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A weekend homestand for the Soo Greyhounds at the GFL Memorial Gardens sees the team host the North Bay Battalion for back-to-back games. Full updates will be available throughout the gameEl-Kanemi players lament traumatic road experienceHeaded South for Winter? 5 Tips for Snowbirds About to Take Flight
Stormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive, despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”DALLAS — Have you noticed an unexpected line item on your restaurant receipt lately? TouchBistro says service charges, also known as, “mandatory fees...sometimes referred to as junk fees” that “may not be particularly popular with guests” are being added by many Texas restaurants to bring in some extra revenue to offset higher food, rent and labor costs. TouchBistro provides technology for those convenient point of service payment systems and other computer programs to help run thousands of restaurants. They surveyed restaurant owners and found that 34% of them in Houston, 30% in Austin, and 26% of them in Dallas are now adding an extra charge to the check to help their bottom lines. So, look out for service charges, even though restaurateurs have apparently already figured out that the hungry folks of Texas are fully fed up with paying more when they go out to eat. Sizable percentages of them in Texas (57% in Austin, 45% in Dallas, and 30% in Houston) acknowledged they've raised menu prices this year, and that many of them then observed that many of us started spending less, tipping less, and ordering less alcohol and fewer food dishes. Truth be told, I wish I had ordered one less dish recently when I opted for a slice of key lime pie at a Texas restaurant that shall remain unnamed here. I never saw it on the menu, the waiter just suggested it. And the pie was good. But then I got the bill and saw it was $12.95 a slice. Frankly, it wasn’t that good. There were a few other interesting takeaways from the TouchBistro restaurateur survey. If you are wondering what is taking so long in the Dallas area, the survey found the restaurant staffing shortages are worse there (an average of 4.5 positions short) than at the average restaurant in Austin (3.7 positions that need to be filled) and Houston (3 positions shy of full staffing). Also, it looks like those QR code menus are here to stay. Responding to TouchBistro’s questionnaire, restaurants reportedly indicated, “QR code menus and QR code payments have been among the most popular tech to implement”. They also found that more of us here in Texas are ordering takeout. The survey says that compared to last year, 52% of restaurant owners report ‘slightly increased’ takeout/delivery orders, with another 36% noting ‘significantly increased’ to go order activity. The check-in with restaurants also revealed that more and more Texas eateries are trying to entice us to come in or take out by advertising on social media. And while higher percentages of them are using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, 44% are on TikTok and that number is growing, “Likely driven by the fact that organic content can gain much wider reach via TikTok’s ‘For You Page’ discovery tool”. A word about tipping (outside of restaurants) How does your holiday tipping budget look? This has become a big thing. Bankrate put out a survey and tipping comparison for all sorts of vital service professionals in our lives. Here are the varying percentages of people giving holiday gratuities and the median amount they are giving to the people on whom they rely: Housekeeper: 57% plan to give a median of $50 Childcare provider: 55% plan to give a median of $50 Teacher: 53% plan to give a median of $25 Landscaper/gardener/snow remover: 41% plan to give a median of $30 Mail carrier: 31% plan to give a median of $20 Trash/recycling collector: 26% plan to give a median of $20 Kiplinger also put out a holiday tipping article and went much further, offering suggested gratuities, including: Newspaper delivery person: Suggested Tip: $10 to $30 Grocery delivery person: Suggested Tip: $10 to $30. Hair stylist: Suggested Tip: The cost of one visit Pet’s groomer: Suggested Tip: Up to the cost of a session Personal trainer: Suggested Tip: Up to the cost of one session Personal caregiver: Suggested Tip: One week to one month of pay Golf, pickleball or tennis pro: Suggested Tip: A nice gift FedEx/UPS/Amazon drivers: Suggested Tip: Basket of pre-packaged goods So, how’s your holiday budget looking after all that? A final note from the Bankrate survey: Most people reported they add a holiday tip to say thanks or for good service or to be generous. But a decent percentage admitted they do it because it’s expected or because they want to get better service next year. Perhaps sometimes it is just the money that should count and not the thought...
