ 2025 budget remains a work in progress Dec. 3, 2024, 11:51 a.m. Cleveland Heights council gives go-ahead to nonprofit ARPA grants Dec. 4, 2024, 3:28 p.m. In his resume, Horrigan also mentions his capacity to problem-solve, build effective organizations and “improve outcomes for people, places and institutions.” Cleveland Heights City Council scheduled a special meeting for Monday (Dec. 9) to work on old business and it was unclear when an interview with Horrigan might be scheduled. Read more from the Sun Press .A bad night for Jack Crowley ended in defeat for Munster and more injury problems at the Stade Pierre Fabre. This 19th encounter between the clubs in 30 years was a scrappy affair and the Reds lacked the composure and touch of class required to chalk up a 14th victory in the rivalry. After an error-strewn first half, Crowley kicked the Reds ahead for the first time when he nailed the 70th minute conversion of John Hodnett's second try. READ MORE: Felix Jones available to work with a club immediately after official RFU departure READ MORE: Mike Prendergast says 'his name is in the pot' for Munster job But with the clock in the red the out of sorts out-half tried to get everything out of a penalty kick to the corner from just inside his own half, only to fail to find touch, with Jeremy Davidson's side celebrating as they maintained their unbeaten run at home. Munster, meanwhile, will bring home a losing bonus point to go with last week's bonus point victory at home against Stade Francais. But they also picked up three more injuries, with Peter O'Mahony (ankle), Craig Casey (knee) and Thaakir Abrahams (shoulder) all forced out of the fray. Munster stayed in the fight despite a really poor opening half hour to go in 10-7 behind at the break but blew two line-out opportunities early in the second half that proved costly. The first half hour was tough going for the Reds. Crowley failed to find touch with an early penalty - it set the tone for an error-strewn performance. Stephen Archer was penalised for two high tackles and escaped a yellow card, but Castres took the lead as a result of the second - ex-Connacht back row Abraham Papalii scored off a clever short lineout move despite Abrahams' efforts. Crowley's malaise continued with an aimless kick in midfield followed by a penalty that fell short of the posts after Tadhg Beirne was taken out off the ball. Munster lost Dian Bleuler in the 22nd minute to a HIA when he went to tackle down low and took a knee to the head, so veteran Dave Kilcoyne was into the game early in his first game back after 11 months out. He struggled late on as Castres' scrum became dominant. Crowley compounded Munster's woes with a kick straight to touch and Castres struck again soon after - Papalii's quick tap penalty caught the visitors off-guard and prop Quentin Walcker finished. The injured Casey was lifted off the pitch but there was finally a chink of light for Munster when Walcker was sin-binned for a high tackle on European debutant Brian Gleeson. A Munster scrum win set up a line-out opportunity in Castres' 22 and Hodnett's unstoppable charge off line-out ball earned his side's first try. Crowley was successful with the conversion. Geoffrey Palis was sin-binned for the hosts in the 44th minute but Munster failed to take advantage, with Jeremy Fernandez extending Castres' lead and O'Mahony limping out. The hosts missed another penalty chance before sub prop Nicolas Corata was sin-binned for a maul infringement and Hodnett pounced from close range, with Crowley edging the Reds ahead. But Castres finished strongly as their scrum got on top - out-half Louis le Brun kept his nerve to kick the winning penalty when Kilcoyne was penalised, and while Munster built their way back upfield and had the chance to set up line-out ball with the last play, Crowley failed to deliver with that vital final penalty. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts .By Paul Vieira OTTAWA--Canada's federal and regional political leaders must present a united front in fighting a proposed 25% tariff on the nation's exports to the U.S. that President-elect Donald Trump wants to impose, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday. Freeland reiterated at a Toronto press conference that Canada is prepared to impose its own retaliatory trade measures against the U.S. should Trump fulfill his pledge. However, disagreements among the premiers, or governors, of Canada's provinces are already emerging about applying economic pressure on its biggest, most important trading partner. "For a Canadian response to be strong and effective, Canada needs to be united," Freeland said. "The ultimate response we come up with needs to be one that all of our country stands behind." Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canada's most populous province, has mused about shutting down electricity exports to the U.S. Northeast in the event the 25% tariff kicks in. The leader of the oil-rich province of Alberta, Danielle Smith, said she doesn't agree with that approach. Crude oil is one of the biggest U.S.-bound Canadian exports. Smith and another western Canadian premier, Scott Moe of Saskatchewan, fiercely rejected the idea of an export tax on key commodities that Canada sells to the U.S., such as energy, potash and uranium. This is under consideration among Canadian officials but no final decision has been made, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Smith said that an export tax "would be a terrible idea." Moe, whose province is also rich in natural resources, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hadn't broached the concept of an export tax on commodities in the Canadian leader's talks with the provinces. "If they are under consideration, that would be a complete betrayal by the Trudeau government of the team approach they have been advocating and a complete betrayal of Canadians," Moe said in a social-media post. Under Canada's system of federalism, the provinces have responsibility for energy and natural resources within their own borders. That makes provincial leaders protective of attempts by the federal government to control production. Late last month Trump, in a post on the Truth Social platform, said his pledge to slap hefty tariffs on his North American partners stems from an inability by Canada and Mexico to stem the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the U.S. A 25% tariff risks triggering a recession in Canada, economists warn. Bank of Canada Gov. Tiff Macklem said a tariff at that level represents a major uncertainty for the economy, and risks weighing on investment activity. Freeland said she spoke to some western Canadian officials Friday morning, and is optimistic the federal and provincial governments will converge on a united strategy. "We have to be candid about the reality of the incoming U.S. administration," Freeland said. "This is an administration which openly has a strategy of creating economic uncertainty outside the United States as a strategy to discourage investment anywhere other than the United States." Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

