In Saudi Arabia’s stellar soccer year, federation boss sees 2034 World Cup fueling more rapid change

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

In Saudi Arabia’s stellar soccer year, federation boss sees 2034 World Cup fueling more rapid change JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in soccer were made stunning and clear in 2023, and its upcoming 11-year journey toward hosting the men’s World Cup promises much more of the same.In an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, Saudi soccer federation president Yasser Al Misehal said sport and society in the oil-rich kingdom are going through transformational changes ahead of staging soccer’s biggest event in 2034.“We are trying to do everything for our people, for our economy and also we want to host as many people from all different places in the world,” Al Misehal said.Soccer has taken a prominent place in the Vision 2030 plan launched in 2016 to modernize the Saudi economy and society for a future beyond the oil production that fuels its spectacular wealth.The program was driven from its start by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, then little known outside the region and now a key player in global politics.The Saudis’ statement year in soccer started with ...

Buccaneers host Jags as both look to remain in control of bids for division titles, playoff spots

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Buccaneers host Jags as both look to remain in control of bids for division titles, playoff spots JACKSONVILLE (8-6) AT TAMPA BAY (7-7)Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBSOPENING LINE: Buccaneers by 1½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Jaguars 8-6; Buccaneers 9-4-1.SERIES RECORD: Jaguars lead 4-3.LAST MEETING: Buccaneers beat Jaguars 28-11 at Jacksonville on Dec. 1, 2019.LAST WEEK: Jaguars lost at home to Baltimore 23-7; Buccaneers won 34-20 at Green BayJAGUARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (26), PASS (9), SCORING (T-10).JAGUARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (27), RUSH (12), PASS (29), SCORING (21)BUCCANEERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (23), RUSH (29), PASS (19), SCORING (20).BUCCANEERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (26), RUSH (9), PASS (31), SCORING (13)TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Jaguars plus-1; Buccaneers plus-6JAGUARS PLAYER TO WATCH: Second-year pro Travon Walker is coming off one of his best games. A linebacker and the No. 1 overall pick in 2022 had four tackles, including a sack, against Baltimore and often forced the Ravens to run to the opposite side of the defense. Walker has at least a half-sack in fou...

A woman shot with a crossbow and a priest stabbed in a rectory shake a small Nebraska town

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

A woman shot with a crossbow and a priest stabbed in a rectory shake a small Nebraska town FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The grisly killings of a retiree and then a priest has shocked everyone in tiny Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, including Sheriff Mike Robinson.He’s lived in the community just north of Omaha for 62 years and can’t recall a single homicide before these two.“It really is out of character,” Robinson said. “It’s a good town, good place to live, good place to raise your family.”Robinson says people have been troubled not only by the killings, but by the awful details of how their neighbors died in what appear to be random attacks.Linda Childers, 71, was killed Aug. 13, when she was shot with a crossbow three times and her throat was slit at her isolated home near a creek about a mile north of Fort Calhoun. Less than four months later, on Dec. 10, the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, 65, was fatally stabbed during a break-in at the rectory next door to St. John the Baptist Church, where he had been set to lead Mass later that day.The brutal killings have shaken residents who have...

Man charged in fatal stabbing of DC woman arrested in Indiana

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Man charged in fatal stabbing of DC woman arrested in Indiana A man wanted in the deadly attack on a woman in Northwest D.C. Tuesday has been apprehended in Indiana.Alberto Valle-Carranza, 54, of Northwest D.C. was located and arrested in Michigan City, Indiana, Wednesday on charges of second-degree murder while armed, a D.C. police news release said. The police report lists the weapon used as an “ax/hatchet.”Just before 3 a.m. on Tuesday, police said they responded to the 1200 block of 11th Street in Northwest for a report of a domestic disturbance.There, police found 31-year-old Reyna Garcia-Lopez suffering from stab wound injuries, police said. She died at the scene.Police said Valle-Carranza will be extradited to D.C., where he will face charges.Source

Pacific storm dumps heavy rains, unleashes flooding in California coastal cities

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Pacific storm dumps heavy rains, unleashes flooding in California coastal cities SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — A Pacific storm pounded parts of Southern California on Thursday with heavy rain and street flooding, adding to hassles as holiday travel got underway. The downpours targeted coastal Ventura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles County, swamping areas in the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Santa Barbara.Rainfall rates exceeding 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) an hour unleashed flash flooding in Ventura County, the National Weather Service said. Later in the morning, streets began filling with water in parts of Santa Barbara as the storm delivered another deluge. The city of Port Hueneme issued evacuation orders for residences on four streets and warned of potential evacuations on four other streets. About 60 houses were affected by the orders, all in a senior citizen community, said Firefighter Andy VanSciver, a Ventura County fire spokesperson. An evacuation center was set up at a college gymnasium.Three people from the senior community were...