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After withdrawing from AG consideration, Gaetz says he won't return to CongressTemba Bavuma (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: South Africa captain Temba Bavuma described the Proteas’ qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final as an emotional moment, following their dramatic two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Centurion on Sunday. "Quite an emotional moment for me. Lot of joy and happiness on our side. We did the hard way. But glad we won. I was still sulking," Bavuma said after the match. Before the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, South Africa topped the WTC standings, needing a win to secure their place in next year’s final at Lord’s. The victory against Pakistan ensured they would finish in the top two and seal their maiden WTC final appearance. Chasing 148 for victory, the hosts struggled as wickets fell, but a determined Kagiso Rabada (31 not out) and Marco Jansen (16 not out) guided them across the finish line to secure the historic win. Bavuma praised Aiden Markram, who scored a crucial 89 in the first innings and was named Player of the Match, for setting the foundation for the victory. "Aiden get them going. Wasn't a lot of conversations. We still had the confidence. I didn't come out to the viewing area and was in the toilet. I came when 15 runs were needed. It is a big win. Not just for myself. But for the coaches. The way we started our campaign against India. We weren't given much of a chance. We weren't ruthless. But we kept finding ways. We hope the guys can get confidence from performances like these. Guys get picked on when they do badly. We would like to enjoy the moment and take stock of what we have done," the skipper said. South Africa’s consistent performances throughout the WTC cycle have been key to their success. After starting with a drawn home series against India and suffering a clean sweep in New Zealand, the Proteas rebounded with impressive away wins against the West Indies and Bangladesh, followed by dominant displays at home, including a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka. Having played 11 Tests in the ongoing cycle, South Africa recorded seven wins with a point percentage of 66.67, finishing ahead of strong contenders like Australia, India, and Sri Lanka. With their spot in the final secured, South Africa will aim to maintain momentum and prepare for their historic maiden WTC final appearance. Only a points deduction for slow-over rates could threaten their qualification at this stage.PARIS France has made it mandatory since 2023 for children under 15 to obtain parental consent to register on social media platforms, which are required to implement a system to verify whether that consent has been obtained. According to data from the e-Enfance Association for the Protection of Children Online, 82% of minors are exposed to harmful content online, including drug and weapon sales and inappropriate photos and videos. Additionally, social media use has led to increased incidents of exclusion and verbal harassment in schools. The 2023 e-Enfance report states that 67% of children aged 8-10 and 86% of those aged 8-18 use social media in France. One in four families in France also experiences cyberbullying. Among the children subjected to cyberbullying, 51% face challenges in their education while 52% experience sleep disorders and appetite loss. As the exposure of children to the internet and its risks rapidly increases, the government is taking steps to protect children's health and rights. These measures include combating bullying and cyberbullying in schools, preventing children's access to inappropriate content, mandating age verification for certain sites and considering the mental health effects of harmful digital content on children. Under a law enacted in France in 2023 to combat hate on social media, parental consent is required for children under 15 to register on these platforms. The law also mandates that platforms create systems to verify users' ages and whether parental consent has been obtained. French authorities can impose fines of up to 1% of global revenue on platforms that fail to comply with these rules. In addition, parents can request platforms to suspend their 15-year-old children's social media accounts. Laura Morin, general director of the L'Enfant Bleu Association, said that since 1989, her organization has been addressing the victimization of children exposed to all kinds of abuse, including physical, sexual and psychological and severe neglect. Due to the inadequacy of legal regulations, parents and adults must exercise caution regarding the internet, she told Anadolu. She highlighted the importance of raising awareness to encourage parents to take on the mission of guiding children. Morin pointed out the many dangers on the internet, noting that parents often do not realize that sharing a photo of their child on social media is equivalent to distributing that photo to strangers on the street. Children as young as eight can open social media accounts Highlighting that children are vulnerable on the internet and can open social media accounts as young as eight, Morin said this situation poses risks akin to children wandering unprotected in the streets. She noted that adults over a certain age can pose as children online, which children may find hard to discern. This can lead to severe consequences such as