MEXICO CITY — It would take years, if ever, for Mexico to accomplish what incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding to avoid tariffs: stemming the flow of migrants and drugs over the border. That’s why Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to avoid a full-blown trade war might be more about doing enough for both sides to claim success. Even a quick phone call — two days after Trump threatened 25% tariffs against his southern neighbor — seemed to change the tone: Trump said on social media that the Mexican president agreed to “stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately.” Sheinbaum, meanwhile, assured her constituents that she touted to Trump Mexico’s existing approach to migration, which she stressed respects human rights, and that a new deal to collaborate would avoid new tariffs, without providing specifics. The whole exchange was reminiscent of Trump’s first term, when he threatened to send troops to shut down the border and then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador responded by sending the national guard to help apprehend migrants. The move had a limited immediate effect, but sent a strong image that proved enough to at least avert tariffs of up to 25% on all imports from Mexico. Trump’s threats have a “dual objective,” said Palmira Tapia, a political scientist currently working for the government of the State of Mexico. The U.S. president-elect, she said, is simultaneously seeking to appeal to his constituents and strengthen his hand in talks on migration, drugs and trade. Sheinbaum also faces two challenges: She now must find a way to appease Trump to avoid tariffs that could hit 11% of Mexico’s gross domestic product, while also avoiding the perception — at home, and in the White House — that she will easily bend to demands from up north. “She’s talking to Trump, but she’s also talking to the Mexican public. It has to do with giving a dignified response before her voters, but at the same time trying to stop Trump,” said Catalina Perez Correa, a researcher at the Supreme Court’s Center for Constitutional Studies. “She’s saying, ‘I’m not going to let myself be stepped on by Trump.’ She’s saving face in front of the Mexican public.” Migration reality Mexico has long been a stomping ground for the U.S. when it comes to migration policy. It’s been tasked under successive U.S. presidents with beefing up its border security, increasing highway checkpoints and removing migrants from freight trains they often board. Even though migration rose far beyond the 2019 levels in the years after Lopez Obrador’s show of militarizing the border, Mexico has remained an at-times willing partner, accepting most of the millions of migrants who were quickly turned away from the U.S. border during the pandemic. But it hasn’t always been eager to help: The Biden administration often viewed AMLO, as the former president was known, as needing frequent reminders of its expectations for him on enforcement. In 2023, Biden Cabinet officials even visited AMLO in Mexico City just days after Christmas to urge him to do more as a record number of migrants reached the border. Under pressure from the White House during the U.S. election, Mexico helped it decrease border crossings by 65% over an 11-month period starting in December 2023. To do so, Mexican authorities have been detaining migrants in the north of the country and busing them south. There, they are forced to wait until they get an official appointment to apply for asylum in the U.S. — which can take months, if it ever happens at all. It’s all resulted in more than double the number of apprehensions of undocumented migrants between January and August compared with a year earlier, although Mexico has deported few. Experts have said that’s creating a humanitarian crisis in some of the southern cities where migrants are shipped off to. It’s also ratcheting up tensions with some locals, who argue that there aren’t enough jobs or resources to accommodate the newcomers. “What they’re doing now in Mexico is militarization of the border,” said Perez Correa. To further reduce border crossings into the U.S., Mexico could either carry out mass deportations or offer more opportunities to migrants in its territory. Both scenarios seem unrealistic. Simply increasing deportations would go against Lopez Obrador’s policy — which Sheinbaum inherited — of trying to address the problems in their origin countries that pushed them to leave, and it would be an expense for Mexico. After Sheinbaum’s call with Trump, she reiterated her government offers migrants options for international protection in its territory or “voluntary or assisted return” to their countries. The second option doesn’t seem feasible either: Most people want to go to the U.S., where they expect to have higher-paying jobs, more family or community support, and greater safety than in Mexico. Chemical diversions Deaths related to fentanyl — the cheap, synthetic opioid — have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. That’s why reining in the flow of the drug was on Trump’s list of demands. Should recent history be any indication, intervention is never simple. The U.S. arrest of a Mexican alleged drug leader has led to prolonged shootouts in recent months. And in any case, some academics argue simply confiscating more drugs means traffickers learn to produce more, to meet U.S. demand. So far, Mexico has worked to improve its technical capabilities to detect illicit substances at its ports, especially precursor chemicals and fentanyl. “The Navy has provided material and personnel to all ports for the fulfillment of these tasks, the personnel have the necessary training to be able to detect these substances,” said Captain Jose Barradas in an interview at the Manzanillo port, in the state of Colima. “All merchandise that arrives is prone to review under strict