Estos son los peores incidentes con turistas de 2023

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Estos son los peores incidentes con turistas de 2023 (CNN) — Desnudarse de cintura para abajo en un lugar sagrado. Conducir un coche por un puente medieval, tan frágil como famoso. Grabar tu nombre en un icono mundial, y emprender una penosa caminata… ¿para consumir drogas ilegales?Estas son tan solo algunas de las cosas que hicieron los turistas en 2023. Han dañado patrimonios, se han comido especies en peligro de extinción y, en el caso de una pareja, robaron vino por valor de casi 2 millones de dólares de un restaurante con estrellas Michelin. Han insultado (presuntamente) a guardias fronterizos y se han mostrado desnudos delante de menores. Y cuando fueron descubiertos, a menudo alegaron ignorancia.He aquí 25 de los peores incidentes que vimos en 2023.EneroUn puente demasiado lejos: Ponte Vecchio en Florencia. Crédito: mustafacan/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesItalia ha sido durante mucho tiempo un epicentro de mal comportamiento para los turistas que la tratan como un parque temático, y el año comenzó de una manera previsibl...

Former Nice and PSG coach Christophe Galtier is cleared of accusations of racism

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Former Nice and PSG coach Christophe Galtier is cleared of accusations of racism NICE, France (AP) — Christophe Galtier was cleared of accusations of racism on Thursday after the former Nice and Paris Saint-German coach stood trial on charges of psychological harassment and discrimination.Galtier was acquitted, French media reported, at a court in Nice nearly a week after he appeared at a one-day trial and denied accusations of racism during his time as coach of Nice from 2021-22.The “odious accusations” caused “considerable damage” to the 57-year-old Galtier, one of his attorneys said.“We see today’s decision as an acquittal but also as a redemption for Christophe, his loved ones and his family,” lawyer Olivier Martin told reporters in comments filmed by Nice-Matin newspaper.Galtier, who now coaches Al-Duhail in the Qatar Stars League, had testified that some of his comments made during his time in charge of Nice had been taken out of context or distorted and used against him by other coaching staff members at Nice.“We managed to prove the manipulation th...

Texas A&M is hiring Florida LB coach Jay Bateman to be defensive coordinator, AP source says

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Texas A&M is hiring Florida LB coach Jay Bateman to be defensive coordinator, AP source says Texas A&M is hiring Florida linebackers coach Jay Bateman to be its defensive coordinator, a person with direct knowledge of the move told The Associated Press on Thursday.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a deal was still being finalized and in need of university approval.New Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and Bateman worked together for a year early in their careers at Richmond.Before his last two seasons with Florida, Bateman spent three seasons as co-defensive coordinator at North Carolina and five leading the defense at Army with mixed results. Florida’s defenses struggled mightily in the two years Bateman spent working for coach Billy Napier.Bateman is also the second member of Florida’s most recent staff to join Elko in college station, along with defensive line coach Sean Spencer.Elko is a longtime, successful former defensive coordinator — including at Texas A&M. He was hired away from Duke last month to replace Jimbo Fisher.___AP college...

Suspect killed after firing at deputies in Adams County

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Suspect killed after firing at deputies in Adams County DENVER (KDVR) — The Adams County Sheriff's Office shared details on Thursday of a shooting in the 8100 block of Leona Drive.The shooting occurred at approximately 10:17 p.m. on Dec. 20, leaving one suspect dead and a deputy shot.According to the sheriff's office, an adult male suspect shot at deputies when they attempted to contact him for an active warrant from the Department of Corrections. One deputy was struck twice "in the extremities" and "several" deputies returned fire, striking the suspect. Driver charged in Broomfield crash that killed mom, son The deputy was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment and the man, who was reportedly in his 30s, later died at a local hospital.The area of the shooting is an unincorporated portion of Adams County. FOX31 reporter Greg Nieto arrived on scene just before 11 p.m. and found a heavy police presence in the area. An Adams County Sheriff's spokesperson said the deputy is expected to be OK.While the scene was active, deputies sa...

Man sentenced to 55 years for killing 1, shooting 5 as police seek 2 suspects

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:28:17 GMT

Man sentenced to 55 years for killing 1, shooting 5 as police seek 2 suspects DENVER (KDVR) — A man accused alongside two other people of killing one person and wounding five others in a Nov. 1, 2022, shooting has been sentenced to serve 55 years in prison under a plea agreement.Dexter Martinez, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault. He was arrested in connection to the shooting on Nov. 23, 2022. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Martinez originally faced a count of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder when he was arrested. The other two suspects have not been arrested, according to Denver police. The agency issued surveillance photos of the two suspects in November last year.These suspects are alleged to have been associated with Dexter Martinez. (Credit: Denver Metro CrimeStoppers)The shooting took place in the East Colfax neighborhood at about 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.The Denver coroner said Allen Dawkins, 41, was killed in t...