AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:04 p.m. ESTNone
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Village People founder has change of heart, is considering performing YMCA at Trump inauguration
Nashville Predators (7-11-3, in the Central Division) vs. New Jersey Devils (14-7-2, in the Metropolitan Division) Newark, New Jersey; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Nashville Predators visit the New Jersey Devils after Roman Josi scored two goals in the Predators' 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets. New Jersey has a 5-3-2 record in home games and a 14-7-2 record overall. The Devils have a 14-2-2 record in games they score three or more goals. Nashville is 7-11-3 overall and 2-5-3 on the road. The Predators are 7-2-0 in games they score at least three goals. The teams meet Monday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hischier has 10 goals and 11 assists for the Devils. Luke Hughes has over the last 10 games. Filip Forsberg has eight goals and eight assists for the Predators. Adam Wilsby has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Devils: 7-3-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. Predators: 3-5-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.2 assists, 4.9 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game. INJURIES: Devils: None listed. Predators: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Sprung structures could be converted to community centres after asylum seeker useBEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. The city stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. Its capture is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only four of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Homs, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.Police are investigating a pair of shootings in Baltimore’s Southern District on Saturday afternoon. Around 2:30 p.m., officers responded to the 2100 block of West Patapsco Avenue for a report of a shooting and found a 25-year-old male suffering from injuries. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he is listed in stable condition, police said. Officers were then advised of a walk-in shooting victim at a nearby hospital and found a 27-year-old male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. That victim is listed in critical condition. No other details have been released with either incident. Southern District detectives ask anyone with information to contact them at 410-396-2499 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Over 400 Jamaicans gathered in Kingston on Sunday for the Run for Rights 5K Walk and Run, an event organised by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ). Marking JFJ’s 25th anniversary, the event aimed to raise awareness about critical human rights issues in Jamaica while fostering community solidarity. Participants wore colourful outfits representing key advocacy themes: blue for human rights, yellow for child rights, green for climate justice, and purple for victims of gender-based and domestic violence. The initiative underscored JFJ’s mission to create a Jamaica free from discrimination and violence. Speaking at the event, Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby lauded JFJ’s efforts to promote justice and equality. “This initiative not only brings awareness to critical issues but also mobilises the community to take meaningful action,” said Mayor Swaby. JFJ’s Executive Director, Mikel Jackson, expressed gratitude to attendees, emphasising the significance of collective action. “Your presence here today shows the power of unity. Every step taken is a step toward raising awareness and a stronger sense of responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” she said. In a news release, JFJ highlighted significant milestones, including justice for Michael Gayle, a mentally ill man reportedly beaten to death by security forces. JFJ successfully brought the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), resulting in a $3 million compensation for Gayle’s family. JFJ noted its ongoing advocacy in cases like those of Matthew Lee and Mario Deane. In 2023, the organisation documented 289 cases out of over 300 reports for closer monitoring. Beyond legal advocacy, JFJ has expanded its outreach programs, including mobile legal clinics for marginalised individuals and school-based interventions to prevent youth involvement in legal conflicts. While the primary goal of the Run for Rights was to raise awareness, any net proceeds will support JFJ’s legal and advocacy programs, JFJ said. As JFJ looks ahead, the organisation says it remains steadfast in advancing social justice and empowering vulnerable communities through education and advocacy.An Italian renewable energy giant and Japan's largest oil and gas company are plugging into Australia's clean energy resources under the banner of a new company. Potentia Energy will be launched at the Sydney Opera House on Monday as an Australian renewable energy firm co-owned by Rome-headquartered Enel Green Power and INPEX. With rights in place for a development pipeline of over seven gigawatts across the country, Potentia is most focused on developing and acquiring assets in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, chief executive Werther Esposito told AAP. The company is not deterred by the risk of political change, with opinion polls favouring the coalition ahead of the 2025 federal election. "The energy transition will go ahead in any case. There could be an acceleration or slowing down in the process," Mr Esposito said. "Renewables represent, from a technical and economic perspective, the solution for climate change," he said. "I don't think any government could deny that today wind and solar are cheaper than other technologies, and are faster in reaching the phase of deployment and construction and then supply of renewable energy." NSW had suffered some planning delays that had hit investment but there had been a "strong improvement" in the past 12 to 18 months, he said. The company also has a stake in Queensland, particularly in the north's Copperstring area, where the recently elected LNP government has pledged to stick by a massive transmission project begun under Labor. Enel won the bidding in 2024 to develop renewable energy to power a vanadium mining and processing project, which is one of a number of giant resources projects intended to be connected to the $9 billion Copperstring transmission line from Townsville to Mt Isa. WA offered a "huge opportunity" for the deployment of wind farms and battery energy storage systems, Mr Esposito said. With a decades-long footprint in Australia's north and west, INPEX is Japan's largest fossil fuel exploration and production company. Under pressure to reduce its global contribution to climate change, INPEX is already developing the production of liquid hydrogen and ammonia. "They elected Australia as the market to start diversification of the energy mix and huge investment in renewables," Mr Esposito said. "Of course in this regard, Australia is the place to be," he said. Enel and INPEX joined forces in a share purchase agreement in 2023, with the renewables business operating plants comprising 310 megawatts of solar capacity across South Australia and Victoria and a 75MW wind farm in Western Australia. A 93MW solar farm is under commissioning in Victoria and financial close was recently announced for a hybrid 98MW solar and 20MW battery project in NSW. But with international firms lining up to exploit clean energy resources, Australians living alongside projects are demanding a share of future profits through community funds, power bill rebates and other benefits. "The energy transition should be just. To be just it means that you need to support the communities and involve the communities in a proper way," Mr Esposito said. He said Enel was proud of its legacy in providing support to areas facing a changing landscape and the impact of new infrastructure, including community funds, a focus on local hiring and providing training to support new jobs. "It's an approach that is, for us, absolutely a pillar of our strategy," he said. "We are still facing some regulatory ambiguity in what a social licence means, and we are trying to be a leader in the industry in helping and supporting all the key stakeholders in determining and defining what it is."