security protocols.” Sheinbaum also picked former Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch to lead a new national security strategy, a move that was read inside Mexico as a signal of her willingness to increase enforcement in areas where the previous administration had been more hands-off. There’s more that could be done — but it would be hard. Trying to seize these substances at ports is insufficient because synthetic drugs tend to be very small, making them more difficult to detect than traditional drugs, said Victoria Dittmar, researcher at Insight Crime. Those who produce them often innovate with their recipes and use new chemicals that are not illegal. “Mexico can open collaboration paths with the private sector, with the chemical industry, because they know perfectly well its supply chains and the vulnerable areas where there could be diversions,” she said. “This collaboration is essential.” Mexico can also work to identify intermediaries that connect fentanyl producers with chemical suppliers abroad and in the country, people who work in certain companies and are authorized to divert these substances, according to Dittmar. Still, “the main weakness is not putting demand reduction as a priority, to prevent overdose deaths,” Dittmar said. “It’s a shared responsibility. It’s not just the fault of Mexico, the U.S. or Canada, but it’s an issue that affects the entire North American region.” A senior Mexican official said that the country’s actions to address drug trafficking have moved the nation in the direction of the fentanyl crackdown that Trump is demanding. The official cited a new law that will allow for coordinated intelligence efforts that is due to be implemented next year. History repeats It’s plausible that in the medium-term Trump will lower the intensity of his threats because a trade war would be the worst case scenario for both countries, said Tapia, the political scientist. But until then, she said, “Sheinbaum is on trial as to how well she will do” relative to her predecessor, who had a respectful relationship with Trump and often praised him. One strategy that Sheinbaum could pursue: Finding ways to give Trump the appearance of political victory. That was part of the rationale behind AMLO’s deployment of the National Guard — a move Trump still talks about now. “We got thousands of Mexicans patrolling our border free of charge,” he boasted at a recent event about his relationship with AMLO. “He’s a socialist,” Trump said. “But these are minor details.” ——— (With assistance from Eric Martin, Carolina Millan and Ramsey Al-Rikabi.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.( MENAFN - Robotics & automation News) Universal Robots to host 'largest collaborative robot conference and trade show' in North America December 22, 2024 by David Edwards Collaborative robots (cobots) are the fastest-growing segment of industrial automation with the global market forecasted a skyrocketing 20+ percent growth through 2028. As the market leader and pioneer of collaborative robotics, Universal Robots (UR) is at the forefront of transforming the way cobots work, helping businesses unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and innovation, including artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The company says it will hold the nation's largest cobot conference and trade show, Collaborate North America 2025 , which takes place in Novi, Michigan, January 28, 2025 and is free to attend. This one-day, in-person event brings together 500+ manufacturing professionals from across North America, automation specialists, educators, and industry thought leaders from renowned institutions and companies such as MIT, Siemens, and the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Jonathan Sbert, vice president of sales, Americas, Universal Robots, says:“Whether you're exploring cobots for the first time or looking to expand your automation capabilities, this event will provide the inspiration, tools, and connections needed to succeed.” Hands-On Demonstrations : Attendees can explore 30+ different cobot-powered solutions for applications such as welding, quality inspection, material handling, machine tending, assembly, painting, and palletizing. The hands-on demos are presented by UR and its UR+ ecosystem partners including A.I Automation, Schmalz, Magswitch, PIAB, Zimmer, Schunk, Flexline Automation, Acumino AI, and SICK. Keynote Presentations : The opening keynote will be delivered by Universal Robots' Chief Commercial Officer, Stacey Moser. She is joined by leading voices in robotics and automation, including a few surprise speakers from dominant automotive and AI chip making technology companies delivering insights on industry trends and practical applications. Additional speakers include: Ben Armstrong (Executive Director and Research Scientist, MIT) : Ben Armstrong specializes in innovation and operational performance in manufacturing, focusing on how companies adopt advanced technologies. His work at MIT involves researching the intersection of robotics, workforce development, and operational efficiency to ensure sustainable growth in the industrial sector. Jake Hall (The Manufacturing Millennial) : Jake Hall is a prominent advocate for modernizing the manufacturing industry through automation and emerging technologies. Known for his engaging social media presence and thought leadership, he bridges the gap between traditional manufacturing practices and future-forward innovations. Alex Shikany (Vice President, Membership & Market Intelligence, A3) : Alex Shikany provides data-driven insights to guide businesses in adopting robotics and AI technologies. His expertise includes market trends, industry growth analysis, and strategies for integrating automation into existing operations. Bernd Raithel (Director, Factory Automation, Siemens) : Bernd Raithel leads the development of advanced automation solutions that drive efficiency and Industry 4.0 adoption. With expertise in robotics, AI, and smart technologies, he focuses on creating intelligent, connected factories. A champion of innovation, Bernd works to accelerate automation adoption and shape the future of manufacturing. Networking Opportunities : Attendees can engage with peers, decision-makers, and industry influencers to exchange ideas and foster collaboration. Universal Robots is offering complimentary passes right now at the company's website . MENAFN22122024005532012229ID1109021544 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.