abuse of trust and requests for nude photographs, she added. Child abusers often gain children's trust by presenting themselves as "best friends, confidants or similar personas" and later make sexual demands, such as sending nude photos, Morin explained. She added that girls and boys who fall into this trap gradually become entirely defenseless. Morin also said that her organization raises awareness, supports parents against these dangers and helps them establish healthy communication with their children regarding the potential risks of the internet. "Our first reflex should be to remember that a child should never be left alone with a digital screen," she said, likening phones, tablets and computers to a "window to the world." Morin noted that they prepared a book titled "Emma's Toy Doll's Wild Adventures" to raise awareness among those who share children's photos on social media. She emphasized that families should not rely solely on parental control software on electronic devices their children use and should not leave them alone with these devices. "We must be careful; we know that children can sometimes figure out passwords and bypass restrictions," she said. She noted that social media platforms are theoretically prohibited for children under 13, but in France, this age limit has been raised to 15. By age 13, child has 1,300 photos online Morin pointed out that children can circumvent this restriction by entering incorrect birthdates on platforms. "As a result, there are very young children on social media; as I mentioned earlier, some even have accounts starting at age 8," she said. She said that by the time a child turns 13, there are approximately 1,300 photos of them circulating online. She stressed that families often do not realize that photos they share of their children on the internet cannot be easily erased.
Australia's House of Representatives passes bill banning children younger than age 16 from social mediaStormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive, despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”
(BPT) - Every year, roughly 20-30% of older Americans head to warmer climates for the colder winter months. Snowbirds are often retirees on fixed incomes, though flexible work environments now provide more opportunities for anyone to spend several months escaping the chill. Whether on a fixed income or an empty nester with disposable income, consumers are interested in saving money where they can. With this in mind, snowbirds can look to their AARP membership to take advantage of relevant discounts and offerings as they fluff their feathers and get ready for takeoff. From savory breakfast options while driving to your seasonal destination, to home and auto protection, and even resources to support mental and physical health, AARP member benefits offer deals and savings that will help snowbirds take flight this winter. "Spending winters in warmer places has so many benefits that come with being able to be outside more often. Warmth and sunlight not only increase serotonin levels , which can result in more positive moods and a calm, focused mental outlook, but they also stimulate vitamin D production and may even boost immunity ," said Elvira Christiansen, Director of Retail and Loyalty for AARP Services. "An AARP membership makes it even better by offering savings as you plan your trip, as well as at many dining, entertainment and retail locations you will come across in your winter getaway destination, helping you to enjoy it to the fullest." 1. Order Up Road trips are often the preferred way to travel to a winter home for the flexibility of having a car once there. Whether your drive will have you behind the wheel for hours or days, you'll want to make sure you have your meals planned out. Fill up with a tasty breakfast or lunch with a stop at Denny's, which is easy to spot from most major highways. AARP members can save when heading to Denny's . With over 1,500 locations nationwide, members save 15% on everything from diner classics to breakfast items every day; maximum discount not to exceed $10. Restrictions apply. 2. Primary Care from Almost Anywhere Feeling under the weather can put a damper on your winter travels, so it's a good idea to make sure you can access quality healthcare even when you're at your winter destination. If you are on Medicare, you can check whether there is an Oak Street Health primary care clinic near you. Oak Street Health , the only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health clinic. 3. Wellness Checklist Once you check off primary care needs for your winter destination, don't overlook other priorities like maintaining your prescriptions and protecting your vision. Start by making sure your prescriptions are up to date before you head out of town. If you do need a refill while you're away, you have access to a free prescription discount card from AARP ® Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx ® that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on FDA-approved medications. You do not need to be an AARP member to take advantage of these benefits, though AARP members receive additional perks, including deeper discounts on medications, home delivery, coverage for your dependents and more. If you're having trouble with your vision, want to update your sunglass prescription, or simply want to maintain your annual visits to an optometrist or ophthalmologist while away, AARP members have access to information on vision insurance options that offer individual and family plans, featuring a large doctor network, savings on frames, lens enhancements, progressives and more. 4. Home (Safety) Away from Home One thing that should always be a priority is keeping your home safe while you're away for the winter. While Neighborhood Watch is always helpful, long periods away from a home require additional security systems. With an AARP membership, homeowners can secure their homes for less. Members save 5% on monthly home security monitoring with ADT Home Security , which covers smart home security systems including intrusion monitoring, connected smoke and CO detection, and smart automation for video doorbells, security cameras and smart locks. 