was booed by furious fans as the manager confronted the away end in the . Tottenham were outplayed at the Vitality Stadium fell to 10th in the table - with the 4-0 victory at Manchester City their only win in the last six games in all competitions. Postecoglou went to applaud the away end at full-time but was then involved in an exchange with Spurs supporters. The Australian nodded his head and pointed to his chest, appearing to say “me?” before raising his thumb. Postecoglou said he received some “pretty direct feedback”, which he said could not repeat, but added that he did not like what he heard. When asked about what happened at full-time, the manager said: “They are disappointed, rightly so. They gave me some direct feedback which I guess is taken on board.” Asked what was said, Postecoglou added: “Probably not for here, mate. He continued: “I’ve got no issue with it. I didn’t like what was being said because I’m a human being. But you’ve got to cop it. I’ve been around long enough to know that if things don’t go well, you’ve got to understand the frustration and disappointment. They’re right to be disappointed tonight because again we’ve let a game of football get away from us. That’s ok, I’m ok with all of that.” Tottenham go to high-flying Chelsea on Sunday and also play Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and host Premier League leaders Liverpool before Christmas. Spurs have been hampered by injuries, particularly in defence, with Postecoglou also losing Ben Davies to a hamstring injury during the defeat at Bournemouth. Spurs conceded another goal from a set-piece as Dean Huijsen was left unmarked at the back post to score the only goal of the game. Bournemouth had enough chances to increase their lead as Postecoglou criticised his team for continuing to “make things difficult for ourselves” and “shoot ourselves in the foot”. "It is not good enough,” Postecoglou said. “We again fell into the trap of starting the game really well, we were in control and then we conceded a really poor goal. "Then we kind of lost our way a little bit and allowed Bournemouth to play the game that they wanted to. We had our moments in the second half but we could not get a goal. "I don’t know if they had more urgency but we have this sort of propensity to shoot ourselves in the foot when we should be controlling games. They are hard to beat here and what you should not do is give them a goal that gives them the momentum they need. "We started to play with a bit more conviction at the beginning of the second half and made some good chances. Again we made things difficult for ourselves by allowing the opposition to take the game in the direction that they want. "They are all big games coming up. We have to get ourselves out of the space we are in at the minute where we can’t get a real grip on the season." On Davies’ injury, which could leave Tottenham with one fit centre-back for the trip to Chelsea, Postecoglou said: “It looks like he's done his hamstring. Him and Radu [Dragusin] have played every game. It's the one position we can't rotate. He'll obviously be out for a period of time now, we'll just have to wait and see how long it is. It's a consequence of having the squad we have at the moment.” Postecoglou finished with a message to the Spurs fans and said: “All I can say is I’m really disappointed with tonight and I’m determined to get it right and I’ll keep fighting until we do.”Avalanche play the Lightning on 3-game win streak
NoneDavid Tepper is a billionaire based in the United States. The hedge fund manager is also the owner of the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) and the Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). Tepper was born on September 11, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After growing up on the east end of Pittsburgh, Tepper earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics at the University of Pittsburgh. The type entered service in July 1999. After he graduated, Tepper joined the finance industry, working for Equibank as a credit analyst. However, he found this role underwhelming and returned to school at Carnegie Mellon University to earn a Master of Science in Industrial Administration (MSIA), the then-equivalent of a Master of Business Administration (MBA). By 1985, Tepper had joined Goldman Sachs, and he played a major role in reviving the company after the 1987 stock market crash. After being passed over as a partner for the financial services provider, Tepper eventually created his own hedge fund called Appaloosa Management. His role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this hedge fund has provided Tepper with some of the largest payouts of any executive in the world, including a $2.2 billion paycheck in 2012. This has allowed him to accumulate a net worth of over $21 billion. Due to his accumulated wealth, Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers in May 2019 and helped bring an MLS franchise to Charlotte in 2019. Because of Tepper's extreme wealth, it is no shock that he operates a private jet . This business jet provides him with the ultimate luxury while traveling, including allowing him to depart whenever he pleases, fly direct routes to most airports, and even fly to a wide variety of airports that may not be operated by commercial airlines. Let's take a closer look at this large business jet , as well as some of the aircraft's statistics. About David Tepper's private jet Currently, David Tepper owns and operates a Bombardier Global 5000 registered as N793AP. According to JetSpy, this Global 5000 was first manufactured in 2011 and has a serial number of 9454. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) , the registered owner of this aircraft is Delaware Trust Co, although the main operator is designated as David Tepper. The aircraft is utilized frequently by Tepper and his team. According to JetSpy, his Global 5000 has flown a total of 154 times. These flights have amounted to a total of just over 250 flight hours. These flights have utilized over 125,000 gallons of jet fuel, which has accumulated approximately 1,211 metric tons of carbon emissions. Additionally, Tepper's Global 5000 has visited the following airports the most frequently in 2024: Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) in Morristown, New Jersey Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Florida About the Bombardier Global Express series The Global 5000 is one of the aircraft that falls into Bombardier's Global Express series of aircraft. This family began with the Global Express. Bombardier began the development of this popular business jet after its acquisition of Canadair in 1986. Canadair had previously introduced the Challenger 600 series, which saw immediate success in the private aviation industry. However, Bombardier wanted to develop a private jet with a longer range. Because of this, by the early 1990s, Bombardier , along with engineers from Canadair, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , and BMW Rolls-Royce, began work on developing the new aircraft. The design was loosely based on the successful Challenger 600, which had the same cross-section as the regional airliner, the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) . The first prototype conducted its maiden flight in October 1996, and it officially entered service in July 1999. Since then, Bombardier has released several upgraded variants. This includes the Global 5000, which was introduced in February 2002. Additionally, Bombardier has released the following other variants in this aircraft series: Bombardier Global Express XRS Global 6000 Global 5500 Global 6500 This aircraft series has been produced since 1998 and is still in current production. Overall, nearly 1,000 total aircraft variants have been produced since its introduction, making it one of the most popular business jets in the industry. Design features and performance specifications of the Bombardier Global 5000 The Global 5000 is one of the most popular aircraft of the Global Express series, with over 200 aircraft still in service. This aircraft features a fuselage with the same cross-section as the Bombardier Challenger 600 and the CRJ series. However, the Global 5000 features a shorter fuselage and a shorter range, although it can still hold a maximum of 16 passengers. Overall, the Global 5000 features the following interior cabin measurements: Cabin length: 40 feet nine inches Cabin height: six feet two inches Cabin width: seven feet eleven inches The fuselage section allows for up to four interior spaces, which can include a crew rest area, a galley, both forward and aft lavatories, and several other options. Inside the cockpit, the Bombardier Global 5000 utilizes the Bombardier vision flight deck which is based on the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite. The Global 5000 is powered by Rolls-Royce BR700 turbofan engines. These powerful engines each provide the aircraft with just under 15,000 pounds of thrust. Overall, the Global 5000 has the following performance specifications: Length 96 feet ten inches Height 25 feet six inches Wingspan 94 feet Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 92,500 pounds Typical cruise speed 487 knots (560 miles per hour) Range 5,200 nautical miles (5,984 miles) Service ceiling 51,000 feetLA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls, 2-1, to win their record sixth MLS Cup championship
Watch: Video and pictures show Sheffield firefighters battling blaze at Manor Social Club, City RoadThe Middle East grapples with Assad’s stunning fall
Jamiya Neal finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and four blocks to lead host Creighton over UNLV 83-65 on Saturday in Omaha, Neb. Creighton was without star Pop Isaacs, who was ruled out for the season on Saturday morning after undergoing surprise hip surgery. It was a startling turn, considering Isaacs led Creighton with 27 points in Wednesday's win over No. 1 Kansas. Neal and Steven Ashworth (17 points) anchored the backcourt in Isaacs' absence, combining to make 13-of-20 shots from the field. Neal made 7 of his 10 and Ashworth 6 of 10. Isaac Traudt also stepped up, making five 3-pointers off the bench to account for all 15 of his points. Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 12 points, making 4-of-5 attempts from the field, and added six rebounds. Creighton opened the second half on a 10-0 run, extending its lead to 49-27 before UNLV mustered an answer. Creighton made 10 consecutive shots early in the second half, extending its lead to a 62-41 with 12:20 remaining. Dedan Thomas Jr. paced UNLV with 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting, making 1 of 4 attempts from 3-point range. Jailen Bedford added a team-high 20 points for the Rebels on 8-of-15 shooting, scoring 17 points in the second half. Julian Rishwain added 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, but UNLV's second leading scorer for the season, Jeremiah Cherry, was limited to just four points in 16 minutes after early foul trouble. Creighton shot a resounding 63.3 percent from the field for the game, including going 10-of-20 from beyond the arc. Creighton outscored UNLV 38-34 in the paint and outrebounded them 34-21. UNLV finished the game shooting 42.2 percent field, making 7-of-21 attempts from distance. --Field Level MediaTwo former Belfry Pirates recently received All-Conference honors for their strong play in the 2024 gridiron season. University of Pikeville offensive lineman Jordan Scott was named as a First Team Member on the All-Appalachian Athletics Conference Team while University of Charleston lineman Ethan Wolford was chosen as an Honorable Mention selection in the Mountain East Conference. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
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