5. Pack Auto Coverage in Your Luggage Driving south for the winter? Utilize AARP member benefits to save on auto care so you can road trip worry free. AARP members save up to 20% on annual membership fees for Allstate Roadside Assistance plans, which provides access to assistance for towing, jump-starts, tire changes, lockout assistance, fuel delivery and more. Allstate Roadside plan benefits can be used 24/7 in any car you drive, including rented and borrowed ones. And, if you want to bring any personal items with you but don't have room to squeeze them in your car, Budget Truck Rental has a variety of trucks for you to choose from. AARP members can save 20% on local or one-way truck rentals on Sunday through Thursday and 10% on Friday and Saturday, plus receive a $10-per-day Physical Damage Waiver. Regardless of how you're traveling or spending your winter months, AARP member benefits can help you maximize your budget while you prioritize the things that matter. To learn more about the benefits and discounts for AARP members to help you prepare for your relaunch, please visit aarp.org/save . AARP member benefits are provided by third parties. AARP receives a royalty fee for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.TOPEKA, Kan. — A white ex-police detective in Kansas died Monday in an apparent suicide just before the start of his criminal trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted Black women and terrorized those who tried fight back. Local police found Roger Golubski dead of a gunshot wound on the back porch of his split-level home outside Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said “there are no indications of foul play” in the 71-year-old’s death, discovered Monday morning after a neighbor heard a gunshot. Fifty miles (80 kilometers) to the west, prosecutors and Golubski’s attorneys were inside the federal courthouse in Topeka, where Golubski faced six felony counts of violating women’s civil rights. Prosecutors say that, for years, Golubski preyed on female residents in poor neighborhoods, demanding sexual favors and sometimes threatening to harm or jail their relatives if they refused. He had pleaded not guilty. His death led U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse to dismiss the charges at prosecutors’ request, though a second criminal case involving three other co-defendants remains. U.S. Department of Justice officials said it’s “difficult” when a case cannot “be fully and fairly heard in a public trial,” but advocates for the women who accused Golubski of abusing them were angry, feeling that they and the community were denied a reckoning. “There is no justice for the victims,” said Anita Randle-Stanley, who went to court to watch jury selection. Randle-Stanley, who is not a victim in this case, said Golubski began harassing her when she was a teenager decades ago, but she always refused him. The heart of this trial focused on two women: one who said Golubski began sexually abusing her when she was a young teen in middle school, and another who said he began abusing her after her twin sons were arrested. Prosecutors said seven other women were planning to testify that Golubski abused or harassed them as well. And advocates for the women believe there are other victims who have either died or have been afraid to come forward. The allegations that Golubski preyed on women over decades with seeming impunity outraged the community and deepened its historical distrust of law enforcement. The prosecution followed earlier reports of similar abuse allegations across the country where hundreds of officers have lost their badges after allegations of sexual assaults. Some of the women and their advocates were upset that Golubski was under house arrest while he underwent kidney dialysis treatments three times a week. Cheryl Pilate, an attorney representing some of the women, said she has questions about how well the government was monitoring Golubski. “The community had an enormous interest in seeing this trial go forward,” she added. “Now, the victims, the community and justice itself have been cheated.” After Golubski failed to appear in court Monday, his lead attorney, Christopher Joseph, said his client “was despondent about the media coverage.” Joseph said he had talked to Golubski regularly, including Monday morning, and he was shocked to hear that his client had apparently killed himself. As for Golubski’s death, he said, “I don’t know the details.” This case against Golubski was part of a string of lawsuits and criminal allegations that led the county prosecutor’s office to begin a $1.7 million effort to reexamine cases Golubski worked on during his 35 years on the force. One double murder case Golubski investigated already has resulted in an exoneration , and an organization run by rapper Jay-Z is suing to obtain police records. Joseph had said lawsuits over the allegations were an “inspiration for fabrication” by his accusers. “We have to keep fighting,” said Starr Cooper, who was in the courthouse Monday to watch jury selection and said Golubski victimized her mother before her death in 1983. About 50 people had a short rally Monday morning in sub-freezing temperatures outside the federal courthouse in Topeka to show their support for the women accusing Golubski. They held signs with slogans such as, “Justice Now!” Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2, a Kansas City-area social justice group, said participants learned that Golubski didn’t show up in court just as the rally began. They dispersed before prosecutors announced his death. They later joined Pilate in calling for an independent, outside investigation into Golubski’s death. “Golubski terrorized an entire community and co-conspired with dangerous people,” McDonald said. “Our rally today was not just about Roger Golubski. Rather, it was about the department in which his criminal activity flourished.” Pilate lamented that without a trial for Golubski, “In the eyes of the law he died an innocent man.” Max Seifert, a former Kansas City police officer who graduated from the police academy with Golubski in 1975, said Golubski’s supporters will treat him as a martyred victim of unfair pretrial publicity. He contends the department condoned misconduct. “I feel that there is always going to be a cloud of mystery about this,” he added. Stories about Golubski remained just whispers in the neighborhoods near Kansas City’s former cattle stockyards partly because of the extreme poverty of a place where crime was abundant and some homes are boarded up. One neighborhood where Golubski worked is part of Kansas’ second-poorest zip code. Fellow officers once revered Golubski for his ability to clear cases, and he rose to the rank of captain in Kansas City before retiring there in 2010 and then working on a suburban police force for six more years. His former partner served a stint as police chief. The inquiry into Golubski stems from the case of Lamonte McIntyre, who started writing to McCloskey’s nonprofit nearly two decades ago. McIntyre was just 17 in 1994 when he was arrested and charged in connection with a double homicide, within hours of the crimes. He had an alibi; no physical evidence linked him to the killings; and an eyewitness believed the killer was an underling of a local drug dealer. In the other federal criminal case involving Golubski, that drug dealer also was charged with him, accused of running a violent sex trafficking operation. McIntyre’s mother said in a 2014 affidavit that she wonders whether her refusal to grant regular sexual favors to Golubski prompted him to retaliate against her son. In 2022, the local government agreed to pay $12.5 million to McIntyre and his mother to settle a lawsuit after a deposition in which Golubski invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent 555 times. The state also paid McIntyre $1.5 million. The last name of a woman who says the ex-detective harassed her for years has been corrected. She is Anita Randle-Stanley, not Randel-Stanley. Hollingsworth and Ingram reported from Edwardsville, Kansas.
An Amsterdam District Court on Tuesday sentenced five men to up to six months in prison for violence that erupted around a UEFA Europa League football match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots, which caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate antisemitic attacks, left 5 people in hospital and 20 others with minor injuries. More than 60 people were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months and two to 1 month in jail. A fifth defendant received 100 hours of community service. A series of violent incidents took place between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soccer fans around the soccer match. Some of the violence was condemned as antisemitic, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offering to evacuate Maccabi supporters. The violence, which garnered headlines worldwide, damaged Amsterdam’s reputation as a beacon of tolerance and a haven for persecuted religions, including Jews. “It seems that the violence arose from strong pro-Palestine sentiments and dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, and related anger against the Israelis present,” the prosecutors’ office said in a statement at the conclusion of hearings two weeks ago. The five defendants, who are all Dutch residents and aged between 19 and 32, were accused of public violence, theft and assault. The Nov. 8 game was allowed to go ahead after the Netherlands’ counterterror watchdog found there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans, and the match wasn’t considered a high risk. Even so, Amsterdam authorities banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Johan Cruyff Arena. According to an investigation, the day before the game the authorities reported several incidents, including Israeli fans tearing a Palestinian flag from an Amsterdam building and attacking a taxi. Six more suspects will have their trials at a later date, including three minors. Under Dutch rules, proceedings for juveniles are held behind closed doors. Police are continuing to investigate the violence and have released images of several suspects they want to identify.